Kanu's
dramatic late winner against Bolton kept Arsenal's 100%
Highbury record in tact, while Liverpool kept pace by
beating West Brom 2-0.
Thierry
Henry uncharacteristically missed from the penalty
spot when his shot hit the upright on 15 minutes,
but the Frenchman got on the scoresheet 13 minutes
later to make it 46 consecutive top-flight games in
which the Gunners have scored.
The Trotters have team spirit aplenty, however, and
Gareth Farrelly grabbed a bizarre equaliser on 47
minutes when his deflected cross looped over David
Seaman and into the net.
But Sam Allardyce's men suffered injury-time heartache
when Nigerian ace Kanu pounced to smash home the winner
and make it four wins out of four home games for the
champions.
At Anfield, Gerard Houllier's Liverpool troops were
struggling to find a way past Baggies keeper Russell
Hoult, but the stopper was given his marching orders
on 33 minutes after a professional foul on Michael
Owen in the 18-yard box.
The England striker dusted himself down and prepared
for the spot-kick, but young Albion keeper Joe Murphy
- who came on as Hoult's replacement for Scott Dobie
- saved Owen's effort with his first touch in Premiership
football.
Albion had an appeal for a penalty turned down by
referee David Elleray when Sami Hyypia brought down
Jason Roberts - but the Reds finally broke the deadlock
when Milan Baros headed home Steven Gerrard's cross
on 56 minutes and John Arne Riise pounced in injury
time to make it 2-0.
Manchester United completed a good week after Ruud
van Nistelrooy's 63rd-minute penalty sealed a hard-fought
win over high-flying Tottenham at Old Trafford.
Teddy Sheringham returned to the Theatre of Dreams
but left empty-handed after seeing Fabien Barthez
save a close-range shot from Dean Richards in Spurs'
best chance.
Craig Bellamy and Alan Shearer turned up the heat
on Peter Reid as their goals set up Newcastle's 2-0
win over Sunderland at St James' Park.
Sir Bobby Robson's Magpies were up and flying after
just two minutes when England star Kieron Dyer's sliderule
pass released Bellamy down the middle and the pintsized
Wales hitman coolly rolled the ball past keeper Thomas
Sorensen.
Sloppy defending from the Black Cats then presented
Newcastle with a free-kick just outside the 18-yard
box on 39 minutes, and veteran star Shearer smashed
an unstoppable shot through a crumbling defensive
wall and into the back of the net.
Staying in the North-East, Middlesbrough kept up their
unbeaten Riverside run with a 1-0 win over Birmingham
which came courtesy of Franck Queudrue's left-footed
free-kick on 29.
In the day's other games, Southampton and Charlton
played out a lifeless 0-0 draw at St Mary's, while
neither West Ham or Manchester City found the net
at Upton Park in a result which leaves the Hammers
stranded at the bottom of the table.
