Gunners in control at the break
At half-time in the 3pm Premiership kick-offs, Arsenal looked to have three points secured after waltzing to a 4-0 lead at home to Middlesbrough.
Boro held out for 20 minutes at Highbury, but an exquisite move saw the Gunners go ahead. Freddie Ljungberg was given too much room on the right and picked out Henry perfectly with a cross which allowed the captain to volley home impressively.
With the deadlock broken, it was soon 2-0 when Philippe Senderos powered home a header from Jose Antonio Reyes’ corner – and Henry made it 3-0 on the half-hour to leave Boro in disarray.
In injury time, Robert Pires got in on the act and exposed hapless Boro again with a sublime solo effort.
Chances were few and far between in the highly-anticipated clash between Liverpool and Tottenham at Anfield. It was goalless at the break as both sides failed o convert half-chances.
Leon Osman pounced to give Everton a narrow half-time lead against revitalised Portsmouth.
Pompey failed to clear their lines after Joseph Yobo’s free-kick, and Osman nipped in to stab past Jamie Ashdown 14 minutes from the break.
Fulham and Newcastle failed to provide a first-half goal as Alan Shearer looked to break Jackie Milburn’s club goalscoring record.
Aston Villa held a slender lead over West Ham at Villa Park, despite Alan Pardew’s men starting strongly.
Following the Hammers’ positive start, Villa took a first-half lead when Lee Hendrie glanced home an excellent cross from Jlloyd Samuel.
Birmingham enjoyed the lions’ share of possession against Charlton but were a goal down at the break when former Blue Bryan Hughes headed Dennis Rommedahl’s corner in after escaping his marker. Chris Sutton impressed early in his City debut, while Jiri Jarosik was the visitors’ most creatve influence.
