Manchester United won the Premiership title for the first time in four years after nearest rivals Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Arsenal at Emirates on Sunday. Brazilian midfielder Gilberto put the hosts ahead just before the break from the penalty spot before Michael Essien grabbed the equalizer for 10-man Chelsea in the 70th minute. The result means that United are seven points clear at the top of the table with just two games remaining. The Red Devils last won the league title in the 2002/2003 season; Arsenal secured the following one before Chelsea endured a two-year success under the guidance of Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho. Arsenal should have scored the opener in the 37th minute when series of passes released Togolese striker Emmanyel Adebayor, whose poor shot was easily blocked by Chelsea keeper Petr Cech. The Gunners were awarded a clear penalty two minutes before halftime when Julio Baptista cut ahead of Khalid Boulahrouz inside the area to control a long ball only for the Dutchman to haul him down.
Apart from the penalty, Chelsea received another blow after Referee Alan Wiley sent-off Boulahrouz, whose form has been below-par since arriving from Hamburg in the off-season. Gilberto stepped-up and successfully converted the ball into the back of the net after sending Cech the wrong way. Ghanaian midfielder Essien leveled the score for Chelsea in the 70th minute when he connected with Shaun Wright-Philips' inch-perfect cross at the near post to head home. Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou could have handed the defending champions a precious win in stoppage time but his shot from the edge of the area was tipped over by Jens Lehmann. Arsenal's right-back Emmanuel Eboue responded just before the end with a brilliant curling shot that struck crossbar.
