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Henry leads team past Southampton

Arsenal's Thierry Henry, lleft, outmanouvers Brett Ormerod of Southampton to score his second goal of the day to take his total Premier League tally to 101 during their FA Premier League clash at Highbury in London. Arsenal defeated Southampton 2-0. PHOTO: AFP

Thierry Henry fired two goals to go past 100 in Arsenal colors on Tuesday as the Gunners moved five points clear of Manchester United in the title race by beating Southampton 2-0.

But both goals brought a furious response from the Saints because the first appeared offside and the second came with the the players expecting the play to stop with a Southampton player injured on the field.

In other Premier League games, Leeds moved off last place by beating Wolves 4-1 and second from last Leicester was held 1-1 at home by Bolton.

Without a league victory at Highbury in 31 games since 1987, Saints, who could have former manager Glenn Hoddle returning to take over, fell behind in the 31st minute.

Henry appeared offside when he collected a through ball from Robert Pires and held off Darren Kenton before shooting past Antti Niemi. It was his 18th league goal of the season and 100th in Arsenal colors, his first being against Southampton in September 1999.

"Some people have said it was offside, others say it was not conclusive," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. "But you must trust the fact that Thierry is very intelligent and when he's left on the wing, he's rarely offside.

"I've seen him given offside more times when he's onside than the reverse. Of course, I'm the Arsenal manager but it's difficult to keep up with him."

With new signing Jose Antonio Reyes failing to make an impact, Arsenal came under pressure and German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was forced to make top quality saves from Brett Ormerod and Chris Baird.

But the Gunners made sure of the points in the final minute when Henry scored his second, taking a cross from Pires to turn the ball home. But Saints were complaining that play should have stopped because of a Ray Parlour foul on Danny Higginbotham, who lay injured.

Saints manager Gordon Strachan, who is set to step down at the end of the season, said Henry was "three or four yards offside." He also said he had a history of problems with the linesman, Mike Tingey, who had kept his flag down.

"Five years ago, I got sent off and he accused me of starting a fight as he had seen it clearly," Strachan said. "But I took a lawyer to the Football Association hearing and there was camera footage that showed I didn't start the fight and it was impossible for him to see me.

"Mr. Tingey was kind of embarrassed five years ago and we've had more history since then. My players suffered because of that history, I think. Henry was three or four yards offside."

Although the Gunners are now five points clear at the top, Manchester United can cut that to three by beating Middlesbrough at home on Wednesday when third place Chelsea, now nine points off the lead, visits Portsmouth.

A third best Elland Road crowd of the season of 36,867 saw Leeds go ahead in the 14th minute when Stephen Caldwell knocked down a deflected cross from Jermaine Pennant and Alan Smith got to the ball before goalkeeper Paul Jones to roll the ball into the net

But Wolves leveled in the 21st minute when Carl Cort chested down a through ball from Alex Rae to Romanian striker Viorel Ganea whose right foot shot went through the legs of Dominic Matteo and past Paul Robinson from 20m.

Four minutes before half time, a deep free kick from Didier Domi was touched on by Smith to Matteo who fired home via the leg of Wolves midfielder Mark Kennedy.

Seventeen year-old James Milner fired the third in the 65th minute after great work by Smith and Australian striker Mark Viduka turned to fire a powerful shot past Jones for the fourth in the final minute.

"I was delighted for the players," said acting manager Eddie Gray, who has been in charge since Peter Reid was fired in November.

"They have worked hard without getting their rewards, but tonight they made chances, played well and I was pleased with the way they played. I was especially delighted the two boys up front [Smith and Viduka] were on the scoresheet because they are big players for us.

The result took cash-strapped Leeds off last place on goal difference and left Wolves at the bottom. Leeds is also struggling to stay afloat financially and its creditors have given the club another extension until Friday to find new money or they could call in debts of ?82 million (US$148 million).

Wolves manager Dave Jones, whose team hasn't won away all season but recently beat Manchester United and held Liverpool to a tie at home, was furious with his team's performance.

Seeking a first victory in 11 games, Leicester went ahead in the 16th minute when 37-year-old former England striker Les Ferdinand met a cross from Riccardo Scimeca with a powerful header. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to block the header but Ferdinand powered in the rebound.

But a blunder by Foxes goalkeeper Ian Walker handed Bolton an equalizer in the 33rd. Walker appeared to have a flick from Wanderers' Kevin Davies under control but the ball rolled under his body and went in off his leg.
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