Robin reliant as Arsenal stun Liverpool
LONDON, March 3, 2012 (AFP) – Robin van Persie struck an injury-time win- ner as Arsenal dealt Liverpool's hopes of Champions League qualification a shat- tering blow with a 2-1 victory at Anfield on Saturday.
LONDON, March 3, 2012 (AFP) – Robin van Persie struck an injury-time winner as Arsenal dealt Liverpool's hopes of Champions League qualification a shattering blow with a 2-1 victory at Anfield on Saturday.
Dutch international van Persie volleyed home magnificently in the third minute of stoppage time to claim his second of the match and take his season's tally to 31 in all competitions.
Van Persie's last-gasp winner saw Arsene Wenger's side cement their grip on fourth place, and moved the Londoners to within four points of third placed Tottenham who play Manchester United on Sunday.
But the defeat has left Liverpool with a mountain to climb if they are to secure a return to Europe's elite next season, with 10 points now separating them from Arsenal in fourth.
Van Persie admitted Liverpool had been unlucky to lose.
“I don't think we deserved it if I'm being honest because Liverpool played better but to nick it like we did – we can only be pleased,” the striker said.
“We are 10 points ahead of Liverpool now and Spurs play tomorrow against Man Utd. We will have to wait and see. It is a big win, a massive win.”
Arsenal boss Wenger hailed the contribution of his matchwinning striker.
“When you see the ball land at the feet of Van Persie you know what he can do,” Wenger said. “We cannot afford to lose him. Overall you have to give him credit because in every match he does something special.
Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion piled the pressure on Chelsea with a 1-0 victory on Saturday as Premier League leaders Manchester City downed Bolton to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table.
An 82nd minute strike from Gareth Mcauley secured all three points for West Brom at the Hawthorns to deal a fresh blow to under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-boas, reportedly battling to hang on to his job.
The defeat left Chelsea three points adrift of the top four following Arsenal’s win against Liverpool.elsewhere, leaders City cruised to a straightforward 2-0 win over Bolton at Eastlands courtesy of an own goal from Gretar Steinsson and a Mario Balotelli strike at Eastlands.
The win preserved City's 100 percent home record and left second-placed Manchester United needing to get a result at Tottenham on Sunday to reduce their rivals' lead at the top.
In other games Saturday, Wigan's problems worsened as they were beaten 2-0 at home by Swansea.
Two goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson set up the victory for the Welsh side as Wigan remained firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.
Swansea finished the game with 10 men after Nathan Dyer was sent off in the second half but Wigan were unable to mount a fightback.
Queens Park Rangers came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Everton at Loftus Road.
Royston Drenthe gave Ever- ton the lead, punishing slack play by QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt to open the scoring on 31 minutes with a long-range effort.
But QPR hit back through transfer window signing Bobby Zamora, the former Fulham striker heading in Akos Buzsaky's free-kick to level in the 36th minute.
Blackburn meanwhile scrambled a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at Ewood Park after David Dunn's equaliser five minutes from time cancelled out Charles N'zogbia's first half opener.
Meanwhile Stoke beat Norwich 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium after Matthew Etherington's second-half strike settled a drab encounter.