English Premier League Wrap-Up: Arsenal Hard Done By Manchester City Draw, Chelsea Adds Latest Nail To Title Defense Coffin

Today's big winner: Manchester United. The teams that sat second through sixth coming into today's Premier League action all failed to get full points, and while the Red Devils' lead shrunk from three to two after Wednesday's action, the leaders are now clear of their competition, with the defending champions having filled out another line of their title defense resignation.

Arsenal 0-0 Manchester City: Arsenal had plenty of chances to score a goal or six and put the match away, but the woodwork and Joe Hart combined to keep the Gunners scoreless. Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott both hit the post early, with Walcott doing it when it was easier to score. Wilshere and van Persie combined for a great chance in the opening seconds of the match, just one of many that Arsenal should have converted. Both Bakary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta were sent off late in the second half for a confrontation that involved the butting of heads.

Everton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs took nine points from three matches during the Christmas fixtures, but their run was stopped tonight at Goodison Park, thanks to a great performance by the Toffees and Louis Saha in particular. He scored his first Premier League goal in over a year in the opening minutes and assisted on Seamus Coleman's winner. Rafael van der Vaart scored in the first half off of a Peter Crouch assist, but it wasn't enough for Spurs to grab points in Liverpool.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Chelsea: An early own goal off a corner kick put Chelsea behind and ultimately put their hopes of retaining their Premier League title on the brink. The Blues are nine points behind Manchester United and, as important, four teams from the top, with the Blues carrying the worst form of the quintet. For Wolves, the unexpected three points spurred hugs amongst the coaching staff and vaulted the former bottom dwellers into 17th place.

Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland: Phil Bardsley had not scored in 108 league matches, but his right footed blast late at Villa Park pushes the Black Cats to sixth place after a 1-0 win over Aston Villa. In the process, Emile Heskey saw straight red for pushing Jordan Henderson (in the face), his three-match suspension compounding problems for a Villa side that finds itself in 18th place.

Newcastle 5-0 West Ham United: Three from Leon Best, just returning from injury, led the Magpies to their second straight win, the lopsided nature of which allowed Newcastle to climb to eighth at the final whistle. Their opponents sit 20th, their four match unbeaten streak snapped by a lopsided result that may inflame calls for Avram Grant's job.

Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Wigan Athletic: Rodrigo Moreno's first Premier League goal seemed to get Bolton rolling after a scoreless first half, but a late equalizer from Ronnie Stam leaves the points "shared." The result helps neither team, though Wigan should be satisfied with the point. They sit 19th after the draw, with Bolton now seventh, having ceded sixth to Sunderland.

Blackburn 3-1 Liverpool: Steven Gerrard scored late to prevent the clean sheet, but by then Steve Kean's team was cruising. Collapsing deep and without resistance into their own third, Blackburn was reaping the benefits of a 3-0 lead built on a two goals from Benjani and an opener from Martin Olsson. The win lifts Blackburn into the top half, but few will want to talk about that. Liverpool's perplexing and undeniably disappointing season continues, now sitting 12th, four points above the drop.