BEIJING， Oct. 9 -- Arsenal returned to first place in the Premier League， defeating Sunderland 3-2 with Robin van Persies second goal in the 80th minute at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

    The Dutch forward， who scored Arsenal’s winner against Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League in midweek， struck the opening goal with a cracking free kick that went in off the underside of the crossbar in the seventh minute.

    And when Philippe Senderos stabbed the ball home in the 14th minute following a mis-kick by the recalled Abou Diaby as the visitors failed to clear a corner， it looked like the London side was set to romp to victory.

    But Roy Keane’s visitors fought back bravely and were level just after half time.

    After a let-off when Diaby’s 20th-minute effort was ruled out when Mathieu Flamini was adjudged offside， Ross Wallace reduced the deficit from the edge of the penalty area after keeper Manuel Almunia did well to block an angled shot by Kenwyne Jones.

    Craig Gordon denied van Persie before the break and Senderos headed wide from close range from the resulting corner before Jones leveled in the 48th minute.

    Van Persie made the breakthrough in the 80th minute， brilliantly controlling a pass from Walcott to score after the sub did well to turn and set up the chance.

    Sunderland then had defender Paul McShane sent off for an ugly tackle on Alexander Hleb in the 90th minute before Walcott hit the post in injury time.

    It was unbeaten Arsenals 10th successive victory in all competitions this season， and put Wengers team two points clear of second-placed Manchester United having played one less match.

    Chelsea beat Bolton 1-0， giving Avram Grant his first victory as coach of the Blues. Chelsea ended a 460-minute goal drought in the league when Salomon Kalou scored in the 41st minute.

    Fernando Torres scored in the 90th minute to salvage a 2-2 tie for Liverpool against Tottenham， and Michael Owen marked his return from minor surgery with a goal in Newcastles 3-2 win over Everton.

    Arsenal leads the standings with 22 points， followed by Manchester United with 20. The Red Devils had moved into the top spot Saturday for the first time this season with a 4-0 win over Wigan. Manchester City is third with 19 points and Liverpool is fourth with 16.

    Reading beat Derby 1-0 on Kevin Doyles 64th-minute header to end a two-game losing streak. Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann kept his third shutout of the Premier League season -- a marked contrast to last Saturday， when the American let in seven goals in a 7-4 loss to Portsmouth. U.S. midfielder Eddie Lewis came on as a 65th-minute substitute for Derby.

    Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel helped his team win 2-1 by pushing a header from Birminghams Olivier Kapo over the bar in injury time.