Game Week 34- Review

Arsenal's stumble at Old Trafford on Sunday has allowed Chelsea and Manchester United to open up a commanding lead, and it looks as though a Stamford Bridge showdown on 26th April could now decide the destiny of the top flight crown.

Liverpool would appear to have sewn up fourth spot after they brushed past Blackburn and their nearest challengers, Everton, could only manage a point at struggling Birmingham.

But while the picture at the top of the table may be becoming slightly clearer, the dogfight at the bottom continues to provide enthralling entertainment.

With hapless Derby's fate already confirmed, Bolton and Fulham did their hopes of beating the drop a world of good with vital victories over West Ham and Reading respectively.

Manchester City's slim hopes of securing European football for next season were kept alive with a controversial victory at Sunderland, while elsewhere Tottenham and Middlesbrough and Portsmouth and Newcastle all had to settle for a point apiece.

Arsenal arrived at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday full of hope, but left after an epic encounter with their tails firmly between their legs.Previous heavyweight encounters between the Premier League's big guns have not always lived up top their pre-match billing, but no-one at Old Trafford would have been asking for their money back after an end-to-end game packed with excitement.The Gunners, aware that they stood on the brink of another trophyless season, took the game to United from the off and could have been cruising at the interval were it not for their inept finishing in front of goal.They did take the lead shortly after half-time when Emmanuel Adebayor profited from a breakdown in communication among the Red Devils' defence to bundle home with his arm.William Gallas inexplicably handled Michael Carrick's hopeful hook into the box allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to bring the tie level with a coolly dispatched twice-taken penalty.Both sides then continued to press forward in search of a winner, and it was the hosts who ultimately snatched all three points when Owen Hargreaves curled a sublime 72nd free-kick past a statuesque Jens Lehmann to send Old Trafford into delirium.

Earlier in the day, Liverpool took another step closer to clinching Champions League football for next season when they brushed past Blackburn 3-1 at Anfield.It took an hour for Steven Gerrard to give the Reds the lead, but in all fairness Rafa Benitez's side had looked comfortable throughout.With eight minutes remaining Spanish superstar Fernando Torres grabbed his 30th goal of a remarkable first season in England before Andrei Voronin wrapped up the points in injury-time.There was still time for Roque Santa Cruz to smash an impressive volley past Pepe Reina, but Rovers were finished long before then and it proved to be no more than scant consolation.

Free-scoring centre-half Joleon Lescott gave the visitors the lead after 78 minutes at St Andrews only to see the Blues' new hero, Argentinean wonderkid Mauro Zarate, stroke home a fine 20-yard free-kick with just seven minutes remaining.David Moyes' side remain in pole position to claim a Uefa Cup spot for next season after the disappointing draw, while Alex McLeish's Birmingham will be nervously looking over their shoulder as their cushion on the bottom three has been cut to just two points.

The Blues' anxiety levels have risen as a result of crucial victories for fellow strugglers Bolton and Fulham.The Cottagers had appeared doomed heading into the weekend but made a mockery of their current position as they comfortably outplayed Reading at the Madejski.It has come as no surprise that Roy Hodgson's side have turned the corner since their skipper Brian McBride returned from a long-term injury, and it was the American who put them on their way to a 2-0 victory this time around.His 24th minute opener helped to ease the tension among the travelling support, but they would have been pulling their hair out in frustration for the remainder of the afternoon as Fulham peppered the frame of Marcus Hahnemann's goal without forcing a further breakthrough.They need not have worried though as in second-half injury-time Eric Nevland stepped off the bench to drill a low effort past the over-worked Royals keeper to secure the win.

Kevin Davies grabbed the only goal of the game two minutes into the second-half, but the talismanic front man also picked up a 10th booking of the season ruling him out of half of the Trotters' remaining four games.

Sunderland should have done enough to avoid being dragged into the battle at the bottom, but will feel disappointed to have dropped all three points in a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester City.
The Stadium of Light encounter appeared to be heading for a dour goalless draw until a late flurry of activity woke the locals from their slumber.

The major talking point of the game occurred with 79 minutes on the clock when City striker Daniel Sturridge appeared to trip over his own feet, only to find referee Mike Riley pointing to the spot once he had dusted himself down.

Brazilian playmaker Elano duly converted the contentious spot kick and appeared to have secured the points for Sven Goran Eriksson's men.

However, just three minutes later Black Cats skipper Dean Whitehead hammered home a spectacular volley to pull the scores level.

The game was not finished yet though as a third goal in just eight minutes arrived when Darius Vassell scuffed in a late winner.

While the win keeps City dreaming of Europe, one side most definitely still in the hunt for a Uefa Cup place is Aston Villa after their recent resurgence continued at Pride Park.

Martin O'Neill's side put six past doomed Derby, as the Rams remain on track to top off a miserable season by claiming the title of the worst team in Premier League history.

Ashley Young, John Carew, Gareth Barry, Stiliyan Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marlon Harewood all breached Derby's non-existent defence, with Bulgarian international Petrov's 40-yard lob representing the pick of the bunch.

Newcastle have hit a purple patch of late, led by their in-form three pronged attack, but were unable to trouble the scorers at Fratton Park.

A relatively uneventful goalless draw saw few chances of real note, with a point blank save from Portsmouth keeper David James to deny Michael Owen the closest either side came to finding a breakthrough.

The final game this weekend pitted Tottenham and Middlesbrough, two sides with nothing to play for, together at White Hart Lane.

The hosts dominated throughout the first-half and took a deserved lead after 27 minutes when Jonathan Grounds suffered the indignity of diverting an Aaron Lennon volley past his own keeper.

Boro rallied after the break though and snatched an equaliser when Stewart Downing's ambitious 30-yard effort flicked off the head of Jermaine Jenas and past a stranded Radek Cerny.

Afonso Alves should have ensured that Garteh Southgate's men headed back to Teesside with a maximum points haul, but he slotted a late effort agonisingly wide of the post.