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Sunderland safe after Arsenal tie in English Premier League

Published:Wednesday | May 20, 2015 | 5:08 PM
AP
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey (right) attempts to score a rebound off a Theo Walcott shot beside Sunderland's Sebastian Coates (left) and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon (bottom right), during the English Premier League football match at the Emirates Stadium in London, yesterday. The match ended 0-0.

LONDON (AP):

Sunderland secured their English Premier League survival yesterday by drawing 0-0 at Arsenal, denying the London club a chance to guarantee a place in the Champions League group stage.

Sunderland moved four points clear of the relegation zone with a game to spare, ensuring Dick Advocaat completed the survival mission he took on when replacing Gus Poyet as manager two months ago. Advocaat was tearful at the final whistle on the Emirates Stadium pitch, the first time the 67-year-old Dutchman said he had cried during an illustrious football career.

"Nobody was expecting we would do it and the team did it together," said Advocaat, who has won titles with PSV Eindhoven, Zenit Saint-Petersburg and Glasgow club, Rangers.

"It is an unbelievable moment staying up," he added. "The most important thing is the players started believing they could do something."