LONDON -- Arsenal crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, deepening the crisis enveloping the club after captain William Gallas was dropped for revealing infighting and bemoaning the squad's lack of fight.

While the Gunners' fifth defeat of the Premier League season -- and the second in a row -- derails their fading title ambitions. Pacesetters Chelsea and Liverpool were both held to 0-0 draws at home. Third-placed Manchester United was at Aston Villa later Saturday.

Arsene Wenger's call to his young Arsenal stars to show their strength went unheeded, the team looking uneasy after Gallas' explosive outbursts in an Associated Press interview earlier in the week.

"We have a good attitude and a good spirit," Wenger said. "We are going through a difficult period because of the bad results but I don't think there is anything deeper in the team."

Stephen Ireland put City ahead on the stroke of halftime, exploiting confusion in a vulnerable Arsenal defence stripped of Gallas, whose future with the club now seems in jeopardy.

Gael Clichy and Mikael Silvestre collided as City striker Benjani Mwaruwari released Ireland to clip the ball over Manuel Almunia, Arsenal's captain for the afternoon.

Arsenal fell further behind in the 56th minute when Brazil forward Robinho lobbed Almunia after latching onto Shaun Wright-Phillips' throughball to clinch his ninth goal since joining City from Real Madrid.

Daniel Sturridge compounded a miserable afternoon for Wenger in the 90th minute by sending Almunia the wrong way with a penalty after the 19-year-old striker had been fouled by Johan Djourou.

The defeat, which seemed to vindicate Gallas's comments that the Gunners are "not brave enough in battle," leaves them 10 points behind Chelsea and Liverpool.

But Wenger tried to put the best possible gloss on the defeat.

"We did fight very hard and gave absolutely everything," Wenger said. "I believe in this team and in this squad and we just have to not talk. We have to keep our belief, be united and work together."

Hull came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Portsmouth, Bolton won 3-1 at Middlesbrough, and Stoke edged bottom-placed West Bromwich Albion 1-0.

Not even the return of Fernando Torres to the Liverpool starting lineup for the first time since Oct. 5 could inspire Rafa Benitez's side.

A first-half header went wide and Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer palmed away a shot from the Spain striker shortly after the break.

Robbie Keane was also denied by Schwarzer from eight yards metres.

"We have lost two points, at home you have to win almost every game," Benitez said. "It's a pity and a frustration that we couldn't win. We are really disappointed, but clearly we didn't play well in the first half. We didn't have enough energy, and we weren't passing the ball properly."

Usually free-scoring, Chelsea was sluggish and frustrated by a stubborn Newcastle side.

Joe Cole did find the net for Chelsea after Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given parried a shot from Florent Malouda, but his effort was ruled offside.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given played a key role in securing the draw for the visitors, saving first-half headers from midfielder Frank Lampard and also denying Nicolas Anelka, the league's top scorer, and his France teammate Florent Malouda.

Chelsea enjoyed the vast majority of possession and was guilty of missing chances, particularly from set pieces, with Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic heading over the bar and wide in the first half.

The result was a triumph for interim Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear, brought in on a temporary basis after the departure of Kevin Keegan in September.

Kinnear, whose contract has been extended for another month, has halted Newcastle's slide and the unexpected point will have given the club new hopes of avoiding relegation.