Arsenal close the gap on Man United

Ten-man Arsenal cut Manchester United's English premier league lead back to a single point on Wednesday after a 3-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Ukraine defender Oleg Luzhny picked up Arsenal's 11th red card of the season -- and the 43rd since Arsene Wenger became their manager in 1996 -- but it failed to stop Dennis Bergkamp scoring his second of the night to seal victory.

Newcastle United rallied from a goal down at halftime to beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1, while Emile Heskey ended a goal drought stretching back to November by scoring Liverpool's winner as they beat Leicester City 1-0.

Leeds United's title charge suffered a setback as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, slipping behind the leading sides in what is the most open championship for well over a decade.

Champions Manchester United, 4-0 winners over Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday and bidding for an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title, are top with 48 points.

Arsenal lie second, a point behind, with Newcastle on 46 points -- both clubs having a game in hand. Liverpool trail Newcastle only on goal difference, but fifth-placed Leeds are now four points adrift of the Merseysiders on 42 points, albeit with a game in hand. Chelsea have 40.

BERGKAMP STRIKES

Arsenal looked destined to rout the team who had pegged them back to a 3-3 draw at Highbury earlier this season after Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, firing home his 18th league goal of the season, had given them a 2-0 lead.

Two goals from Matt Jansen changed everything before the break and Luzhny's dismissal for a second yellow card looked to have swung the game Blackburn's way.

But Arsenal, who needed only nine men to beat Liverpool 1-0 in last Sunday's FA Cup tie, again came through -- with Bergkamp again getting the winner.

Craig Bellamy produced a sparkling performance for Newcastle, scoring one goal and making another for Alan Shearer, as they ripped Spurs to shreds in the second half at White Hart Lane having been outplayed in the opening 45 minutes.

Liverpool kept England striker Michael Owen warming the substitutes' bench for their victory over the Foxes at Anfield.

Heskey, who had not scored since November 25, bagged a fine solo winner in the second half -- only his sixth goal in 37 appearances this season.

Leeds' second defeat in three league matches means that Sunday's home clash with Liverpool takes on extra significance.

Leeds assistant manager Eddie Gray told SkySports: "We came hoping to win the game -- now with the other teams above us winning it makes it more difficult for us.

"Now it's a massive game on Sunday against Liverpool. If we can pick the boys up there's no reason why we can't win that game."

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri said: "I think our start was very important...that was the key to the match tonight."