Arsenal leapfrog London rivals
QPR in trouble
ing up in the Premier League now.”
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez unexpectedly handed goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi a first start since March 2, but it was his opposite number, David Forde, who was the focus of activity in the first half. Wigan’s first sight of goal arrived in the second minute, but Mark Beevers slid in well to block after space opened up in front of Spanish midfielder Jordi Gomez.
James Henry dragged a shot wide for Millwall and Danny Shittu thundered an ambitious free-kick well over the bar, but Wigan were soon back on the attack.
Forde raced out to save at the feet of Arouna Kone, before springing to his right to repel McManaman’s crisp drive with a two-handed parry.
There was a sense of inevitability about the breakthrough, which arrived in the 25th minute.
Kone was the architect, brilliantly chesting down a high ball and spinning away from a clutch of defenders before crossing for the unmarked Maloney to steer an assured volley beneath Forde.
Forde had to collect an acrobatic vol- ley from Paul Scharner and although Millwall briefly threatened to come back into the game, the half ended with Wigan on the front foot once again. LONDON, April 13, (AFP): Arsenal scored three times in the last five minutes to beat Norwich City 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium and leap to third place in the Premier League table on Saturday.
Michael Turner’s header looked to have consigned Arsene Wenger’s men to defeat, but Mikel Arteta equalised with an 85th-minute penalty before a Sebastien Bassong own goal and an injury-time strike from Lukas Podolski completed the comeback.
Victory takes Arsenal above Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, neither of whom play in the league this weekend, and keeps them firmly on course to qualify for the Champions League.
The hosts had the best of the first half but the closest they came to scoring was an Olivier Giroud header in the 23rd minute that came back off the crossbar.
Turner put Norwich ahead in the 56th minute, ghosting in to meet Robert Snodgrass’ inswinging free-kick with a close-range header. extended the home side’s unbeaten run to five games.
QPR came into the match with just four wins all season and likely needing to win four of their last six matches to have a chance of avoiding the drop.
Everton meanwhile were riding a four match unbeaten run and victorious in their last three at Goodison Park as they welcomed back South African playmaker Steven Pienaar and Belgian international Marouane Fellaini following suspension.
Villa 1, Fulham 1 In Birmingham, Aston Villa were forced to settle for just a point in their battle against relegation as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham.
Charles N’Zogbia handed Villa the lead 10 minutes after half-time only for Fabian Delph to put through his own net on 66 minutes as the hosts’ defensive frailties saw their run without a clean sheet extended to 21 outings.
The result left Villa in 16th place, three points above the drop zone with fellow strugglers Sunderland set to face Newcastle in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.
Wigan, in 18th spot, are on FA Cup duty against Millwall later on Saturday, leaving Roberto Martinez’s men with two games in hand.
N’Zogbia was the only change from Paul Lambert’s side that won 3-1 at Stoke last weekend, as he was drafted in to replace the injured Gabriel Agbonlahor, and the Frenchman made his presence felt by forcing Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer into two fine first-half saves.
Christian Benteke and Dimitar Berbatov were guilty of spurning opportunities at either end in the opening period, with the latter then coming within inches of putting Fulham ahead five minutes after half-time. The Bulgarian striker latched onto a Bryan Ruiz pass before shooting against the outside of the post despite suspicions of offside.
West Ham 1, Southampton 1 In Southampton, Andy Carroll celebrated his return to the West Ham United team with a second-half goal to earn his side a 1-1 draw at in-form Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday.
With both sides well clear of the relegation places, the encounter at a soggy St Mary’s offered little more than an opportunity to move closer to the 40-point mark.
Gaston Ramirez’s goal just before the hour put the home side on their way, only for Carroll to equalise seven minutes later.
The draw left both sides on 38 points, with Southampton a place above their opponents in 11th position on goal difference.
Southampton’s squad was hit by illness in the build-up to the game, with Jay Rodriguez and Jason Puncheon dropping to the bench and left-back Luke Shaw ruled out altogether.
West Ham, meanwhile, restored loanee Carroll to their starting XI after he missed last weekend’s 0-0 draw against his parent club, Liverpool.
The home side created the first chance when captain Adam Lallana ran onto Steven Davis’ pass, only for James Tomkins to intervene just as he was about to shoot.
Reading 0, Liverpool 0 In London, Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy reminded England boss Roy Hodgson of his international credentials as he shut out Liverpool in a 0-0 draw at the Madejski Stadium.
But the result did neither side any favours with Reading remaining rockbottom, seven points adrift with just five games left.
Liverpool are seventh, eight points behind fifth-placed Tottenham who currently occupy the Europa League qualifying place.
Former Reading player and boss Brendan Rodgers was making only his third return to Berkshire with an opposition side and his first with a top-flight outfit.
And he would have been frustrated by the finishing of Luis Suarez, Phillipe Coutinho, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge who were all out-performed by England candidate McCarthy who was making his first performance in five months.