Bale rides to rescue for Spurs
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND— Tottenham and Arsenal relied on decisive interventions by their flying wingers on Saturday to stay on course for qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Gareth Bale produced yet another moment of magic to rescue a 1-0 victory for Spurs over Southampton in the Premier League, smashing home an 86th-minute winner from the edge of the area in his first game since being named English football’s player of the year.
“It was a game-decider, a great moment of individual brilliance,” Tottenham manager Andre VillasBoas said of Bale’s 20th league goal of the season.
It wasn’t enough to lift Tottenham above fierce rival Arsenal, though, as Theo Walcott scored the quickest goal of the campaign — after just 20 seconds — to earn the Gunners a1-0 win at already-relegated QPR.
Arsenal, which is unbeaten in nine games stretching back nearly two months, climbed provisionally into third place — two points clear of Chelsea and Tottenham having played more games than both its London rivals. Chelsea visits Manchester United on Sunday and then hosts Tottenham on Wednesday.
“It’s always nice to get an early goal and settle the nerves,” Walcott said. “The way we’re playing as a unit, we know we’re always going to score goals. When the pressure is on us, everyone steps up.”
At the bottom, Wigan set up its trademark late rally to avoid relegation with a 3-2 victory at West Bromwich Albion, keeping the team third-from-bottom but provisionally reducing the gap to Sunderland to two points. Callum McManaman scored in the 80th minute to complete Wigan’s comeback after Arouna Kone and James McArthur had netted equalizers.
“We have worked really hard for two months to get us in the position where, with two weeks of the season left, we are still involved in two competitions,” said Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, whose team will contest the FA Cup final against Manchester City next Saturday. “If we stay up it would be like winning the title.”
Aston Villa took a giant step to safety as Gabriel Agbonlahor’s double earned a 2-1 win at Norwich, which is only three points clear of Wigan having played a game more. Newcastle is level on points with Norwich after drawing 0-0 at West Ham.
Man City dropped points in its bid to finish second by drawing 0-0 at Swansea, missing golden late chances through Edin Dzeko and David Silva late on. The deposed champions are now five points clear of Arsenal.