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Most anticipated clash of titans ends in a draw
London, Apr 17: Arsenal and Manchester United battled to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday (April 16) as the eagerly-awaited Highbury clash failed to ease the log jam at the top of the English premier league.
London, Apr 17: Arsenal and Manchester United battled to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday (April 16) as the eagerly-awaited Highbury clash failed to ease the log jam at the top of the English premier league.
The English title race will go down to the wire after leaders Manchester United and champions Arsenal battled out a pulsating and ultimately ill-tempered 2-2 draw on Wednesday (April 16). In a match that exploded into life in the second half, Arsenal recovered from a goal down to lead 2-1 with two fortunate Thierry Henry goals before Ryan Giggs's header secured the draw that maintained United's three-point lead at the top. United have 71 points with four games left and a goal difference of plus 32. Arsenal, seeking an historic second successive league and FA Cup double, have 68 points with five to play and a goal difference of plus 33. Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy gave United a deserved 24th-minute lead before Henry, with a lucky deflection after 51 minutes and an offside-looking effort 11 minutes later, turned the game on its head.
But Giggs equalised for United within a minute and the match turned ugly near the end as Arsenal defender Sol Campbell was given a straight red card for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The England international could miss at least three important matches due to suspension, including the FA Cup final against Southampton on May 17.
Arsenal lost goalkeeper David Seaman to influenza just before kickoff, while captain Patrick Vieira took the field with his right knee heavily strapped.
The omens were not good for the home side and they were quickly on the backfoot as United, with a fit David Beckham on the bench, took control from the first whistle.
Van Nistelrooy gave United the lead they deserved after 24 minutes. Giggs fed him down the left and the Dutch striker scampered past Campbell and Martin Keown before lifting the ball cleverly over Taylor to silence all but one corner of Highbury.
Vieira limped off soon after to compound Arsenal's problems and they looked a sorry sight as they trooped off at the interval.
But the champions were never going to relinquish their crown without a fight and they transformed the match at the start of the second half.
After 51 minutes Pires played in Ashley Cole and his shot deflected fortuitously past United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez off the back of Henry's legs to make it 1-1.
They enjoyed another huge slice of luck 11 minutes later to take the lead. Gilberto Silva played a fine ball into Henry who looked two metres offside, but the Frenchman controlled it neatly and beat Barthez to leave United stunned.
Arsenal's lead lasted all of one minute. Nicky Butt fed Solskjaer and, not for the first time in the match, the Norwegian swung over a telling cross that Giggs headed down into the net with the Arsenal defence nowhere.
Wenger looked furious at his side's lack of concentration and he was even unhappier when Campbell was sent off eight minutes from the end after thrusting an elbow at Solskjaer.
Arsenal's players and fans protested vehemently, but the decision looked correct and the champions will sorely miss their best defender in the decisive month ahead.
Henry came close to scoring the winner just before the final whistle, but was denied by Barthez.
Remaining premier league games: Arsenal - April 19 Middlesbrough (A), April 26 Bolton Wanderers (A), May 4 Leeds United (H), May 7 Southampton (H), May 11 Sunderland (A) Manchester United - April 19 Blackburn Rovers (H), April 27 Tottenham Hotspur (A), May 3 Charlton Athletic (H), May 11 Everton (A)
English premier league soccer standings after matches played on Wednesday: Premier league P W D L F A Pts 1. Manchester United 34 21 8 5 63 31 71 2. Arsenal 33 20 8 5 69 36 68 3. Newcastle United 33 19 4 10 57 43 61 4. Chelsea 33 17 9 7 60 32 60 5. Everton 33 16 8 9 43 38 56 6. Liverpool 33 15 10 8 49 35 55 7. Blackburn Rovers 33 14 10 9 43 37 52 8. Tottenham Hotspur 33 13 8 12 47 47 47 9. Middlesbrough 33 12 10 11 42 35 46 10. Charlton Athletic 33 13 7 13 41 46 46 11. Southampton 32 11 12 9 35 33 45 12. Manchester City 33 12 6 15 40 51 42 13. Leeds United 33 11 5 17 46 48 38 14. Aston Villa 33 10 8 15 36 40 38 15. Fulham 33 10 8 15 35 46 38 16. Birmingham City 33 10 8 15 31 44 38 17. Bolton Wanderers 33 8 11 14 36 48 35 18. West Ham United 33 7 11 15 37 56 32 19. West Bromwich Albion 33 5 6 22 22 52 21 20. Sunderland 33 4 7 22 20 54 19
Bureau Report
The English title race will go down to the wire after leaders Manchester United and champions Arsenal battled out a pulsating and ultimately ill-tempered 2-2 draw on Wednesday (April 16). In a match that exploded into life in the second half, Arsenal recovered from a goal down to lead 2-1 with two fortunate Thierry Henry goals before Ryan Giggs's header secured the draw that maintained United's three-point lead at the top. United have 71 points with four games left and a goal difference of plus 32. Arsenal, seeking an historic second successive league and FA Cup double, have 68 points with five to play and a goal difference of plus 33. Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy gave United a deserved 24th-minute lead before Henry, with a lucky deflection after 51 minutes and an offside-looking effort 11 minutes later, turned the game on its head.
But Giggs equalised for United within a minute and the match turned ugly near the end as Arsenal defender Sol Campbell was given a straight red card for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The England international could miss at least three important matches due to suspension, including the FA Cup final against Southampton on May 17.
Arsenal lost goalkeeper David Seaman to influenza just before kickoff, while captain Patrick Vieira took the field with his right knee heavily strapped.
The omens were not good for the home side and they were quickly on the backfoot as United, with a fit David Beckham on the bench, took control from the first whistle.
Van Nistelrooy gave United the lead they deserved after 24 minutes. Giggs fed him down the left and the Dutch striker scampered past Campbell and Martin Keown before lifting the ball cleverly over Taylor to silence all but one corner of Highbury.
Vieira limped off soon after to compound Arsenal's problems and they looked a sorry sight as they trooped off at the interval.
But the champions were never going to relinquish their crown without a fight and they transformed the match at the start of the second half.
After 51 minutes Pires played in Ashley Cole and his shot deflected fortuitously past United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez off the back of Henry's legs to make it 1-1.
They enjoyed another huge slice of luck 11 minutes later to take the lead. Gilberto Silva played a fine ball into Henry who looked two metres offside, but the Frenchman controlled it neatly and beat Barthez to leave United stunned.
Arsenal's lead lasted all of one minute. Nicky Butt fed Solskjaer and, not for the first time in the match, the Norwegian swung over a telling cross that Giggs headed down into the net with the Arsenal defence nowhere.
Wenger looked furious at his side's lack of concentration and he was even unhappier when Campbell was sent off eight minutes from the end after thrusting an elbow at Solskjaer.
Arsenal's players and fans protested vehemently, but the decision looked correct and the champions will sorely miss their best defender in the decisive month ahead.
Henry came close to scoring the winner just before the final whistle, but was denied by Barthez.
Remaining premier league games: Arsenal - April 19 Middlesbrough (A), April 26 Bolton Wanderers (A), May 4 Leeds United (H), May 7 Southampton (H), May 11 Sunderland (A) Manchester United - April 19 Blackburn Rovers (H), April 27 Tottenham Hotspur (A), May 3 Charlton Athletic (H), May 11 Everton (A)
English premier league soccer standings after matches played on Wednesday: Premier league P W D L F A Pts 1. Manchester United 34 21 8 5 63 31 71 2. Arsenal 33 20 8 5 69 36 68 3. Newcastle United 33 19 4 10 57 43 61 4. Chelsea 33 17 9 7 60 32 60 5. Everton 33 16 8 9 43 38 56 6. Liverpool 33 15 10 8 49 35 55 7. Blackburn Rovers 33 14 10 9 43 37 52 8. Tottenham Hotspur 33 13 8 12 47 47 47 9. Middlesbrough 33 12 10 11 42 35 46 10. Charlton Athletic 33 13 7 13 41 46 46 11. Southampton 32 11 12 9 35 33 45 12. Manchester City 33 12 6 15 40 51 42 13. Leeds United 33 11 5 17 46 48 38 14. Aston Villa 33 10 8 15 36 40 38 15. Fulham 33 10 8 15 35 46 38 16. Birmingham City 33 10 8 15 31 44 38 17. Bolton Wanderers 33 8 11 14 36 48 35 18. West Ham United 33 7 11 15 37 56 32 19. West Bromwich Albion 33 5 6 22 22 52 21 20. Sunderland 33 4 7 22 20 54 19
Bureau Report