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Arsenal keep pressure on Tottenham

Danny Collins (right) heads into his own net to put Arsenal into the lead.

LONDON, England -- Three goals in 14 first half minutes gave Arsenal a routine 3-0 Premier League victory at relegated Sunderland on Monday.

The victory left Arsenal four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the battle to secure the final place in next season's Champions League qualifiers.

Arsenal, who can also qualify for the Champions League by winning the final against Barcelona on May 17, can cut that deficit to one at Manchester City on Thursday before Sunday's final matches.

Sunderland, rooted to the bottom virtually all season and still without a home victory, looked comfortable until the 29th minute when Thierry Henry's free kick was headed into his own net by Danny Collins.

Henry set up Cesc Fabregas for the second after 40 minutes before making it 3-0 himself with a superbly struck free-kick two minutes before the break.

Sunderland, who have amassed only 12 points, will break their record for the lowest amount of points in a Premier League season of 19 set in 2002-2003.

Should they fail to beat Fulham on Thursday, they will become the only club in the history of the top four divisions in English football to conclude a season without a home victory.

Meanwhile, Manchester United were frustrated in their bid to secure second place, and automatic entry into the Champions League, when they were held 0-0 at home by Middlesbrough.

Victory would have confirmed United as runners-up to Chelsea, who captured a second successive title with a 3-0 rout against them at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy had a second-half penalty saved as UEFA Cup finalists Boro held on for a point.

United go into the final round of fixtures with 80 points, one more than third-placed Liverpool. They host Charlton on Sunday while Liverpool travel to Portsmouth.

West Bromwich Albion, who were relegated on Saturday without playing, lost 1-0 at home to West Ham United for whom Nigel Reo-Coker scored the only goal.

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