LONDON, 21 March 2004 — Arsenal clocked up a record-equaling unbeaten start to the season yesterday with a nervy 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers that kept them nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Goals from Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp ensured Arsenal matched the feat of Leeds United in 1973-74 and Liverpool in 1987-88 of going 29 top-flight league matches without defeat from the start of a season.

Arsenal, with 73 points, did not extend their lead at the top, though, after second-placed Chelsea beat Fulham 2-1 in the west London derby and champions Manchester United trounced Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 to reach 61 points in third place.

A last-minute goal from Sami Hyypia gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over lowly Wolverhampton Wanderers, teenage England forward Wayne Rooney scored for 10-man Everton as they drew 1-1 with Leicester City and League Cup winners Middlesbrough won a goal-fest with Birmingham City 5-3.

The game in Leicester was overshadowed by tragedy, after an Everton fan was fatally injured outside the stadium by a piece of flying debris on a day of high winds.

Bergkamp, who is seeking a new one-year contract to keep him at Highbury next season, made one and scored another as Arsenal rattled up a ninth consecutive league win despite an unconvincing second half.

Gers Give Fans Four-Goal Tonic

In Glasgow, Rangers gave their frustrated fans a four-goal tonic as Dundee were swept aside at Ibrox yesterday.

Condemned to a trophy-less season, Rangers have only pride to play for and manager Alex McLeish will have taken heart from a spirited performance as he seeks to rebuild for next season.

The visitors managed to hold out until four minutes from the break before Dane Peter Lovenkrands got on the end of Frank de Boer’s header to smash the ball past Julian Speroni.

There was a hint of offside about the opener but Rangers’ second could only be applauded, Frank de Boer curling home an inch-perfect free-kick from 25 yards two minutes after the break.

Dundee United stunned Kilmarnock with four goals before the break at Tannadice. Jim McIntyre helped himself to a hat-trick and Charlie Miller also found the back of the net as United took advantage of Killie’s lack of appetite for the battle.

Danny Invincible’s goal reduced the deficit to 4-1 but by that stage the contest was over.

A superb shot from Derek Young was enough to secure Dunfermline all three points against bottom club Partick, for whom Jamie Mitchell missed a 35th minute penalty.

The match between Motherwell and Hearts was postponed as a result of the gale force winds battering much of Scotland.

Bayern Draw Dents Slim Title Hopes Further

In Berlin, Bayern Munich’s slim hopes of retaining the Bundesliga title suffered another blow when they were held to a 1-1 draw at strugglers Hertha Berlin yesterday.

Leaders Werder Bremen, now eight points ahead of second-placed Bayern, can stretch their lead over the champions to 11 points with nine games remaining if they win at VfL Wolfsburg yesterday.

In Berlin, Dutch striker Roy Makaay opened the scoring for Bayern with a superb effort from 20 meters on eight minutes, but the capital club leveled two minutes from the break with a penalty by Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho.

However, there was some good news for Bayern, whose only reasonable goal left is second place for direct access to the Champions League, because third-placed VfB Stuttgart also had to share the points.

The southerners, who remain three points below Bayern, where held to a 2-2 draw at bottom club Cologne.

Stuttgart moved ahead courtesy of midfielder Silvio Meissner in the 28th minute but Cologne leveled through Florian Kringe just before halftime before taking the lead with a superb effort from fellow midfielder Markus Feulner in the 71st minute.

An own goal from Cologne striker Matthias Scherz seconds later saved Stuttgart from an embarrassing defeat.

Elber Sends Lyon Top With 1-0 Win Over Nantes

Paris, Giovane Elber earned Olympique Lyon a 1-0 win over Nantes to send the champions provisionally top of Ligue 1 yesterday.

Lyon, chasing a third successive title, now have 60 points from 29 matches, one more than Monaco who host fourth-placed Sochaux later.

Watched by Porto coach Jose Mourinho, who Lyon face in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, Lyon took the lead in the 26th minute when Elber slotted home despite slipping.