LONDON (AP)—Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday to stay ahead of Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

Didier Drogba scored twice in the first 23 minutes to establish a dominance that Arsenal was unable to overturn despite an improved second-half performance.

“Arsenal played well and we are happy with those two goals,” Drogba said.

Victory lifted the Blues to 58 points, two more than defending champion United and nine more than third-place Arsenal.

After losing 3-1 to United last weekend, Arsenal was desperate for victory at Stamford Bridge but now faces a tough challenge to close on the leading pair with just 13 games remaining.

Chelsea captain John Terry started the game two days after being stripped of the England captaincy and set up the first goal in the eighth minute.

But the defender could be a doubt for Wednesday’s match at Everton after receiving treatment to his left thigh midway through the second half, only returning to the game with his leg heavily strapped.

Drogba now has 17 Premier League goals this season, putting him second in the scoring charts to United’s Wayne Rooney on 21.

Arsenal hosts fourth-place Liverpool on Wednesday.

Also Sunday, former England striker Kevin Phillips scored twice in the last 10 minutes to give Birmingham a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and preserve his side’s five-month unbeaten streak at home.

Birmingham’s first win in three matches lifted it to 37 points in eighth place, 11 spots ahead of a Wolves side that has won away from home only twice in the league this season.

All of Birmingham’s 10 Premier League wins this season have been by a margin of just one goal.

Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 on Saturday to take fourth place from Tottenham, which was held to a 0-0 draw by Aston Villa.

Manchester United beat last-place Portsmouth 5-0 and now has the best goal difference in the league.