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By Alan Baldwin
LONDON, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Unbeaten Arsenal stretched their lead in the Premier league to five points after a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Saturday while Chelsea beat West Ham United 1-0 to overhaul Manchester United and go second.
First-half goals from Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor cancelled out Craig Gardner's 14th-minute strike and Arsenal, dominant in the first half, survived concerted pressure from the home side in the second to take all the points.
While Arsenal provided Villa with a masterclass in passing football in the first half, they will have felt fortunate to leave Birmingham with all three points after Martin O'Neill's side dominated the second.
Gardner's neat half-volley had given the home side hope, but Flamini sent a searing low left-foot shot from 20 metres into the net for the equaliser nine minutes later.
"We worked very hard for it," Flamini said. "It was a bit difficult in the second half but we defended well and the important thing is we got the three points."
Adebayor headed Arsenal's second goal in the 36th, putting away a Bacary Sagna cross after a typically tight passing move.
Villa discomfited the leaders throughout the second half and John Carew's header hit the bar in the 62nd minute but their industry was in vain and Arsenal survived.
Arsenal, are on 36 with a game in hand while champions Manchester United, on 30 from 14 games, host Fulham at Old Trafford on Monday.
