Arsenal's lead atop the Premiership standings closed to three points over Manchester United on Saturday as Birmingham's James McFadden converted a penalty kick in stoppage time to give his club a 2-2 draw with the Gunners, while United cruised to a 5-1 win over Newcastle.

The result was even more impressive from the Birmingham perspective because they were reduced to 10 men just three minutes into the game after Martin Taylor's horrendous challenge on Eduardo earned him a red card. The tackle also broke the leg of Arsenal striker Eduardo, who will likely miss the rest of the season.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, it was Birmingham who got on the scoreboard first courtesy of a McFadden free kick. The former Everton man curled the ball into the top corner from 20 yards midway through the half, and the hosts took an unlikely 1-0 lead into halftime.

Theo Walcott then took over for Arsenal, scoring two goals in six minutes shortly after the break to put the Gunners ahead. The first came from close range after a scramble in front of the net, while the second tally was well earned after Walcott carried the ball towards the middle from the right wing and drove a left-footed shot into the lower corner.

Arsenal dominated for most of the second half but a late penalty was given when Gael Clichy was called for bringing down Birmingham's Stuart Parnaby inside the area.

With just seconds remaining on the clock, McFadden stepped to the spot and fired inside the right post to give his club a point.

United then took advantage of Arsenal's slip by easily dispatching Newcastle at St James' Park. Cristiano Ronaldo once again showed why he is one of the top players in the world as he set up Wayne Rooney's first goal and then scored two himself.

The Red Devils built a three-goal lead before Newcastle's Abdoulaye Faye pulled one back in the 79th. However, Rooney put home his second goal of the game just one minute later and Louis Saha scored in stoppage time to cap the scoring.

October 2007 News