Still a three-horse race despite Arsenal's stumble
Source: Agencies |
March 29, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
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THE English Premier League title race is still too close to call even after thumping wins for Manchester United and Chelsea on Saturday had left Arsenal in the shade given how unpredictable the season has been.
United's 4-0 win at Bolton Wanderers came just two hours after Chelsea slaughtered Aston Villa 7-1, with Frank Lampard scoring four times, including two penalties, and left Alex Ferguson's side just a point in front with six games to go.
Third-placed Arsenal, written off several times, squandered two points when it conceded a freakish last-gasp equalizer at Birmingham City and fell four points off top spot but it would be a brave man to bet against further twists and turns.
There are so many factors at play which is why the fight to be crowned champion will be so absorbing.
For starters, Chelsea has the luxury of a full week to prepare for this weekend's seismic clash with United at Old Trafford - the one positive it gleaned from losing to Inter Milan in the Champions League.
United, chasing a unprecedented fourth consecutive title and its 19th in all, visits Bayern Munich in the last eight of the Champions League tomorrow before focusing on Chelsea while Arsenal hosts Barcelona and Lionel Messi on Wednesday.
"It's still a three-horse race," Ferguson told the club's Website.
Arsenal's run-in looks easier than Chelsea and United but Arsene Wenger's side are still novices when it comes to winning silverware.
Wenger looked flattened when Kevin Phillips equalized with a freakish goal to negate Samir Nasri's strike and the Frenchman admitted the 1-1 draw could be damaging for his side's hopes of winning the title for the first time since 2004.
Elsewhere, Gianfranco Zola is considering his future as West Ham United manager after Ricardo Fuller's goal for Stoke City inflicted the east London club's sixth straight loss. West Ham is out of the bottom three only on goal difference after Hull City matched it on 27 points with a 2-0 victory over Fulham.
United's 4-0 win at Bolton Wanderers came just two hours after Chelsea slaughtered Aston Villa 7-1, with Frank Lampard scoring four times, including two penalties, and left Alex Ferguson's side just a point in front with six games to go.
Third-placed Arsenal, written off several times, squandered two points when it conceded a freakish last-gasp equalizer at Birmingham City and fell four points off top spot but it would be a brave man to bet against further twists and turns.
There are so many factors at play which is why the fight to be crowned champion will be so absorbing.
For starters, Chelsea has the luxury of a full week to prepare for this weekend's seismic clash with United at Old Trafford - the one positive it gleaned from losing to Inter Milan in the Champions League.
United, chasing a unprecedented fourth consecutive title and its 19th in all, visits Bayern Munich in the last eight of the Champions League tomorrow before focusing on Chelsea while Arsenal hosts Barcelona and Lionel Messi on Wednesday.
"It's still a three-horse race," Ferguson told the club's Website.
Arsenal's run-in looks easier than Chelsea and United but Arsene Wenger's side are still novices when it comes to winning silverware.
Wenger looked flattened when Kevin Phillips equalized with a freakish goal to negate Samir Nasri's strike and the Frenchman admitted the 1-1 draw could be damaging for his side's hopes of winning the title for the first time since 2004.
Elsewhere, Gianfranco Zola is considering his future as West Ham United manager after Ricardo Fuller's goal for Stoke City inflicted the east London club's sixth straight loss. West Ham is out of the bottom three only on goal difference after Hull City matched it on 27 points with a 2-0 victory over Fulham.
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