Mistake costs Arsenal dear

Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp, left, clips the ball past Aston Villa defender Ronnie Johnsen, center, during their English Premiership match at Villa Park, Birmingham, on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger bemoaned the own goal by Kolo Toure that handed Aston Villa an unlikely equalizer in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Villa Park, but remained happy with the performance of his players.

Arsenal were never at their best but looked set for all three points after Freddie Ljungberg's 56th-minute goal -- only for Toure's sliced clearance to rob them 20 minutes from the end.

"They [Villa] were highly concentrated on just defending," Wenger told Sky Sports TV. "They didn't create a lot, they didn't try to create and they could only score if we scored.

"We knew at halftime it was a question of patience and of finding the opening. We knew we would score a goal but our big regret is that we gave a goal away," he said.

"We were very professional today but unfortunately we got caught at the back and dropped two points which I thought we deserved," he said.

The result, coming after Manchester United's 4-0 thrashing of Liverpool earlier in the day, left the two big rivals locked together at the top on 67 points, with the Londoners ahead on goal difference.

Arsenal host United on April 16 in one of a series of massive matches at the top over the next few weeks.

United got the first of them under their belt in style earlier on Saturday by posting their biggest win over Liverpool for 51 years.

"I think today we got a good start," manager Alex Ferguson said of the run of important games.

"It's always a difficult fixture against Liverpool. They are always very determined and we are pleased with the result," he said.

"The second half was fantastic for us," added Ferguson, whose team face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals in three days.

"We played without running, just saving our energy that way and that may help us on Tuesday," he said.

Chelsea came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 away and manager Claudio Ranieri was full of praise for his matchwinner.

"The second goal by Carlton Cole was fantastic," said the Italian, whose team now look sure to pip Liverpool for the fourth Champions League slot.

"It was very important, because after losing the FA Cup quarter-final to Arsenal we wanted to show our attitude, to try to react after that defeat," added Ranieri.

The most surprising result of the day came at The Valley where Leeds, who had lost their last five games, thrashed Charlton Athletic 6-1.

"In training the players have been really sharp and upbeat but you never know how they are going to take it into a game," said new caretaker boss and former Sunderland gaffer Peter Reid.

"We were really, really strong. We shut Charlton down and played some really good football," he said. "The players set themselves standards today."

Leeds and Bolton Wanderers, who beat Manchester City 2-0, both moved above Birmingham City, who lost 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur.