Arsenal win blows open title race
Arsenal blew the Premier League title race wide open after finally finding the character of champions to beat Manchester United 1-0 at the Emirates.
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 reward 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.
But United, too, had a justifiable penalty appeal turned down when Gael Clichy appeared to foul Michael Owen late on.
Manchester City took a stranglehold on fourth place with a 2-1 win over West Ham.
City took a 2-0 lead inside 15 minutes through Nigel de Jong's first goal for the club and a Pablo Zabaleta effort which Lars Jacobsen was unable to keep out on the line, but Demba Ba pulled one back before half-time.
Mario Balotelli hit the bar for City before having a goalbound effort cleared by James Tomkins, while Ba was just unable to reach Thomas Hitzlsperger's free-kick as City held on to give themselves a seven-point cushion for the final Champions League qualifying spot.
Goals continued to flow at Anfield under Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool strengthened their claim for European football next season with a 3-0 victory over Newcastle.
The Reds, who have scored 14 in their last three home matches, moved above Tottenham into fifth place having rarely been troubled by the Magpies.
Dirk Kuyt's eighth in his last seven Barclays Premier League matches was sandwiched between another for Maxi Rodriguez, who hit a hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Birmingham last week, and one for the impressive Luis Suarez.
Wolves failed to capitalise on the sending-off of Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner and remained in the bottom three after sharing the spoils at St Andrew's.
Gardner was sent off after only 29 minutes for two bookable offences but Blues held on for a point in their own battle for survival, with Sebastian Larsson cancelling out Steven Fletcher's early penalty.
Alex McLeish's side are now four points clear of the relegation zone with three matches to play.
Sunday's Results
Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United
Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle
Manchester City 2-1 West Ham
Birmingham C. 1-1 Wolverhampton W.
Match Report
