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Blackburn takes Gunners down a peg

Arsenal's Thierry Henry, right, controls the ball above Blackburn's Keith Gillespie during their FA English Premiership soccer match at Ewood Park, Blackburn, England, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

The race is back on in England. As leaders Arsenal suffered a 2-0 loss on Saturday at Blackburn, Manchester United pulled to within two points of the top spot with a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa on David Beckman's winner after only 12 minutes.

The defending champions now lead by only two points over Manchester United, although United must go to Highbury in April for what could be the league decider.

Blackburn managed to frustrate Arsenal all afternoon to pick up its second win this season over the Gunners. Arsenal played without injured goalkeeper David Seaman, midfielder Patrick Vieira and defender Sol Campbell -- all being saved for Wednesday's key Champions League game at Valencia.

Blackburn, which moved into seventh place with the victory, got goals from Damien Duff in the first half and Kerimoglu Tugay in the second. Manager Graeme Souness benched Andy Cole following a heated run-in in practice.

"There was a tiff, that happens in football," Souness said. "I demand we train a certain way. I want us to train with aggression and passion. Sometimes that can spill over. Andy and I had a tiff on Friday and I'm sure it will be resolved next week."

It was Arsenal's first loss after being unbeaten in its last 20 matches in all competitions.

Beckham's goal was the difference for Man United.

The England midfield star scored his seventh of the season when he outran Villa defender Alan Wright in the 12th minute and got his outstretched right leg on a cross delivered from winger Ryan Giggs.

Beckham had several chances in the first few minutes before cashing in on the chip from 4m.

"We made hard work of it," Beckham said. "We had a few chances in the first half but didn't put them away. The ball was bobbling all over the pitch and that didn't help.

"I should have scored earlier but I was aware of the bobbly pitch, Still, I should have scored it," he said.

Newcastle, underrated all season, moved to within five points of the lead as Alan Shearer scored on a penalty in 33rd with Nolberto Solano adding the clincher in the 49th.

Craig Bellamy drew the penalty after he was pulled down with manager Bobby Robson calling him the man of the match.

"He [Bellamy] is outstandingly quick," Robson said. "He's looking for the ball all the time in between and behind defenders. And there aren't too many of those forwards around. That's why we love him."

West Ham picked up a valuable point in its 0-0 draw at Everton with the Hammers playing some of their best defense of the season.

Michael Svensson scored in second-half injury time to salvage a 2-2 draw for Southampton against Fulham. Svensson scored an own-goal earlier with Louis Saha getting Fulham's other. James Beattie scored in the 81st to start the Saints' rally.

Middlesbrough kept life miserable for Leeds manager Terry Venables. Leeds has won only one of its last eight. Mark Viduka scored two for Leeds with Massimo Maccarone, Juninho and Njitap Geremi scoring for Middlesbrough.

It was the same old story for Sunderland as Jay-Jay Okocha and Henrik Pedersen scored for Bolton in the 2-0 victory, handing Mick McCarthy a losing start as the new Sunderland gaffer.

Meanwhile, former England captain Alan Shearer has hinted that he could reconsider a comeback for his country despite quitting international soccer after Euro 2000.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't miss playing for England. I still feel I could do a job for England, in fact I know I could," Shearer was quoted as saying.

England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, quoted in the Sunday Times, said, "I respect Alan Shearer as a quality player. If he ever said that he would be available again, then he is the type of player who would get serious consideration."

Shearer, able to concentrate solely on playing for his club, has been in scintillating form for Newcastle United as they chase the premier league title and make an impression in the Champions League.

He has scored at a rate of just over a goal every two games for Newcastle since he quit international soccer in 2000.
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