United, Arsenal keep pressure on Chelsea

Manchester United closed the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to two points with a 5-0 rout of Wigan, while Arsenal are also firmly in the title race after thrashing Portsmouth 4-1 yesterday.

In the last Premier League games of the decade, it was fitting that United and Arsenal - who have enjoyed more success than most over the last 10 years - should produce resounding victories.

Reigning champions United, second in the table, were far too strong for Wigan and bolstered their goal difference in emphatic fashion at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney opened the scoring in the 28th minute for his seventh goal in seven games.

A typically incisive United move then shattered Wigan's morale as Michael Carrick turned in Antonio Valencia's cross.

Brazilian defender Rafael added United's third goal on the stroke of half-time. Dimitar Berbatov produced a cool finish in the 50th minute before former Wigan winger Valencia capped a magnificent United display with the fifth goal in the 75th minute.

Arsenal remain hot on the heels of the top two after cruising past crisis club Portsmouth for their fifth win in six league games.

Arsene Wenger's side were 11 points behind Chelsea last month but they have closed that gap to four, with a game in hand, thanks to goals from Eduardo, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song at Fratton Park.

The Gunners, without injured captain Cesc Fabregas, completely out-classed Portsmouth, who remain bottom of the table and four points from safety heading into the New Year.

In the 28th minute, Eduardo's free-kick took a wicked deflection off Portsmouth defender Younes Kaboul and flashed past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.

Nasri put Arsenal in complete control before half-time when the France midfielder took Ramsey's pass and drilled a low shot past Begovic for his first league goal since March.

Ramsey went from provider to scorer in the 69th minute as the Wales midfielder won a tackle on the edge of the penalty area and lashed in a superb strike.

Nadir Belhadj got one back for Portsmouth but the defender's effort, which deflected off Thomas Vermaelen, was followed by Song's 81st minute header from Nasri's cross.

Other results

Scottish Premier: Hearts vs Motherwell 1-0; Rangers vs Dundee Utd 7-1.

Friendly: Al-Ittihad Jeddah vs Juventus 2-2.