Villa hold Chelsea, Gunners win

LONDON – Champions Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa, Liverpool lost 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers and Arsenal had to come from behind to beat Charlton Athletic 2-1 on a trying Saturday for the Premier League’s top clubs.

Chelsea’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, who hit a Champions League hat-trick in their midweek win at Levski Sofia, opened the scoring in the second minute. But Villa winger Gabriel Agbonlahor levelled on the stroke of halftime to earn Martin O’Neill’s side a point and end Chelsea’s 11-match winning run at home in all competitions.A controversial strike by midfielder Gary Speed set Bolton on their way against Liverpool, while Dutch forward Robin van Persie scored twice for Arsenal at The Valley, two days after Arsene Wenger celebrated 10 years as club manager.Manchester City snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Everton, while Sheffield United beat Middlesbrough 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner from captain Phil Jagielka.Despite Chelsea’s draw, the champions remain top of the table on 16 points, two ahead of Bolton.Manchester United, who play Newcastle on Sunday, are third on 13 points.Chelsea were clear favourites for their game at Stamford Bridge, having won every Premier League game there since January and made a dream start with Drogba’s eighth goal of the season.However, Villa have been transformed under O’Neill and their fightback was rewarded when 19-year-old Agbonlahor headed an equaliser.Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports: “We did everything to win – except put the ball in the net.In the second half they just defended.Mourinho also had encouraging words for Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, signed for 30 million pounds from AC Milan and still with only one goal since the league season started.Over at The Valley, Arsenal were trailing to a Darren Bent strike before Van Persie levelled in the 32nd minute and followed up with an absolute stunner four minutes after the break – volleying home a cross from the right from defender Emmanuel Eboue.Liverpool’s Spanish keeper Jose ‘Pepe’ Reina was judged by a linesman to have carried the ball outside his area before clearing upfield.Ivan Campo teed up the resulting free kick for Speed, in his 750th league game, to lash home on 30 minutes.However, television replays indicated Reina was inside his area and Liverpool’s Spanish manager Rafael Benitez could not hide his frustration and annoyance.Campo headed Bolton’s second goal in the 51st minute.Micah Richards got Manchester City’s equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Goodison Park after England striker Andy Johnson had notched his sixth of the season for Everton.Nampa-ReutersBut Villa winger Gabriel Agbonlahor levelled on the stroke of halftime to earn Martin O’Neill’s side a point and end Chelsea’s 11-match winning run at home in all competitions.A controversial strike by midfielder Gary Speed set Bolton on their way against Liverpool, while Dutch forward Robin van Persie scored twice for Arsenal at The Valley, two days after Arsene Wenger celebrated 10 years as club manager.Manchester City snatched a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Everton, while Sheffield United beat Middlesbrough 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner from captain Phil Jagielka.Despite Chelsea’s draw, the champions remain top of the table on 16 points, two ahead of Bolton.Manchester United, who play Newcastle on Sunday, are third on 13 points.Chelsea were clear favourites for their game at Stamford Bridge, having won every Premier League game there since January and made a dream start with Drogba’s eighth goal of the season.However, Villa have been transformed under O’Neill and their fightback was rewarded when 19-year-old Agbonlahor headed an equaliser.Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports: “We did everything to win – except put the ball in the net.In the second half they just defended.Mourinho also had encouraging words for Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, signed for 30 million pounds from AC Milan and still with only one goal since the league season started.Over at The Valley, Arsenal were trailing to a Darren Bent strike before Van Persie levelled in the 32nd minute and followed up with an absolute stunner four minutes after the break – volleying home a cross from the right from defender Emmanuel Eboue.Liverpool’s Spanish keeper Jose ‘Pepe’ Reina was judged by a linesman to have carried the ball outside his area before clearing upfield.Ivan Campo teed up the resulting free kick for Speed, in his 750th league game, to lash home on 30 minutes.However, television replays indicated Reina was inside his area and Liverpool’s Spanish manager Rafael Benitez could not hide his frustration and annoyance.Campo headed Bolton’s second goal in the 51st minute.Micah Richards got Manchester City’s equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Goodison Park after England striker Andy Johnson had notched his sixth of the season for Everton.Nampa-Reuters