6th May, 2012
Arsenal stayed third on the English premier league table without any effort, thanks to the dramatic outcome today of the two matches, involving two of their rivals for spots in the Champions league.
First, it was in-form Newcastle United that lost at home 0-2 to league leader Man City, with a brace from Yaya Toure. Some 20 minutes after, Aston Villa handed Arsenal a priceless gift by holding Tottenham, 1-1. The results maintained the status quo on the league table, with Arsenal still perched in the third place with 67 points.
Tottenham, earning a point at Villa moved to 66 points, to maintain its fourth position while Newcastle stayed fifth, with 65 points. Victory for both teams today would have vaulted them over the Gunners, leaving them to play the Europa league, if nothing changed in the last game of the season next week.
In other matches played today, Bolton drew with West Brom, 2-2; Fulham beat Sunderland 2-1, Wolves drew 0-0 with Everton and Queens Park Rangers beat Stoke 1-0, with a vital goal from Cisse on the 89th minute.
Meanwhile, Yaya Toure, hero of Man City in today’s make or mar match with Newcastle, has warned his colleagues not to fall into complacency that they have won the league title, with one match still to go. He said, hard work still lies ahead. Man City need a a win over QPR next weekend to earn the championship and dethrone their city rivals, Manchester United.
“It’s not finished,” Toure told Sky Sports 1. “We have one game left and we have to be careful as QPR are fighting to stay in the Premier League. We have to continue to work hard and believe. The manager told me to deliver today because it was an important game.”
Mancini was also quick to sound a note of caution. “I hope (this is enough) but I think that it is not,” he added. “We have another game – a difficult one like today. Today was difficult because Newcastle are a good team. I think we deserved to win, but it was a difficult game. But I will only feel confident after QPR.”
Additional Reports from SkySports