Everton goes 4th, above Arsenal, in Premier League

SUNDERLAND, England (AP) Everton moved above Arsenal and into fourth place in the Premier League after beating Sunderland 1-0 Saturday at the Stadium of Light.

The Toffees took the Champions League spot after Sunderland defender Wes Brown put the ball into his own net in the 75th minute after failing to control a cross from Gerard Deulofeu.

Everton has 66 points, two ahead of Arsenal. Both clubs have played 33 games.

Sunderland remains bottom of the 20-team league with its relegation fears taking a turn for the worse.

Former Manchester United defender Brown unwittingly turned Deulofeu's cross past goalkeeper Vito Mannone in his side's sixth league own goal of the season.

It was tough on Sunderland, which gave as good as it got for long periods before slipping to a fifth successive league defeat and with just six games left in which to pull off an escape looking increasingly unlikely.

Everton, who had earlier seen Steven Naismith pass up two glorious opportunities to fire his side ahead, got there in the end to leapfrog Arsenal into the top four.

Everton arrived knowing a point would take them into fourth place with the Gunners in FA Cup action this weekend, while Sunderland knew anything other than a win was not good enough.

After the break, Black Cats boss Gus Poyet opted to return to his tried and trusted 4-1-4-1 formation, this time with youngster Connor Wickham at its peak, and his side looked more compact as a result.

However, Everton's ball retention and fluid passing and movement ensured Sunderland was repeatedly stretched, with Leighton Baines and Deulofeu in particular causing problems in wide positions.