Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Arsenal Out Of Title Race, City In Champions League

With eight games taking place on Saturday, Easter Sunday and Monday only witnessed one game apiece, although both games were crucial in different aspects. Super Sunday saw Bolton host Arsenal in a game Arsenal had to win to keep up with United and Chelsea who both won on Saturday, Bolton needed to bounce back after their crushing FA Cup semi-final defeat. The big influence for Bolton was the return of cup-tied Daniel Sturridge and it was he who broke the deadlock after 38 minutes. Arsenal failed to deal with a corner, Cahill headed it towards goal but Nasri stopped it from going in until Sturridge dived in to head home.

Sturridge then earned Bolton a penalty in the opening minute of the second half when he was brought after turning Djourou, Davies took it but it was weak and Szczesny was able to save it. Two minutes later Arsenal were level with a typical Arsenal goal which ended in Van Perise playing a one-two with Fabregas before placing it into the bottom corner. Arsenal had numerous chances to take the lead but were guilty of over-playing or lack of finishing, Nasri had the best chance but was saved by Jaaskelainen one-on-one before Cahill blocked the following acute angled shot. The winner was scored one minute from injury time when another corner found Tamir Cohen heading into the net, it was an emotional goal as Cohen's father had recently passed and he took his shirt off in dedication, but due to the stupidity of the FA Cohen then received a yellow card. Arsenal are now nine points behind United with four games remaining, the two meet next Sunday and if Arsenal lose they are mathematically out of the title race but are also now three points behind Chelsea. Bolton move to eighth and have a game in hand over Everton who are just a point ahead.

Monday Night Football was also staged in Lancashire as Blackburn played Manchester City. After Torres broke his Chelsea duck on Saturday, it was the turn of £27Million Edin Dzeko to break his Premiership duck scoring the only goal after 75 minutes. City are closer to clinching that Champions League spot as they are now four points ahead of Tottenham but they still have to meet in each other's game in hand, more worryingly for Arsenal is that City are only five points behind them with that all important game in hand.

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