AFP

Arsenal up to second as City slip in Premier League

Sat, 07 Nov 19:54:34 2009

LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal swept Wolves aside to climb to second place in the Premier League on Saturday as a fifth consecutive draw resulted in Manchester City being ejected from the top four.

The Gunners' 4-1 win at Molineux lifted them above Manchester United on goal difference ahead of the champions' meeting with leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Arsenal had ended their contest with Wolves by half-time as own goals from Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock were followed by Cesc Fabregas finishing off a trademark passing move on the stroke of the interval.

Andrey Arshavin made it 4-0 after the interval before Craddock claimed a late consolation side for Wolves, who slipped into the relegation zone.

Arsenal have now scored 36 goals in 11 league matches this season -- eight more than Chelsea -- and manager Arsene Wenger believes his squad is starting to look like a title-winning outfit.

"I don't know what other people think -- the most important is what we believe and our belief if there," the Frenchman said. "I know we have great potential and we go from strength to strength."

Manchester City surrendered their coveted spot in the top four to Tottenham after being held to a 3-3 draw at home to Burnley.

It was a fifth consecutive draw for City, who slip back to fifth after a run that has cast doubt on their ability to break into English football's Champions League elite.

"I said before the season that there will be times when we look like what we are, a team coming together and trying to gel," said City's manager, Mark Hughes.

"And on other occasions it will happen for us and we will look an outstanding team but I am frustrated, and disappointed as well."

Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone were on the mark for Tottenham as Harry Redknapp's side moved up to fourth with a 2-0 win over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa overran struggling Bolton in a 5-1 rout at Villa Park while Blackburn lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over bottom side Portsmouth.

Burnley's draw at Manchester City was their first point on the road since their return to the top flight.

An even better outcome had looked on the cards when a Graham Alexander penalty and a Steven Fletcher strike gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.

But Shaun Wright-Phillips reduced the deficit two minutes before the break and second half strikes from Kolo Toure - his first league goal for City - and Craig Bellamy had City on track to claim the points before Kevin McDonald snatched an 87th-minute equaliser for the visitors.

Sunderland striker Darren Bent's return to Tottenham proved to be an unhappy one with the England striker having a second-half penalty saved by Heurelho Gomes.

That would have cancelled out Keane's 12th-minute strike for Spurs and been just reward for Sunderland's long periods of domination.

Instead Tottenham finished comfortable winners after Huddlestone smashed a 68th-minute shot in off the bar.

Redknapp admitted his side had been lucky, but insisted there was no reason they could not stay in the top four.

"We were very fortunate, the keeper's had a fantastic day but that's how it goes," he said.

"We got three points, you can play well and get nothing. We've got Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric to come back and when they come back we'll play differently again."

England duo Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa in control against Bolton.

Johan Elmander gave the visitors hope on the stroke of half-time but Villa were too slick after the break with John Carew, James Milner and Carlos Cuellar all finding the net in the final 20 minutes.

On-loan Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara gave Portsmouth a 15th-minute lead against Blackburn, raising the prospect of a win that would have lifted Pompey out of the drop zone themselves.

Instead it was Blackburn who took the points with Jason Roberts scoring twice either side of a strike from New Zealander Ryan Nelsen.

 

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  1. 4...Trafford is not in Salford.Its the wrong side of­ the Ship Canal. You obviously are a typical United fan­ becuase you don't know your geography and­ aren't local.

    From Koppite 1973, on Sun 8 Nov 2:10PM
  2. I live in Manchester, not far from Wastelands, and­ prefer just the other team, red, based in Trafford,­ (Salford).

    I am glad to see Arsenal getting rewards­ for not market over-buying too many players and instead­ bringing them on, and that their manager, whom I­ believe has got the best return for pounds per player­ value in the UK.

    I like the attitude of the Frenchman­ - reminds me of Fergie before he got too­ comfortable.

    City , well what can you say they are­ owned by one of the richest estate managers in the­ World - have you ever looked at the faces of your local­ estate agents - well multiply that by a million and you­ have the City backers, and to them football is not a­ game it is a buying right -look how they decimated the­ horse racing breed stock after overinflating the market­ with false prices for so many years.

    How come the one­ of the richest property groups in the World cannot­ afford to buy a wasteland redevelopment project stadium­ from the Commonwealth Games - I think therin is the­ answer, City are hardly worth the market price, as any­ estate agent would want to own the key property in any­ city they are in- they do not want to!

    From Terrence, on Sun 8 Nov 2:47AM
  3. It goes to show no matter how many show ponies you buy,­ you can't guarantee to win all the time when the­ trainer is a no hoper and the tactics are @#$%.

    From Delberto Gooner, on Sat 7 Nov 10:33PM
  4. i bet ade is kicking himself now he wanted more money­ and to win something lolololololol it be great iff the­ gunners won league and cl this season and city win­ nothing that would be justice.. where will he go then­ barca be my gues

    From OLIVER, on Sat 7 Nov 9:52PM
  5. To me city are just another average team with big­ dream. if you want to be in the top four, you must win­ football games against the Burnley of this league. But­ having said that fair play to Burnley

    From lubov, on Sat 7 Nov 8:45PM
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