Arsenal secures Champions spot
Source: Agencies |
May 21, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ARSENAL qualified for the Champions League for the 16th straight season after edging Tottenham to fourth place in the Premier League, as Alex Ferguson bowed out as Manchester United manager with a 5-5 draw against West Bromwich Albion.
Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley sealed an unconvincing 1-0 for Arsenal at Newcastle, rendering Spurs' 1-0 victory over Sunderland, courtesy of a late screamer from Gareth Bale, meaningless.
Chelsea finished third, and claimed the last automatic Champions League spot, by beating Everton 2-1 thanks to Fernando Torres' winner in Rafa Benitez's last game in charge of the Europa League champion.
With the title fight decided a month ago and three relegation spots already settled, the remaining business was bidding farewell to several icons of English football.
Ferguson was treated to a wild match at The Hawthorns in his 1,500th and last game at United, with his team surrendering a 5-2 lead in the final 10 minutes to draw. While United midfielder Paul Scholes, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and Stoke striker Michael Owen all played their final games before retiring.
"I have been here a long time and it has to come to an end sometime," said Carragher, who ended his 737-game career with a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over last-place QPR.
There were 36 goals on the final day of the season. None better than Bale's latest match-winner from 35 yards for Tottenham that guaranteed an extremely tense final few minutes in the race for fourth between two fierce north London rivals.
It meant Arsenal needed to hold onto its lead at St. James Park, and when winger Theo Walcott slid a shot against the post in injury time there was still a chance for Newcastle to muster an equalizer. It wasn't to be for Spurs, though, who missed out on the Champions League on the final day for a second season running.
Tottenham was in third place and seven points clear of Arsenal after winning the north London derby in March. But not even Bale's stream of match-winning goals in recent weeks could hold off Arsenal's end-of-season resurgence, just like last season.
To make matters worse for Spurs, failing to reach the Champions League will undoubtedly increase the speculation surrounding the future of Bale, who has been linked with many of the world's top teams after a brilliant season in which he won English football's Player of the Year award. Spurs finished on 72 points, its highest total in the Premier League, but must again play in the Europa League next season.
At Stamford Bridge, the jeers that had characterized Benitez's reign were absent when he took his place in the Chelsea dugout. "Thank you Rafa, we forgive you" read a banner.
Second-place Manchester City lost 2-3 at home to Norwich, while Philippe Coutinho's superb first-half strike earned Liverpool victory at Anfield. Carragher hit the post with a 40-yard shot after the break.
Kevin Nolan scored a hat-trick in West Ham's 4-2 win over Reading, and Owen rounded off his illustrious career by playing the final 16 minutes for Stoke in a 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley sealed an unconvincing 1-0 for Arsenal at Newcastle, rendering Spurs' 1-0 victory over Sunderland, courtesy of a late screamer from Gareth Bale, meaningless.
Chelsea finished third, and claimed the last automatic Champions League spot, by beating Everton 2-1 thanks to Fernando Torres' winner in Rafa Benitez's last game in charge of the Europa League champion.
With the title fight decided a month ago and three relegation spots already settled, the remaining business was bidding farewell to several icons of English football.
Ferguson was treated to a wild match at The Hawthorns in his 1,500th and last game at United, with his team surrendering a 5-2 lead in the final 10 minutes to draw. While United midfielder Paul Scholes, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and Stoke striker Michael Owen all played their final games before retiring.
"I have been here a long time and it has to come to an end sometime," said Carragher, who ended his 737-game career with a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over last-place QPR.
There were 36 goals on the final day of the season. None better than Bale's latest match-winner from 35 yards for Tottenham that guaranteed an extremely tense final few minutes in the race for fourth between two fierce north London rivals.
It meant Arsenal needed to hold onto its lead at St. James Park, and when winger Theo Walcott slid a shot against the post in injury time there was still a chance for Newcastle to muster an equalizer. It wasn't to be for Spurs, though, who missed out on the Champions League on the final day for a second season running.
Tottenham was in third place and seven points clear of Arsenal after winning the north London derby in March. But not even Bale's stream of match-winning goals in recent weeks could hold off Arsenal's end-of-season resurgence, just like last season.
To make matters worse for Spurs, failing to reach the Champions League will undoubtedly increase the speculation surrounding the future of Bale, who has been linked with many of the world's top teams after a brilliant season in which he won English football's Player of the Year award. Spurs finished on 72 points, its highest total in the Premier League, but must again play in the Europa League next season.
At Stamford Bridge, the jeers that had characterized Benitez's reign were absent when he took his place in the Chelsea dugout. "Thank you Rafa, we forgive you" read a banner.
Second-place Manchester City lost 2-3 at home to Norwich, while Philippe Coutinho's superb first-half strike earned Liverpool victory at Anfield. Carragher hit the post with a 40-yard shot after the break.
Kevin Nolan scored a hat-trick in West Ham's 4-2 win over Reading, and Owen rounded off his illustrious career by playing the final 16 minutes for Stoke in a 1-1 draw at Southampton.
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