Arsenal broke the English league record for an unbeaten start to the season but were denied a first league win in four against Manchester United after a 1-1 draw at Highbury.

Arsene Wenger’s side have now gone 30 games unbeaten this season, surpassing the 29 game record set by Leeds in 1973-74 and Liverpool in 1987-88.

Thierry Henry opened the scoring in the 50th Minute with a spectacular strike from outside the area that swerved past Roy Carroll in net. Louis Saha, on as a late substitute, grabbed an equaliser from close-range from Solskjaer’s low cross.

Manchester United remain in third-place, twelve points behind Arsenal, but are now also five points behind second-placed Chelsea.

Ranieri’s Chelsea thrashed bottom club Wolves 5-2 to move to just seven points off Arsenal. A hat-trick from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink added to goals from Melchiot and Lampard after Wolves had earlier taken the lead through Camara and Craddock.

The victory was later overshadowed by England coach Sven Goran Eriksson’s announcement that he would not be the next Chelsea manager. Eriksson signed an extension to his present contract with the Football Association that will keep him as England coach until 2008.

To the discomfort of Ranieri though, Eriksson admitted that he had been contacted by Chelsea with respect to the managerial position at the club. Ranieri now seems almost certain to leave the club at the end of the season despite guiding his side to the champions league quarter-finals and lying second-placed in the league.

Liverpool retain the final champions league place despite drawing 0-0 with relegation threatened Leicester City.

Fifth-placed Newcastle United lost 1-0 at the Reebok Stadium to Bolton after Henrik Pedersen’s early goal.

Portsmouth gained a crucial 2-1 victory against Blackburn Rovers to move out of the relegation places. Goals from Teddy Sheringham and Aiyegbeni Yakubu gave the south-coast side their first away win of the season.

Leeds United’s 4-1 defeat to Birmingham City has left them five points from safety. Two goals apiece from Bryan Hughes and Mikael Forssell overturned an early strike from Mark Viduka.