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LONDON - Arsenal swept Wolves aside to climb to second place in the Premier League on Saturday as a fifth consecutive draw resulted in Manchester City being ejected from the top four.
The Gunners' 4-1 win at Molineux lifted them above Manchester United on goal difference ahead of the champions' meeting with leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Arsenal had ended their contest with Wolves by half-time as own goals from Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock were followed by Cesc Fabregas finishing off a trademark passing move on the stroke of the interval.
Andrey Arshavin made it 4-0 after the interval before Craddock claimed a late consolation side for Wolves, who slipped into the relegation zone.
Manchester City surrendered their coveted spot in the top four to Tottenham after being held to a 3-3 draw at home to Burnley.
It was a fifth consecutive draw for City, who slip back to fifth after a run that has cast doubt on their ability to break into English football's Champions League elite.
"I said before the season that there will be times when we look like what we are, a team coming together and trying to gel," said City's manager, Mark Hughes.
"And on other occasions it will happen for us and we will look an outstanding team but I am frustrated, and disappointed as well."
Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone were on the mark for Tottenham as Harry Redknapp's side moved up to fourth with a 2-0 win over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa overran struggling Bolton in a 5-1 rout at Villa Park while Blackburn lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over bottom side Portsmouth.
Burnley's draw at Manchester City was their first point on the road since their return to the top flight.
An even better outcome had looked on the cards when a Graham Alexander penalty and a Steven Fletcher strike gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.
But Shaun Wright-Phillips reduced the deficit two minutes before the break and second half strikes from Kolo Toure - his first league goal for City - and Craig Bellamy had City on track to claim the points before Kevin McDonald snatched an 87th-minute equaliser for the visitors.
Sunderland striker Darren Bent's return to Tottenham proved to be an unhappy one with the England striker having a second-half penalty saved by Heurelho Gomes.
That would have cancelled out Keane's 12th-minute strike for Spurs and been just reward for Sunderland's long periods of domination.
Instead Tottenham finished comfortable winners after Huddlestone smashed a 68th-minute shot in off the bar.
Redknapp admitted his side had been lucky, but insisted there was no reason they could not stay in the top four.
"We were very fortunate, the keeper's had a fantastic day but that's how it goes," he said.
"We got three points, you can play well and get nothing. We've got Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric to come back and when they come back we'll play differently again."
England duo Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa in control against Bolton.
Johan Elmander gave the visitors hope on the stroke of half-time but Villa were too slick after the break with John Carew, James Milner and Carlos Cuellar all finding the net in the final 20 minutes.
On-loan Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara gave Portsmouth a 15th-minute lead against Blackburn, raising the prospect of a win that would have lifted Pompey out of the drop zone themselves.
Instead it was Blackburn who took the points with Jason Roberts scoring twice either side of a strike from New Zealander Ryan Nelsen.
- AFP /ls
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