Premiership: Half-time review

Premiership leaders Arsenal looked set to at least maintain their seven-point advantage at the top of the table as they stormed into an early lead against Charlton.

Alan Curbishley’s side were stunned and fighting hard just to stay in the game as two goals flew in inside the first four minutes.

Pires swept home the opener in the second minute from Fredrik Ljungberg’s cross and Henry doubled the Gunners’ advantage two minutes later.

Manchester United, humbled 2-1 by Porto in the Champions League in midweek, were doing their best to keep pace with Arsenal as they led Fulham 1-0 at half-time, thanks to Louis Saha’s 14th-minute goal.

After inspiring the Londoners to a 3-1 win at Old Trafford earlier this season, the Frenchman returned to Loftus Road to haunt his former employers by finishing off a typically swift United counter attack sparked by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Struggling Blackburn also suffered an early setback when Kevin Phillips gave visiting Southampton a fifth-minute lead from a knockdown from James Beattie, newly restored to the starting line-up.

The England international started on the bench against Everton last weekend but came on to score from the penalty spot as the Saints fought back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3.

Chelsea, fresh from their impressive win at Stuttgart in the Champions League, failed to penetrate Manchester City’s defences in the first half.

And the relegation battle between Leicester and Wolves at the Walkers Stadium was scoreless although it took an impressive Ian Walker save to prevent Kenny Miller from giving the visitors the lead late in the first half.

There were also no goals in the game between Everton and Aston Villa.