Arsenal dent Man U hopes

LONDON (AP):

Arsenal threw open the English title race yesterday with a 1-0 win over Manchester United, that left the Premier League leaders vulnerable to a late charge by defending champions Chelsea.

Aaron Ramsey scored in the 56th minute at Emirates Stadium to cap a dominant display by Arsenal and cut United's lead over the Blues to three points with three games remaining.

With third-place Arsenal still six points off the lead, the Gunners' victory may have come too late to reignite their title hopes.

But after beating Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday, Chelsea's goal difference is now identical to United's, giving the defending champions the chance to go top if they beat United at Old Trafford next Sunday.

"It gives Chelsea a major chance now," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "But in terms of ability - a game at Old Trafford - the supporters will be ready for it and so will our players."

Also yesterday, Liverpool moved ahead of Spurs on goal difference into fifth place with an untroubled 3-0 win over Newcastle.

Although Spurs have played one game fewer, their chances of reaching the top four to make the Champions League for a second straight season appear to be over.

manchester city move up

Manchester City, in the fourth and final Champions League berth, beat last-place West Ham 2-1 to move seven points ahead of Liverpool and Spurs.

Nigel de Jong and Pablo Zabaleta scored in the first half for City, but Liverpool still have a good chance to finish in fifth place - two spots higher than last season.

"We'll just keep going and see what we get," Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said. "It's great reward that we've got to where we are."

United are likely to reach the Champions League final on Wednesday and were unbeaten in seven meetings with Arsenal, but the closest they came to scoring at Emirates Stadium was when Wayne Rooney curled a 49th-minute free kick towards the top corner. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved and Patrice Evra put the rebound into the side netting.

Szczesny also blocked a near-post shot from Nani following a 77th-minute counterattack and Arsenal, which drew their previous three home matches and lost 2-1 at Bolton last weekend, held firm with the youngest team fielded by any club in this season's Premier League.

Ramsey's inclusion in place of captain Cesc Fabregas, who was kicked on the thigh in training Friday, meant that the average age of Arsenal's starting line-up was 23 years, 296 days.

But it crucially meant that, with Jack Wilshere and Alex Song also playing, the Gunners' midfield was more muscular. With United stalwart Ryan Giggs missing because of flu, Arsenal dominated possession - taking 80 per cent in the first 15 minutes and 57 per cent overall.

"I didn't think we started playing until we lost a goal to be honest," Ferguson told United's MUTV channel. "It was a very low-key performance up until then.

"They've run themselves into the ground and tried their best in terms of effort, but we never started playing until then."

Van Persie set up Ramsey's first Premier League goal of the season - and first since December 2009 - after he was released down the right by Theo Walcott.

The Netherlands striker carried the ball into the area and, given time by United's defence to weigh up his options, spotted Ramsey screaming for the ball just inside the box with his arms aloft.

Van Persie rolled a pass to the unmarked midfielder, who placed a first-time shot from 15 yards across goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and in at the far post.

United could have had a late penalty when Gael Clichy trod on Michael Owen's leg just inside the area, but the Red Devils were lucky not to concede a kick of their own in the first half when Nemanja Vidic used his hand to subtly deflect a cross away from Van Persie's head.

Liverpool lead

Maxi Rodriguez put Liverpool ahead with a deflected shot in the 10th at Anfield, before Dirk Kuyt hit his eighth goal in seven Premier League matches with a penalty, after Luis Suarez was wrestled to the ground by defender Mike Williamson.

Suarez's 65th-minute close-range finish made the game safe with his third goal since joining Liverpool in January.

Liverpool, whose 21-year-old record of 18 English league titles could still be broken by United this season, have now scored 14 goals in three home matches.

Also yesterday, Wolverhampton Wanderers drew 1-1 at local rivals Birmingham.

West Ham have 32 points, two fewer points than 19th-place Wolves. Wigan are next with 35 points, with Blackpool out of the three-team relegation zone only on goal difference.

 BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEWS


BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 0

GOAL:-BLACKBURN: OLSSON 20th.

Blackburn boosted their chances of avoiding relegation as Martin Olsson's goal gave them a deserved victory over Bolton at Ewood Park. The Swedish full-back was a constant threat down the left and scored in the 20th minute with a low 20-yard drive. Olsson also had a shot headed off the line by Paul Robinson, while Bolton's Rodrigo Moreno fired against a post.

BLACKPOOL 0 STOKE CITY 0

Blackpool did little to boost their survival hopes when they were held at home by Stoke City, who themselves are sitting comfortably in mid-table. In a game of few cutting edge displays and chances, Blackpool were left hovering above the bottom three on 35 points, the same as third-from-bottom Wigan.

CHELSEA 2 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1

GOALS:-CHELSEA: LAMPARD 45th; KALOU 89th. TOTTENHAM: SANDRO 19th.

Controversial goals from Frank Lampard and Salomon Kalou, who struck in the last minute, kept alive Chelsea's hopes of catching leaders Manchester United. Sandro gave Tottenham the lead when he fired an unstoppable half-volley past Petr Cech from 25 yards on 19 minutes. When Heurelho Gomes spilled Lampard's 45th-minute shot he scrambled back and appeared to stop it from crossing the line, but the goal was given. And Kalou looked offside as he bundled home Didier Drogba's shot late on.

SUNDERLAND 0 FULHAM 3

GOALS:-FULHAM: KAKUTA 33rd; DAVIES 61st, 73rd.

Sunderland's glaring lack of a fit striker plus some shoddy defending cost them dearly as Fulham celebrated only their second away win of the season. Gael Kakuta scored his first Fulham goal, running on to Bobby Zamora's cross and bundling the ball home as Sunderland's defenders failed to react. And as Sunderland lost their shape in the second half, Simon Davies scored twice to silence the home crowd.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2 ASTON VILLA 1

GOALS:-WBA: ODEMWINGIE 60th; MULUMBU 84th. VILLA: MEITE OG 4th.

A late strike from Youssouf Mulumbu gave 10-man West Brom their first league victory against Aston Villa for more than a quarter of a century. The home side fell behind in the fourth minute when Abdoulaye Meite sliced a Stewart Downing cross into his own net. West Brom hit back on the hour when Peter Odemwingie volleyed home a close-range equaliser. Paul Scharner was dismissed moments later, but with six minutes left

Mulumbu flicked home the winner.

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 EVERTON 1

GOALS:-WIGAN: N'ZOGBIA 21st. EVERTON: BAINES PEN 78th.

Leighton Barnes' penalty earned Everton a draw and kept his former side Wigan in the relegation dogfight after a lively game at the DW Stadium. Baines netted from the spot after Hugo Rodallega's clear handball after Wigan had looked on course to win thanks to Charles N'Zogbia's first-half goal. After scoring N'Zogbia gave away a penalty when he fouled Leon Osman, but Mikel Arteta's spot-kick was saved.