A Thierry Henry hat-trick put Arsenal firmly on course for the English premier league title after they ended a torrid week with a 4-2 win over Liverpool at Highbury on Friday.
The win gives Arsenal, now unbeaten for 31 games from the start of the season, a seven-point lead over Chelsea with both clubs having seven matches remaining. Chelsea, who have 70 points, play Middlesbrough on Saturday.
After going out of the FA Cup and Champions League over the last seven days, Arsene Wenger's men found themselves 2-1 down at halftime with Sami Hyypia and Michael Owen on target for Liverpool and Henry replying for the home side.
But two goals within two minutes at the start of the second half, the first from Robert Pires and then a brilliant second from Henry, gave them the lead.
Henry passed a late fitness test on a back injury to make the starting lineup and grabbed his hat-trick in the 78th minute, his 25th league goal of the season.
Still reeling after defeats to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final last Saturday and Chelsea in the last eight of the Champions League on Tuesday, Arsenal had the worst possible start when Steven Gerrard's goalbound header was glanced over the line by Hyypia after just five minutes.
But after 31 minutes Henry was put through by his compatriot Pires and stroked the ball left-footed past Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.
The goal invigorated Arsenal and they looked to have gained the upper hand only for Steven Gerrard and Owen combined to put the visitors back in front three minutes before the break.
Owen got in front of England team mate Sol Campbell, latched on to Gerrard's slide-rule pass and slipped the ball between Jens Lehmann's legs for his fifth goal in the last four league games.
WONDER GOAL
Arsenal came roaring out after the break and within two minutes Freddie Ljungberg's deft touch had put Pires through and the French midfielder had slotted home the equaliser.
Just over a minute later, Henry took matters into his own hands and came up with a wonder goal, weaving his way through the Liverpool defence and rolling the ball into the far corner of the net, to put Arsenal 3-2 ahead.
Thereafter Arsenal played like champions-elect and Henry grabbed his hat-trick in rather fortuitous circumstances -- his shot came back off Dudek but bounced into the net off the Frenchman's body in the 78th minute.
Liverpool never gave up but remained fourth in the table occupying the last Champions League berth on 49 points, just one above Newcastle United.
Arsenal, who are heading for their 13th league title, are back in action again on Sunday at Newcastle, while Liverpool host Charlton Athletic on Monday.
In the other premier league match on Friday, Everton host Tottenham Hotspur in an evening fixture.
