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Arsenal one game short of unbeaten season after Fulham conquest
London, May 10: Arsenal`s 1-0 win at Fulham means they are one game away from unbeaten Premiership season.
London, May 10: Arsenal's 1-0 win at Fulham means they are one game away from unbeaten Premiership season.
Champions Arsenal moved within one game of completing an unbeaten premier league season as Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes earned them a 1-0 win at Fulham on Sunday (May 9).
Arsenal's success at Loftus Road took them to 87 points, 11 clear of Chelsea, and meant they at least matched their record of 1991 when they lost once on the way to the title.
If they avoid defeat in Saturday's home game against relegated Leicester City they would become only the second team in history to complete an unbeaten top-flight season.
Preston North End managed it in the Football League's inaugural season in 1888-89, but that was a campaign of just 22 matches.
Sunday's game will not linger long in the memory, though the decisive goal after nine minutes will not be easily forgotten by Edwin van der Sar.
Fulham's Dutch goalkeeper was sloppy in attempting to control a Martin Djetou backpass and far too casual as he tried to fool Reyes, who dispossessed him with ease before rolling the ball into an empty net.
Fulham tried to make a game of it, but Edwin Van Der Sar blocked Luis Boa Morte in their best chance of the first half. As the home side pushed forward for an equaliser in the second, Steed Malbranque's overhead kick went over the crossbar and Ashley Cole did well to block a Sylvain Legwinski shot.
P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 37 25 12 0 71 25 87 - champions 2. Chelsea 37 23 7 7 66 30 76 3. Manchester United 37 22 6 9 62 35 72 4. Liverpool 37 16 11 10 54 36 59 5. Aston Villa 37 15 11 11 48 42 56 6. Newcastle United 36 13 15 8 48 36 54 7. Bolton Wanderers 37 14 11 12 48 54 53 8. Charlton Athletic 37 13 11 13 49 50 50 9. Fulham 37 13 10 14 50 46 49 10. Birmingham City 37 12 13 12 42 47 49 11. Middlesbrough 37 13 9 15 43 47 48 12. Southampton 36 12 10 14 40 40 46 13. Blackburn Rovers 37 12 7 18 50 58 43 14. Portsmouth 37 11 9 17 42 53 42 15. Tottenham Hotspur 37 12 6 19 45 57 42 16. Everton 37 9 12 16 44 52 39 17. Manchester City 37 8 14 15 50 53 38 18. Leicester City 37 6 15 16 47 63 33 - relegated 19. Wolverhampton Wanderers 37 7 12 18 38 75 33 - relagated 20. Leeds United 37 8 9 20 40 78 33 - relegated
Bureau Report
Sunday's game will not linger long in the memory, though the decisive goal after nine minutes will not be easily forgotten by Edwin van der Sar.
Fulham's Dutch goalkeeper was sloppy in attempting to control a Martin Djetou backpass and far too casual as he tried to fool Reyes, who dispossessed him with ease before rolling the ball into an empty net.
Fulham tried to make a game of it, but Edwin Van Der Sar blocked Luis Boa Morte in their best chance of the first half. As the home side pushed forward for an equaliser in the second, Steed Malbranque's overhead kick went over the crossbar and Ashley Cole did well to block a Sylvain Legwinski shot.
P W D L F A Pts 1. Arsenal 37 25 12 0 71 25 87 - champions 2. Chelsea 37 23 7 7 66 30 76 3. Manchester United 37 22 6 9 62 35 72 4. Liverpool 37 16 11 10 54 36 59 5. Aston Villa 37 15 11 11 48 42 56 6. Newcastle United 36 13 15 8 48 36 54 7. Bolton Wanderers 37 14 11 12 48 54 53 8. Charlton Athletic 37 13 11 13 49 50 50 9. Fulham 37 13 10 14 50 46 49 10. Birmingham City 37 12 13 12 42 47 49 11. Middlesbrough 37 13 9 15 43 47 48 12. Southampton 36 12 10 14 40 40 46 13. Blackburn Rovers 37 12 7 18 50 58 43 14. Portsmouth 37 11 9 17 42 53 42 15. Tottenham Hotspur 37 12 6 19 45 57 42 16. Everton 37 9 12 16 44 52 39 17. Manchester City 37 8 14 15 50 53 38 18. Leicester City 37 6 15 16 47 63 33 - relegated 19. Wolverhampton Wanderers 37 7 12 18 38 75 33 - relagated 20. Leeds United 37 8 9 20 40 78 33 - relegated
Bureau Report