Manchester United edged closer to the leading pack with a 2-0 win at a rain-sodden Blackburn Rovers after goals from Wes Brown and Wayne Rooney.

There was late drama at Wigan Athletic where Jeremie Aliadiere claimed the only goal in the 89th minute to give Middlesbrough maximum points while West Bromwich Albion beat Fulham 1-0 with a Roman Bednar goal.

A week ago Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to Hull City but roared back to beat Porto 4-0 in the Champions League with a performance manager Arsene Wenger said was their most complete of the season.

But the Frenchman was left shaking his head in frustration for long spells Saturday as his side was too easily kept at arm’s length by Sunderland.

Arsenal was denied a goal early in the second half when Robin van Persie turned in a Theo Walcott cross only for the linesman to rule the ball had gone out of play.

Grant Leadbitter entered the fray as an 84th-minute substitute for Sunderland and took two minutes to make his mark when he lashed in a shot via the underside of the bar.

Arsenal poured forward and leveled from an unlikely source when Spain midfielder Fabregas headed in Van Persie’s corner.

Manchester United was all over Blackburn and should have won by more goals.(SD-Agencies)