Premier League

NOT BAD FOR OPENERS: Louis Saha (second from right) is congratulated by team mates after openinng the scoring against West Ham at Upton Park on Sunday. The Toffees ended up 2-1 winners. / Getty Images

HAPPY HAPPY: Phil Brown (with Kevin Kilbane to his right) is over the moon after Hull score the winning goal against Stoke at the KC Stadium on Sunday. / Getty Images

Arsenal cruised into second place in the Premier League on Saturday, taking advantage of Manchester United's inactivity by hammering Wolves 4-1 to at Molyneux.

With the champions not playing Chelsea until Sunday, the Gunners kept up the pressure at the top of the table with an emphatic victory.

They got a helping hand in the first half from the home side, with both Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock scoring own goals.

And the Gunners kept their foot on the pedal, Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin extending their lead before Craddock got a consolation goal.

A late goal from substitute Kevin McDonald earned Burnley their first away point of the season in an entertaining 3-3 draw with Manchester City.

City had fought back from two goals down at Eastlands to lead, but McDonald struck four minutes from time, firing home a pass inside the area from Steven Fletcher.

Owen Coyle's men had lost all five of their previous matches on the road, but were on course to remedy that when Graham Alexander scored from the spot in the 19th minute after Joleon Lescott's handball in the area.

Fletcher then grabbed another after 32 minutes, adding the simplest of tap-ins to Chris Eagles' pass.

But Shaun Wright-Phillips halved the deficit before the interval, with the help of a deflection off Stephen Jordan, and Kolo Toure levelled after 55 minutes when he stabbed home a pass from Lescott following Gareth Barry's free-kick.

City were then in front for the first time three minutes later through Craig Bellamy, who applied the finishing touch to a cross from Wright-Phillips, and appeared to be heading for the win until McDonald's unlikely equaliser.

Tottenham took advantage by moving into the top four courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

Robbie Keane stabbed home after 12 minutes to beat Craig Gordon, who moments earlier had done well to palm away a volley from the Irishman.

Andy Reid hit the post for the visitors in the first half, while the Black Cats were awarded a dubious penalty after 51 minutes when Darren Bent went to ground under a challenge from Heurelho Gomes.

The Spurs 'keeper was booked for his protests, but redeemed himself by saving Bent's weak effort.

Tom Huddlestone then added to Sunderland's woes with Spurs' second after 68 minutes.

Aston Villa also climb the standings - into fifth - thanks to their 5-1 rout of Bolton.

Ashley Young gave Villa the lead after five minutes, smashing home on the rebound after Jussi Jaaskelainen had twice saved headers from John Carew.

Gabriel Agbonlahor then added a second after 43 minutes, but Johan Elmander hauled Bolton back into the match on the stroke of half-time.

Carew made it 3-1 eight minutes after the restart, and although James Milner had a penalty saved by Jaaskelaainen after 70 minutes, the midfielder made amends by smashing home Villa's fourth two minutes later.

Carlos Cuellar made it an afternoon to forget for Gary Megson's side when he headed home with 15 minutes remaining.

Blackburn came from behind to claim a 3-1 win over Portsmouth, a result which earned them a passage out of the bottom three.

Pompey were looking to build on their 4-0 thrashing of Wigan last weekend, and Jamie O'Hara gave them the perfect start at Ewood Park with the opening goal after 15 minutes from Aruna Dindane's pass.

But Jason Roberts got Rovers back on level terms after 53 minutes, poking home a header from Ryan Nelson, who then headed the hosts in front in the 73rd minute.

Roberts then put the result to bed with a left-footed strike four minutes from time.

Hull manager Phil Brown breathed a sight of relief on Sunday as Seyi Olofinjana and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink fired his side to a priceless 2-1 Premier League win over 10-man Stoke.

The struggling Tigers had been heading for yet another damaging defeat - and Brown possibly for the sack - after Matthew Etherington's first-half strike at the KC Stadium.

But Hull were rewarded for their greater endeavour as Olofinjana levelled against his former club - and substitute Vennegoor of Hesselink won it in the final minute, moments after Abdoulaye Faye was sent off.

Everton secured a much-needed first win in five Premier League games with a battling 2-1 victory at West Ham, who slipped back into the relegation zone as a result.

Louis Saha, who missed the midweek Europa League defeat to Benfica with a calf problem, netted from 20 yards against the run of play on 26 minutes.

Dan Gosling added a second just after the hour, but the Hammers made a fight of it following an own goal by Tony Hibbert.