Arsenal holds off Blackpool to cut gap
April 11, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ARSENAL overcame a brief Blackpool fightback to win 3-1 at Bloomfield Road and close the gap on Manchester United to seven points at the top of the English Premier League yesterday.
Arsenal, which fielded 41-year-old Jens Lehmann in goal for the first time in three years as an emergency stand-in for Manuel Almunia, was 2-0 up after 21 minutes thanks to goals from Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue.
Blackpool replied in the 52nd minute when Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored after the referee waved play on despite Lehmann bringing down DJ Campbell in the penalty area. Although it had other chances, the seaside struggler failed to find the equalizer.
Instead, Arsenal wrapped up the victory with a superb goal on the counter-attack after 76 minutes when Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott combined on the break before Walcott crossed for Robin van Persie to score in front of goal.
Lehmann, who left Arsenal three years ago and returned after coming out of retirement last month to help solve a goalkeeper crisis, was called into the game just before kickoff after Almunia was injured in the warm-up.
The result lifted Arsenal to 62 points - seven behind leader United with a game in hand. Blackpool (33) remained a point and a place above the relegation zone.
Aston Villa was playing Newcastle United later.
Arsenal, which fielded 41-year-old Jens Lehmann in goal for the first time in three years as an emergency stand-in for Manuel Almunia, was 2-0 up after 21 minutes thanks to goals from Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue.
Blackpool replied in the 52nd minute when Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored after the referee waved play on despite Lehmann bringing down DJ Campbell in the penalty area. Although it had other chances, the seaside struggler failed to find the equalizer.
Instead, Arsenal wrapped up the victory with a superb goal on the counter-attack after 76 minutes when Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott combined on the break before Walcott crossed for Robin van Persie to score in front of goal.
Lehmann, who left Arsenal three years ago and returned after coming out of retirement last month to help solve a goalkeeper crisis, was called into the game just before kickoff after Almunia was injured in the warm-up.
The result lifted Arsenal to 62 points - seven behind leader United with a game in hand. Blackpool (33) remained a point and a place above the relegation zone.
Aston Villa was playing Newcastle United later.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
