Van Gaal handed respite as Man Utd held to goalless draw

Manchester United's manager Louis van Gaal leaves the pitch after the final whistle of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea. (AFP PHOTO/OLI SCARFF)

MANCHESTER: Embattled Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal remains on the brink after his struggling side were held to a 0-0 draw by Chelsea, while Arsenal surged to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Monday.

United had lost their last four previous games - their worst run within a single season since 1961 - and van Gaal hinted after Saturday's dismal 2-0 defeat at Stoke that he was thinking about quitting.

United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had reportedly talked the Dutchman out of resigning earlier in the month as the team's struggles intensified and it had been suggested van Gaal would either walk out or be sacked if there was no improvement against Chelsea.

Van Gaal's players, many of whom are said to be unhappy with his tactics, gave a solid enough display. But sixth placed United, without a win in eight games in all competitions, still failed to score at home for sixth time this season - leaving them five points off the top four and their manager still on borrowed time.

"Will I resign? On the contrary," van Gaal told BT Sport when quizzed on his future in a post-match interview. "When the players can give such a performance with a lot of pressure, there is not any reason to resign for me. Maybe the media wants me to but I shall not resign."

Juan Mata and Anthony Martial both hit the woodwork for United in the first half, while Wayne Rooney was denied by a fine stop from Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea captain John Terry had a goalbound header superbly saved by David de Gea, who also kept out a fierce Pedro Rodriguez strike early in the second half.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal rebounded from their 4-0 hammering at Southampton on Saturday with a convincing display that reaffirmed their title credentials and secured a fourth win in their last five league games.

The Gunners are one point clear of second placed Leicester, who can regain pole position if Claudio Ranieri's surprise title contenders defeat fourth placed Manchester City on Tuesday.

Arsene Wenger's men were in front when Mesut Ozil's cross was guided high into the corner of the net by Brazilian defender Gabriel in the 27th minute for his first goal for Arsenal.

It was Ozil's league leading 16th assist of the season and the German midfielder almost had another before the interval when Gabriel struck a post from his set-piece. Ozil took matters into his own hands again in the 63rd minute as the former Real Madrid star side-footed home from Olivier Giroud's pass.

There was also a significant milestone for Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, who set a new Premier League record of 170 clean sheets, with 162 of those coming in his time at Chelsea.

Battling back

West Ham are up to seventh after battling back to defeat Southampton 2-1 at Upton Park. Ronald Koeman's side went ahead when Dusan Tadic pressured Hammers defender Carl Jenkinson into a 13th minute goal.

But West Ham winger Michail Antonio equalised in bizarre circumstances in the 69th minute when an attempted Southampton clearance hit him on the head and looped over Saints goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

Andy Carroll won it in the 79th minute when he drove in the rebound after an Antonio header hit the bar.

Son Heung-min's 89th-minute strike sent Tottenham third as the South Korea forward sealed a 2-1 win at 10-man Watford.

Tottenham took a 17th-minute lead when Erik Lamela stabbed home following a defensive mix-up, before Odion Ighalo stabbed home his 14th goal of the season to equalise for Watford four minutes before half-time.

But Watford lost Nathan Ake to a red card for a waist-high foul on Lamela in the 63rd minute and Son struck at the death, gathering Kieran Trippier's half-volleyed pass and beating Heurelho Gomes.

Crystal Palace remain in fifth place, four points below the Champions League berths, following a goalless home draw with Swansea City.

Meanwhile, in-form Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic scored a stoppage-time winner from the penalty spot as Stoke City edged Everton 4-3 in a thrilling game at Goodison Park.

Stoke twice went ahead through Xherdan Shaqiri, only for Romelu Lukaku to equalise twice.

Gerard Deulofeu put Everton ahead from Ross Barkley's pass in the 71st minute, but Joselu drew Stoke level 10 minutes from time before Arnautovic settled the game from the spot after he had been fouled by John Stones.

Goals in each half from Jonny Howson and Dieumerci Mbokani gave Norwich City a 2-0 win over Aston Villa that left the Midlands club 11 points adrift of safety at the foot of the table.

Newcastle United also remain in the bottom three after falling to a 78th-minute Darren Fletcher header in a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

English Premier League results:

Arsenal 2 Bournemouth 0

Crystal Palace 0 Swansea 0

Everton 3 Stoke 4

Manchester United 0 Chelsea 0

Norwich 2 Aston Villa 0

Watford 1 Tottenham 2

West Brom 1 Newcastle 0

West Ham 2 Southampton 1