Henry gives Arsenal a timely boost

Premiership review:  Champions Chelsea moved another step closer to retaining their Barclays Premiership title with a gritty…

Premiership review: Champions Chelsea moved another step closer to retaining their Barclays Premiership title with a gritty 2-1 win at West Brom.

Didier Drogba put Jose Mourinho's side in front at The Hawthorns, and Joe Cole doubled the lead before Kanu's late consolation made for a nervy final few minutes.

However, Mourinho's afternoon was spoiled by Arjen Robben's red card for a careless lunge on an ill-tempered afternoon in the Black Country.

Arsenal produced a thrilling performance at Craven Cottage to beat Fulham 4-0 and move up to fifth thanks to goals by captain Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor and substitute Cesc Fabregas.

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In the 31st minute, Abou Diaby fed Henry who beat Tony Warner coolly to open the scoring.

Minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to Adebayor, whose clever run was found by Freddie Ljungberg's pass - and the Togo international converted.

The Gunners were always in control, and Henry added a deserved third in the 77th minute after being played in by Ljungberg before Fabregas' simple 86th-minute strike.

James Beattie was Everton's hero as the Toffees came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at West Ham.

Slick interplay by the hosts brought the first goal 10 minutes in. One-touch passing between Yossi Benayoun and Dean Ashton allowed Marlon Harewood to turn and fire a low shot beyond Sander Westerveld.

Leon Osman equalised, but West Ham regained control immediately as Dean Ashton drove forward before dispatching a shot past Westerveld.

However, Beattie pulled Everton level for the second time 19 minutes from time to peg the Hammers back.

Mark Viduka gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 lead over relegation battlers Birmingham after a dour first half at the Riverside.

Newcastle earned their fourth Premiership win in five matches with a 3-1 victory at home to Bolton.

Nolberto Solano's free-kick left Jussi Jaaskelainen with no chance after 34 minutes to give the home side the lead.

Alan Shearer headed home Charles N'Zogbia's cross as half-time approached to double the lead, and Shola Ameobi seemed to wrap up the win with a simple goal when Bolton failed to clear their lines.

Kevin Davies managed to pull one back in the 71st minute, sliding in on the line after Radhi Jaidi's back-post header.

But the visitors wasted further chances to get back into the game as captain Kevin Nolan saw an effort controversially disallowed.

Struggling Portsmouth were their own worst enemy as they lost 1-0 to Aston Villa.

Pompey's dire form was in evidence as Milan Baros gave home side Villa a deserved lead in the first half.

As James Milner fired in a free-kick from the left, Baros was in yards of space to convert comfortably - and Harry Redknapp's side could not lift their performance as Villa collected the points.

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