Everton?s Lee Carsley (right) challenges Arsenal?s Julio Baptista for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match in Liverpool, northern England yesterday. Everton won 1-0.
LONDON (AP):
Andy Johnson scored the winner in injury time and Everton beat Arsenal 1-0 in the Premier League yesterday.
Aston Villa held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw and Charlton improved its chances of avoiding relegation with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle.
Everton?s Lee Carsley and Leon Osman both hit the post against Arsenal before Johnson netted the winner with hail and snow falling at Goodison Park. Arsenal failed to clear a corner in the first minute of injury time and the ball rolled to Johnson who fired a low 12-metre shot inside the near post.
Fourth-place Liverpool nearly earned all three points at Villa Park, but goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen pushed substitute Robbie Fowler?s header around the post in the 88th.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard shot wide early in the second half and Villa substitute Patrik Berger, a former Liverpool forward, twice missed the target from inside the area.
Arsenal now have 55 points from 29 games and Liverpool has 54 from 30.
Both teams are well behind leader Manchester United, which beat Bolton 4-1 Saturday to stay six points ahead of second-place Chelsea. The Blues beat Sheffield United 3-0 and have 69 points to United?s 75.
China midfielder Zheng Zhi scored his first goal for Charlton to put the Addicks ahead in the 53rd minute against Newcastle at The Valley.
After Darren Bent?s free kick had hit the crossbar, Zheng followed up to head into an empty net.
Scored from the spot
In the 88th, Zheng was pushed by Nolberto Solano inside the area and Jerome Thomas scored from the spot.
Charlton are now only four points away from the safety zone in 18th place. Sheffield United dropped to 17th after losing at Chelsea on Saturday and have 31 points, four more than Charlton.
?The way we are playing is making many of our opponents feel very nervous and if we can repeat some of the quality we showed in the second half we?ve got a great chance of staying up,? Charlton manager Alan Pardew said.
West Ham also improved its survival chances by beating host Blackburn 2-1 Saturday and have 23 points. Last-placed Watford, which lost at Tottenham 3-1, have 20 points.
In the race to gain promotion, Birmingham drew 1-1 at sixth place West Bromwich Albion to reclaim second from Sunderland in the League Championship.
Derby lead the league with 73 points, followed by Birmingham with 71 and Sunderland with 70. The top two teams go up automatically, while the next four go into the play-offs for one more spot.
