Blues leap to 2nd as Gunners held
Source: Agencies |
April 22, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
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CHELSEA overtook Arsenal as Manchester United's closest rival for the Premier League title on Wednesday after the Gunners surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Tottenham.
Arsenal led 3-1 but Tom Huddlestone got a goal back before halftime and Rafael van der Vaart equalized with a 70th-minute penalty to push its fiercest rival down to third place in the standings.
Defending champion Chelsea moved above Arsenal on goal difference after Florent Malouda scored either side of a goal by Salomon Kalou for a straightforward 3-1 win over Birmingham.
United is six points ahead of its rivals with five games remaining, but must still play both sides.
"Chelsea's now back in the race," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It's down to us to keep our faith and keep battling. We'll not always draw when we score three goals."
But Arsenal has now drawn four of its last five Premier League matches, with three straight games at home exactly accounting for the margin now between it and United.
"To close the gap of six points with five games left won't be easy," Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But in football, I've learned that anything can happen until the end. Everything's open, but I'd still like to be in United's position."
Wenger praised his team's attitude in bouncing back from Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool, when his team conceded a penalty equalizer in the 12th minute of injury time, but acknowledged that the series of draws has rendered a 16-game unbeaten run less effective than it should be.
Having beaten Arsenal 2-1 in the corresponding fixture last season, Tottenham may have helped deny its north London neighbor the title for a second straight year.
"They came here in a red-hot atmosphere and the football they played in the first 15 minutes was outstanding," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said. "But you couldn't really see them doing it (winning the title) now."
Arsenal led 3-1 but Tom Huddlestone got a goal back before halftime and Rafael van der Vaart equalized with a 70th-minute penalty to push its fiercest rival down to third place in the standings.
Defending champion Chelsea moved above Arsenal on goal difference after Florent Malouda scored either side of a goal by Salomon Kalou for a straightforward 3-1 win over Birmingham.
United is six points ahead of its rivals with five games remaining, but must still play both sides.
"Chelsea's now back in the race," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It's down to us to keep our faith and keep battling. We'll not always draw when we score three goals."
But Arsenal has now drawn four of its last five Premier League matches, with three straight games at home exactly accounting for the margin now between it and United.
"To close the gap of six points with five games left won't be easy," Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But in football, I've learned that anything can happen until the end. Everything's open, but I'd still like to be in United's position."
Wenger praised his team's attitude in bouncing back from Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool, when his team conceded a penalty equalizer in the 12th minute of injury time, but acknowledged that the series of draws has rendered a 16-game unbeaten run less effective than it should be.
Having beaten Arsenal 2-1 in the corresponding fixture last season, Tottenham may have helped deny its north London neighbor the title for a second straight year.
"They came here in a red-hot atmosphere and the football they played in the first 15 minutes was outstanding," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said. "But you couldn't really see them doing it (winning the title) now."
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