Gunners up to second as City slip in Premier League

07 November 2009 19:39
LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal swept Wolves aside to climb to second place in the Premier League on Saturday as a fifth consecutive draw resulted in Manchester City being ejected from the top four.[LNB]The Gunners' 4-1 win at Molineux lifted them above Manchester United on goal difference ahead of the champions' meeting with leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.[LNB]Arsenal had ended their contest with Wolves by half-time as own goals from Ronald Zubar and Jody Craddock were followed by Cesc Fabregas finishing off a trademark passing move on the stroke of the interval.[LNB]Andrey Arshavin made it 4-0 after the interval before Craddock claimed a late consolation side for Wolves, who slipped into the relegation zone.[LNB] Manchester City surrendered their coveted spot in the top four to Tottenham after being held to a 3-3 draw at home to Burnley.[LNB]It was a fifth consecutive draw for City, who slip back to fifth after a run that has cast doubt on their ability to break into English football's Champions League elite.[LNB]"I said before the season that there will be times when we look like what we are, a team coming together and trying to gel," said City's manager, Mark Hughes.[LNB]"And on other occasions it will happen for us and we will look an outstanding team but I am frustrated, and disappointed as well."[LNB] Robbie Keane and Tom Huddlestone were on the mark for Tottenham as Harry Redknapp's side moved up to fourth with a 2-0 win over Sunderland at White Hart Lane.[LNB]Elsewhere, Aston Villa overran struggling Bolton in a 5-1 rout at Villa Park while Blackburn lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over bottom side Portsmouth.[LNB]Burnley's draw at Manchester City was their first point on the road since their return to the top flight.[LNB]An even better outcome had looked on the cards when a Graham Alexander penalty and a Steven Fletcher strike gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.[LNB] But Shaun Wright-Phillips reduced the deficit two minutes before the break and second half strikes from Kolo Toure - his first league goal for City - and Craig Bellamy had City on track to claim the points before Kevin McDonald snatched an 87th-minute equaliser for the visitors.[LNB]Sunderland striker Darren Bent's return to Tottenham proved to be an unhappy one with the England striker having a second-half penalty saved by Heurelho Gomes.[LNB]That would have cancelled out Keane's 12th-minute strike for Spurs and been just reward for Sunderland's long periods of domination.[LNB]Instead Tottenham finished comfortable winners after Huddlestone smashed a 68th-minute shot in off the bar.[LNB]Redknapp admitted his side had been lucky, but insisted there was no reason they could not stay in the top four.[LNB]"We were very fortunate, the keeper's had a fantastic day but that's how it goes," he said.[LNB]"We got three points, you can play well and get nothing. We've got Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric to come back and when they come back we'll play differently again."[LNB]England duo Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa in control against Bolton.[LNB]Johan Elmander gave the visitors hope on the stroke of half-time but Villa were too slick after the break with John Carew, James Milner and Carlos Cuellar all finding the net in the final 20 minutes.[LNB]On-loan Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara gave Portsmouth a 15th-minute lead against Blackburn, raising the prospect of a win that would have lifted Pompey out of the drop zone themselves.[LNB]Instead it was Blackburn who took the points with Jason Roberts scoring twice either side of a strike from New Zealander Ryan Nelsen.

Source: Eurosport