The Hindu : Sport / Football : Reyes shoots Arsenal to victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

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Sport - Football

Reyes shoots Arsenal to victory

LONDON: A first-half goal by Jose Antonio Reyes gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory on Monday night over Tottenham — and prolonged Chelsea's wait to secure the league title.

Chelsea would have clinched the title if Arsenal had failed to beat neighbor Spurs at Highbury. Instead, the Gunners cut the Blues lead to 11 points with four games left.

Chelsea can clinch its first championship in 50 years by beating Bolton on Saturday. The Blues have 85 points, Arsenal has 74 and Manchester United has 70.

Arsenal's victory — and ninth shutout in 10 league and cup games — strengthens its hold on second place.

`We will fight for it'

``We have momentum and it's important to keep that going,'' said Wenger, who says his team will hold on to its title for as long as possible.

``I don't let that go. As long as we have one per cent chance we will fight for it. It doesn't mean we have to give up. We have to go as far as we can.

``We played some great football but we had to keep playing for the second (goal) because Tottenham were well organized,'' Wenger said. ``The confidence is there and we kept a clean sheet again.''

Although the Gunners had enough chances to score several goals, Spurs could have grabbed an equaliser near the end. After Robbie Keane headed wide from close range, Tottenham appealed for a penalty when Arsenal defender Ashley Cole appeared to touch the ball with his hand as he fell inside the area.

Momentary hope

After Reyes shot wide in the opening minute, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann rescued the Gunners by blocking a shot from Jermain Defoe. The moment gave Chelsea hope of capturing the title a game earlier than expected.

But Arsenal went ahead in the 22nd minute when Francesc Fabregas swapped passes with Patrick Vieira and then released Reyes down the left. This time the young Spaniard converted with a low, left-footed shot across goalkeeper Paul Robinson and inside the far post.

Arsenal should have gone further ahead just before halftime when Vieira was allowed room in front of goal to meet a free kick by Robin van Persie, but headed wide of the far post from six meters.

Gunners defender Philippe Senderos missed a similar chance midway through the second half when he headed a free kick over the bar from a similar range.

Kolo Toure fired a 35-meter free kick that shaved the crossbar and Brazilian midfielder Edu, making a rare return to the side, curled a left foot shot against the post.

The English Premiership table (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Chelsea 34 26 7 1 65 13 85; Arsenal 34 22 8 4 74 33 74; Manchester United 34 20 10 4 50 21 70; Everton 34 17 7 10 41 34 58; Liverpool 35 16 6 13 48 36 54.

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