The Hindu : Sport / Football : Arsenal cuts Chelsea's lead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

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Sport - Football

Arsenal cuts Chelsea's lead

LONDON, DEC. 30. Patrick Vieira volleyed Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Newcastle in the Premier League on Wednesday, cutting Chelsea's lead to five points.

The Arsenal captain scored in the first-half injury time, taking advantage of a ricochet off Jermaine Jenas to dip his shot past Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given.

Chelsea leads the league with 49 points, followed by Arsenal with 44. Manchester United and Everton are next with 40 points each.

``We focus on our side and the way we want to play, and our target is to do as well as we can until the end of the season,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. ``There's such a long time to go, so many games to play, it's too early to focus on the results of the other teams.

``I'm very confident, the desire and hunger in the team is stronger than ever. I feel it will be a tight fight until the end.''

Shortly before Vieira's goal, Newcastle had a penalty appeal turned down when Ashley Cole appeared to block the ball with his arm.

Newcastle, playing without the injured Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert, hasn't won at home in six matches and has only won once in nine.

One of the Magpies' best chances came from Shola Ameobi in the ninth minute, but his curling shot was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. Laurent Robert's late free kick hit the defensive wall and the rebound was cleared.

In the closing minutes, Arsenal's Thierry Henry sent a shot over the cross bar and Jenas sent a volley into Alumnia's arms.

``We should have had something from the game,'' Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said. ``I felt we were better than them tonight.''

Newcastle is in 14th place, four points above the relegation zone. — AP

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