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Craig HillEPL: Arsenal's title hopes over
April 14th 2008 05:30
Sat, Apr 12:
Birmingham 1 - 1 Everton
Bolton 1 - 0 West Ham
Derby 0 - 6 Aston Villa
Reading 0 - 2 Fulham
Sunderland 1 - 2 Man City
Tottenham 1 - 1 Middlesbrough
Portsmouth 0 - 0 Newcastle
MSun, Apr 13:
Liverpool 3 - 1 Blackburn
Man Utd 2 - 1 Arsenal
SUMMARY:
Arsenal's title hopes are all but over after going down 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford overnight.
The Gunners showed no ill-effect from their Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool by producing a scintillating display of football that had the home side bamboozled in the first half. Their dominance failed to reap any goals but that changed after the break when Adebayor opened the scoring early with a suspicion of hand-ball.
The goal stood and it seemed that good fortune had finally gone the Gunners way but United soon drew level from the spot when Arsenal skipper William Gallas was adjudged to have handled Carrick's shot.
Up stepped Cristiano Ronaldo to belt home his 38th goal of the season despite having to take his kick twice.
The visitors continued to pile forward in search of a second goal but it was United who went ahead courtesy of a superb free-kick from England midfielder Owen Hargreaves - a beautiful curled effort that gave Jens Lehmann absolutely no chance at all.
United held on for a 2-1 win which gives them a nine-point lead over Arsenal with just four games left to play thus signalling the end of any realistic hopes of a Premiership title for Arsene Wenger's men.
Liverpool have consolidated 4th spot on the ladder with a 3-1 win over Blackburn at the fortress that is Anfield.
Despite both teams heading into the break goalless, the home side finally found themselves on the score sheet on the hour mark through Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool skipper, in his 300th league game for the club, cut into the box and side-footed the ball past Friedel to mark the memorable occasion with a goal.
It was then turn for Spanish sensation Fernando Torres to get in on the act with a header for the second goal - becoming the first Liverpool player to score in seven consecutive home league games in the process.
In the final minute, substitute Andriy Voronin slid home the third from substitute John Arne Riise's low cross before Blackburn scored a consolation goal in injury-time via Roque Santa Cruz after some slack defending from Skrtel.
In other matches, Aston Villa thrashed Derby 6-0 to record a new low for the already relegated club. Wins were also recorded for Bolton, Fulham and Manchester City.
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