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Arsenal closes in on League leaders after beating Southampton
Southampton, Dec 30: Arsenal beat Southampton 0-1 to move within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester United.
Southampton, Dec 30: Arsenal beat Southampton 0-1 to move within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester United.
Arsenal moved back to within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester United on Monday (December 29) after a first-half Robert Pires goal earned them victory over Southampton. Arsenal dominated the match and it was no surprise when, in the 36th minute, Pires broke free on the left to receive a perfect pass from France team mate Thierry Henry and slot home left-footed under the diving body of goalkeeper Antti Niemi. Southampton looked more like the away team as they tried to contain the north London side, who enjoyed more than 60 percent of the possession. Dennis Bergkamp missed a sitter and Henry and Freddie Ljungberg forced spectacular saves from Niemi. It was only some desperate defending that kept the scoreline in check. "It was a deserved victory and a well done job," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said, adding his side might have scored more had Niemi not been in such good form. Southampton won the fixture 3-2 last season with a sizzling performance from James Beattie but on Monday the striker was squeezed out of the game.
Arsenal, unbeaten in the league this season, are now on 45 points from 19 games, three ahead of third-placed Chelsea and 15 in front of the rest of the Premier League pack.
Southampton remain in eighth on 26 points. Manager Gordon Strachan said it was the first time he had watched his side playing as though they were frightened of the opposition.
P W D L F A Pts 1. Manchester United 19 15 1 3 38 13 46 2. Arsenal 19 13 6 0 35 12 45 3. Chelsea 19 13 3 3 36 16 42 4. Charlton Athletic 19 8 6 5 27 22 30 5. Fulham 19 8 4 7 30 26 28 6. Liverpool 18 7 5 6 28 21 26 7. Newcastle United 19 6 8 5 26 22 26 8. Southampton 19 7 5 7 18 15 26 9. Birmingham City 18 7 5 6 16 20 26 10. Aston Villa 19 6 6 7 19 23 24 11. Everton 19 6 5 8 23 25 23 12. Bolton Wanderers 19 5 8 6 20 28 23 13. Manchester City 19 5 6 8 27 27 21 14. Blackburn Rovers 19 6 3 10 26 29 21 15. Middlesbrough 18 5 6 7 14 18 21 16. Portsmouth 19 5 4 10 20 28 19 17. Leicester City 19 4 6 9 28 31 18 18. Tottenham Hotspur 19 5 3 11 19 29 18 19. Leeds United 19 4 5 10 18 40 17 20. Wolverhampton Wanderers 18 3 5 10 16 39 14
Bureau Report
Arsenal moved back to within a point of Premier League leaders Manchester United on Monday (December 29) after a first-half Robert Pires goal earned them victory over Southampton. Arsenal dominated the match and it was no surprise when, in the 36th minute, Pires broke free on the left to receive a perfect pass from France team mate Thierry Henry and slot home left-footed under the diving body of goalkeeper Antti Niemi. Southampton looked more like the away team as they tried to contain the north London side, who enjoyed more than 60 percent of the possession. Dennis Bergkamp missed a sitter and Henry and Freddie Ljungberg forced spectacular saves from Niemi. It was only some desperate defending that kept the scoreline in check. "It was a deserved victory and a well done job," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said, adding his side might have scored more had Niemi not been in such good form. Southampton won the fixture 3-2 last season with a sizzling performance from James Beattie but on Monday the striker was squeezed out of the game.
Arsenal, unbeaten in the league this season, are now on 45 points from 19 games, three ahead of third-placed Chelsea and 15 in front of the rest of the Premier League pack.
Southampton remain in eighth on 26 points. Manager Gordon Strachan said it was the first time he had watched his side playing as though they were frightened of the opposition.
P W D L F A Pts 1. Manchester United 19 15 1 3 38 13 46 2. Arsenal 19 13 6 0 35 12 45 3. Chelsea 19 13 3 3 36 16 42 4. Charlton Athletic 19 8 6 5 27 22 30 5. Fulham 19 8 4 7 30 26 28 6. Liverpool 18 7 5 6 28 21 26 7. Newcastle United 19 6 8 5 26 22 26 8. Southampton 19 7 5 7 18 15 26 9. Birmingham City 18 7 5 6 16 20 26 10. Aston Villa 19 6 6 7 19 23 24 11. Everton 19 6 5 8 23 25 23 12. Bolton Wanderers 19 5 8 6 20 28 23 13. Manchester City 19 5 6 8 27 27 21 14. Blackburn Rovers 19 6 3 10 26 29 21 15. Middlesbrough 18 5 6 7 14 18 21 16. Portsmouth 19 5 4 10 20 28 19 17. Leicester City 19 4 6 9 28 31 18 18. Tottenham Hotspur 19 5 3 11 19 29 18 19. Leeds United 19 4 5 10 18 40 17 20. Wolverhampton Wanderers 18 3 5 10 16 39 14
Bureau Report