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Surprises in store for Premier teams

Arsenal's Thiery Henry celebrates his winning goal against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, Birmingham, on Thursday. PHOTO: REUTERS AND AP

Arsenal extended its lead at the top, Manchester United lost again, new teenage prodigy James Milner made his name and "old" teen sensation Wayne Rooney was sent off, in a frenetic program of Premier League matches on Thursday.

Thierry Henry scored Arsenal's late winner in a 2-1 success at West Bromwich Albion, lifting Arsene Wenger's champions four points clear of second-placed Chelsea, who were held 0-0 at home by Southampton.

Manchester United lost further ground when they succumbed 3-1 at Middlesbrough, their second straight defeat, while Liverpool's poor run continued with a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers.

After 20 games Arsenal have 42 points, Chelsea 38 and Manchester United 35. Everton are fourth on 34 points with Liverpool on 33.

Rooney, the 17-year-old who has taken English soccer by storm this season, was harshly sent off for a high tackle with nine minutes left of Everton's 1-1 draw at Birmingham City.

The striker was given his marching orders by referee David Elleray for showing his studs in a tackle on Birmingham's Steve Vickers.

Juan Sebastian Veron covers his face as against Middlesbrough, at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough. PHOTO: REUTERS AND AP

The 17-year-old had come on as a substitute after City's US international Jovan Kirovski had cancelled out Canadian Tomasz Radzinski's opener for Everton.

West Brom took a third-minute lead against Arsenal when lanky striker Danny Dichio powerfully headed home a corner, and the champions struggled to create openings for the rest of the half.

But they were level three minutes into the second period when striker Francis Jeffers, making a rare start, pounced from close range.

Everton's Wayne Rooney is sent off at St Andrews in Birmingham. PHOTO: REUTERS AND AP

Jason Roberts then struck the post for West Brom but France striker Henry, having missed one sitter, made no mistake with five minutes to go after Patrick Vieira charged down Adam Chambers's attempted clearance.

Manchester United captain Roy Keane made his first start since Aug. 31 at the Riverside but fine finishes by Croatian Alen Boksic and Slovakian Szilard Nemeth either side of halftime put Middlesbrough into a deserved 2-0 lead.

Ryan Giggs's close range effort on the hour gave United hope but five minutes from time Joseph Desire Job killed off the visitors, who also lost at Blackburn on Sunday having won their previous eight games.

At Anfield John Arne Riise, who earlier this week feared he might have to return to Norway to carry out military service, fired a deflected 17th-minute opener for Liverpool against Blackburn.

But a wonderful Andy Cole volley from 30m 13 minutes from time gave Blackburn a point and doused the Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier's festive spirits. Liverpool have now taken only three points from the last 24.

Leeds's 16-year-old midfielder James Milner beat Rooney's record as the premier league's youngest goalscorer by five days when he netted at the Stadium of Light to cancel out Michael Proctor's goal for Sunderland, as Leeds won 2-1.
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