Arsenal [ Images ] have hammered Leeds United 4-1 to stay top of the premier league but there was no let-up in the pressure as champions Manchester United [ Images ] and title rivals Chelsea [ Images ] both clocked up victories.

Thierry Henry [ Images ] scored twice and Robert Pires [ Images ] and Gilberto grabbed one apiece at Elland Road on Saturday as Arsenal swept to an easy victory over struggling Leeds to stay top on 27 points.

But Chelsea stay just a point behind after Romanian striker Adrian Mutu got the only goal of their game at Everton, while United moved on to 25 points after a 3-0 win over Portsmouth.

United, beaten at home by Fulham [ Images ] last weekend, made no such mistake at Old Trafford on Saturday as Diego Forlan [ Images ] gave them a first-half lead, Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo [ Images ] added his first for the club and fellow substitute Roy Keane [ Images ] smashed home a late third.