Blues go joint top as Bolton hold Gunners

Chelsea joined Arsenal at the top of the English Premier League after Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo earned them a 1-0 victory over west London rivals Fulham on Saturday.

Crespo struck with a powerful second-half header to lift Chelsea to 39 points, level with Arsenal, who could only draw at Bolton Wanderers for the second successive season.

Bolton, who scored twice in the final 16 minutes of the corresponding fixture last season for a draw that derailed Arsenal's title charge, left it late again as Henrik Pedersen lashed in a left-footed equaliser seven minutes from time.

Arsenal squandered several chances to take the lead before Frenchman Robert Pires finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, scoring from close range after Fredrik Ljungberg's shot had been blocked.

Pedersen was instrumental in Bolton's shock win at Chelsea last week, his cross being turned into his own net by John Terry, but Claudio Ranieri's side bounced back against Fulham.

Chelsea have not lost away to Fulham since the 1976-77 season, and they rarely looked like squandering that record against the league's surprise package.

Damien Duff, Adrian Mutu and John Terry all wasted glorious chances before the break and Frank Lampard and the lively Crespo continued the theme before Crespo thumped home a pinpoint cross from Wayne Bridge after 62 minutes.

Chelsea and Arsenal have identical goal differences and scoring records, but they can both be overtaken by champions Manchester United, who will go top with victory over the struggling Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Fulham hang on to fourth place though they are joined on 25 points by Newcastle United, who drew 0-0 at Charlton Athletic.

With none of the bottom three clubs in action, some of the other relegation-threatened clubs had the chance to give themselves some breathing space.

Everton moved four points above the drop zone after coming from behind to beat Leicester City 3-2 at Goodison Park -- Tomasz Radzinski scoring the winner after Wayne Rooney had equalised.

Aston Villa, who reached the semi-final of the League Cup by beating Chelsea on Wednesday, completed a good week with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, their first away win since January.

Bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers had their home game against Liverpool postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, while Birmingham City's match against Middlesbrough was also the victim of torrential rain that swept the country.