Arsenal 1
Man Utd 0
Arsenal blew the Premier League title
race wide open after finally finding
the character of champions to beat
leaders Manchester United 1-0 at
Emirates Stadium.
Aaron Ramsey's second-half goal -
his first in the Premier League since
January 2010 - saw United's lead
remain at just three points from
Chelsea, whom they face next week
at Old Trafford.
The Gunners may have seen their
own title ambitions extinguished
following a run of costly draws
before defeat at Bolton last Sunday,
but at least gave their frustrated fans
renewed hope next season might
just be different for Arsene Wenger's
young side.
Ramsey had only been in the team
because of a thigh injury to captain
Cesc Fabregas, but his well-taken
strike on 56 minutes was just
rewards for a high-tempo
performance and meant the officials'
miss of a penalty for handball by
United skipper Nemanja Vidic in the
first half did not eventually prove
decisive.
Arsenal started brightly, with Theo
Walcott causing problems down the
right, and Jack Wilshere dragged an
early chance wide from 15 yards
after a poor clearance by United
skipper Vidic.
Gael Clichy whipped in a low cross
from the left but as Walcott arrived in
the six-yard box, he was stretching
and could only shin the ball over the
crossbar.
It continued to be one-way traffic
and, after 15 minutes, Patrice Evra
got a toe to Wilshere's low centre
across the goal with Walcott ready
for a tap-in at the far post.
After so much pressure, United then
cut Arsenal apart on the break.
Fabio burst down the right and into
the area before pulling the ball back
to Javier Hernandez, with Bacary
Sagna making a last-gasp block just
as the Mexican shaped to shoot.
There was then a massive let-off for
United when Vidic knocked Walcott's
cross from the right behind with his
hand, taking it off the head of van
Persie.
However, neither the referee or
nearside assistant Andy Garratt
spotted it - leaving the Dutch forward
fuming.
When the dust settled, Wayne
Rooney had a goalbound 20-yard
shot blocked, before going into the
book on 41 minutes for pushing
Wilshere over on the far touchline.
Arsenal made a change for the
second half with Samir Nasri, who
tweaked a hamstring, replaced by
Russia winger Andrey Arshavin.
United were awarded a free-kick
some 22 yards out when Park was
bundled over by Song. Rooney
struck his effort over the wall, but
Wojciech Szczesny dived to his right
to make a good two-handed save.
Arsenal slowly got themselves back
into a rhythm, with Sagna angling a
low drive across goal before they
swept into the lead on 56 minutes.
Ramsey fed van Persie, who charged
down the right and into the area
before cutting the ball back to the
penalty spot, where the Welshman
arrived on cue to dispatch a cool
finish low into the far corner for a
first Arsenal goal in over a year.
United now needed a response, and
Vidic headed down and wide from a
corner.
Tempers boiled over when Song
went in on Nani and looked to have
won the ball only for referee Foy to
book the Cameroon midfielder,
which saw several players involved
in a scuffle.
Park released Evra down the left
channel, but Clichy covered across
quickly to bundle the ball out for a
corner.
There was concern for Arsenal when
centre-half Johan Djourou fell
awkwardly and had to be replaced
by Sebastien Squillaci on 60 minutes.
United sent on Dimitar Berbatov,
back from a groin injury, and had
another free-kick in a dangerous
position following Ramsey's needless
handball. Szczesny, though, was
right behind Rooney's flick.
The young Pole then made an
impressive save at the near post after
Nani was played in by a quick break
from Rooney.
Van Persie chipped the ball across
goal after breaking down the left as
Arsenal looked for a killer second
goal.
With five minutes left, United sent on
Michael Owen and the former
England striker was screaming for a
penalty when he looked to have been
tripped by Clichy, but again the
officials were unmoved.
Arsenal closed out four minutes of
stoppage time to claim a victory
which was probably greeted with
just as loud a cheer across in west
London.
PLAYERS
Arsenal Man Utd
53 Wojciech
Szcz?sny Edwin van
der Sar 1
6 Laurent
Koscielny Nemanja
Vidic 15
20 Johan
Djourou Rio Ferdinand 5
22 Gaël Clichy Patrice Evra 3
3 Bacary Sagna Fabio 20
17 Alex Song Anderson 8
19 Jack Wilshere Michael
Carrick 16
16 Aaron
Ramsey Park Ji-Sung 13
8 Samir Nasri Nani 17
10 Robin Van
Persie Wayne
Rooney 10
14 Theo Walcott Javier
Hernández 14
Substitutes
13 Jens Lehmann John O'Shea 22
23 Andrei
Arshavin Michael Owen 7
27 Emmanuel
Eboué Dimitar
Berbatov 9
18 Sebastien
Squillaci Tomasz
Kuszczak 29
52 Nicklas
Bendtner Rafael 21
29 Marouane
Chamakh Antonio
Valencia 25
28 Kieran Gibbs Chris
Smalling 12
OTHER SCORES
Final - Birmingham 1-1
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Final - Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle United
45' - Manchester City 2-1 West Ham
United
Topic: EPL Gooners blow up the title open (Read 1436 times)
