Associated Press

London, February 11

Thierry Henry fired two goals to go past 100 in Arsenal colours on Tuesday as the Gunners moved five points clear of Manchester United in the title race by beating Southampton 2-0.

But both goals brought a furious response from the Saints because the first appeared offside and the second came with the the players expecting the play to stop with a Southampton player injured.

In other games, Leeds moved off last place by beating Wolves 4-1 and second from last Leicester was held 1-1 at home by Bolton.

Without a league victory at Highbury in 31 games since 1987, Saints lost Anders Svensson in the 27th minute after a challenge by Gilberto Silva and then fell behind four minutes later.

Henry appeared offside when he collected a through ball from Robert Pires and held off Darren Kenton before shooting past Antti Niemi. It was his 18th league goal of the season and 100th in Arsenal colours, his first being against Southampton in September 1999.

With new signing Jose Antonio Reyes failing to make an impact, Arsenal came under pressure and German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was forced to make top quality saves from Brett Ormerod and Chris Baird.

But the Gunners made sure of the points in the final minute when Henry scored his second, taking a cross from Pires to turn the ball home. But Saints were complaining that play should have stopped because of a Ray Parlour foul on Danny Higginbotham, who lay injured.

A third best Elland Road crowd of the season of 36,867 saw Leeds go ahead in the 14th minute when Stephen Caldwell knocked down a deflected cross from Jermaine Pennant and Alan Smith got to the ball before goalkeeper Paul Jones to roll the ball into the net.

But Wolves levelled in the 21st minute when Carl Cort chested down a through ball from Alex Rae to Viorel Ganea whose right foot shot went through the legs of Dominic Matteo and past Paul Robinson from 20 yards.

Four minutes before half time, a deep free kick from Didier Domi was touched on by Smith to Matteo who fired home via the leg of Wolves midfielder Mark Kennedy.

James Milner, 17, fired the third in the 65th minute after great work by Smith and Mark Viduka turned to fire a powerful shot past Jones for the fourth.

The result took Leeds off last place on goal difference and left Wolves at the bottom. Leeds is also struggling to stay afloat financially and its creditors have given the club another extension until Friday to find new money or they could call in debts of $148 million.

Seeking a first victory in 11 games, Leicester went ahead in the 16th minute when 37-year-old former England striker Les Ferdinand met a cross from Riccardo Scimeca with a powerful header. Goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen did well to block the header but Ferdinand powered in the rebound.

But a blunder by Foxes goalkeeper Ian Walker handed Bolton an equaliser in the 33rd.