Van Persie hits 2 but Arsenal held
Source: Agencies |
May 6, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THIRD-PLACED Arsenal wasted the chance to go four points clear of Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United when it was held to a thrilling 3-3 home draw by Norwich City yesterday despite a double from Robin van Persie.
Finishing third in the English Premier League guarantees a Champions League group stage berth next season but fourth spot might only be worth a Europa League place if finalist Chelsea wins this term's European Cup.
Yossi Benayoun put Arsenal in front after 70 seconds of its penultimate match of the campaign before Norwich hit back with goals from Wesley Hoolahan and Grant Holt.
Van Persie, the league's top scorer, took his tally for the season to 30 with two goals in the 72nd and 80th minutes but Steve Morison rescued a point for the visitors with five minutes to go in the only Premier League game of the day.
Fourth-placed Tottenham, at Aston Villa, and fifth-placed Newcastle, at home to leader Manchester City, play their games in hand today. City and Manchester United are locked together on 83 points. United hosts Swansea City today.
Arsenal made a flying start at the Emirates Stadium when Tomas Rosicky fed Benayoun on the left of the penalty box and the Israeli cut inside to deliver a curling finish beyond goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Norwich, 13th in the table, equalized in the 12th when Kyle Naughton set up Hoolahan and he shot low into the bottom corner. Hoolahan was also involved when Holt boosted his hopes of an England call-up for Euro 2012 next month by converting his 14th league goal of the season in the 27th.
Footballer of the Year van Persie then came to the rescue for Arsenal, as he has done so often this season, with his late double blast.
Battling mid-table side Norwich refused to surrender though and Morison leveled.
"I think Arsenal thought we were going to be a pushover today. We came here with nothing to play for but you can see from the way we played how much it means to the lads," Morison said.
"We have got fantastic team spirit and today we showed what we are all about. At the start of the season we had a target of 40 points and we have got there and then some."
Van Persie spurned an excellent chance to claim a hat-trick in stoppage time when he was foiled by Ruddy in a one-on-one with the keeper.
Breathless finale
Then, in a breathless finale, referee Anthony Taylor ignored appeals for a penalty when van Persie was shoved at the far post just as he seemed certain to convert a cross from substitute Marouane Chamakh.
Arsenal's final league fixture is at mid-table West Bromwich Albion next Sunday.
Meanwhile, Blackpool will take a slender lead into the second leg of its Championship (second division) playoff semi-final after beating Birmingham City 1-0 with an own goal by Curtis Davies on Friday.
Davies deflected a low shot from Tom Ince past his goalkeeper Colin Doyle a minute before halftime to give the hosts the lead ahead of the return leg this Wednesday.
West Ham United, who like Blackpool and Birmingham went down from the Premier League last season, holds a 2-0 lead against Cardiff City after their semifinal first leg.
Finishing third in the English Premier League guarantees a Champions League group stage berth next season but fourth spot might only be worth a Europa League place if finalist Chelsea wins this term's European Cup.
Yossi Benayoun put Arsenal in front after 70 seconds of its penultimate match of the campaign before Norwich hit back with goals from Wesley Hoolahan and Grant Holt.
Van Persie, the league's top scorer, took his tally for the season to 30 with two goals in the 72nd and 80th minutes but Steve Morison rescued a point for the visitors with five minutes to go in the only Premier League game of the day.
Fourth-placed Tottenham, at Aston Villa, and fifth-placed Newcastle, at home to leader Manchester City, play their games in hand today. City and Manchester United are locked together on 83 points. United hosts Swansea City today.
Arsenal made a flying start at the Emirates Stadium when Tomas Rosicky fed Benayoun on the left of the penalty box and the Israeli cut inside to deliver a curling finish beyond goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Norwich, 13th in the table, equalized in the 12th when Kyle Naughton set up Hoolahan and he shot low into the bottom corner. Hoolahan was also involved when Holt boosted his hopes of an England call-up for Euro 2012 next month by converting his 14th league goal of the season in the 27th.
Footballer of the Year van Persie then came to the rescue for Arsenal, as he has done so often this season, with his late double blast.
Battling mid-table side Norwich refused to surrender though and Morison leveled.
"I think Arsenal thought we were going to be a pushover today. We came here with nothing to play for but you can see from the way we played how much it means to the lads," Morison said.
"We have got fantastic team spirit and today we showed what we are all about. At the start of the season we had a target of 40 points and we have got there and then some."
Van Persie spurned an excellent chance to claim a hat-trick in stoppage time when he was foiled by Ruddy in a one-on-one with the keeper.
Breathless finale
Then, in a breathless finale, referee Anthony Taylor ignored appeals for a penalty when van Persie was shoved at the far post just as he seemed certain to convert a cross from substitute Marouane Chamakh.
Arsenal's final league fixture is at mid-table West Bromwich Albion next Sunday.
Meanwhile, Blackpool will take a slender lead into the second leg of its Championship (second division) playoff semi-final after beating Birmingham City 1-0 with an own goal by Curtis Davies on Friday.
Davies deflected a low shot from Tom Ince past his goalkeeper Colin Doyle a minute before halftime to give the hosts the lead ahead of the return leg this Wednesday.
West Ham United, who like Blackpool and Birmingham went down from the Premier League last season, holds a 2-0 lead against Cardiff City after their semifinal first leg.
- 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.
