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Blues surge to 4th as Gunners misfire

Comment: 0 January 3rd, 2012 by: admin

A CHELSEA win coupled by an Arsenal loss has suddenly turned the battle for fourth spot in the Premier League interesting.

Two of Monday night’s skirmishes were decided by late goals as the Blues regrouped with a 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, while the Gunners saw their losing run increased to two after tasting defeat at Fulham via the same count.

Chelsea’s win moved them to fourth place and renewed their sagging hopes in the second half of the season.

And no man was so delighted by that much-needed win than Andre Villas-Boas who proclaimed after the match: ‘If we go on a winning streak of five or six games, which we are capable of, we can be fighting for this league.’

The Blues are now a point ahead of the Gunners but are still eight points off co-leaders Manchester City and Manchester United.

Frank Lampard, proving he is still dependable, played the hero’s role at the Molineux Stadium when he converted the clincher in the 89^th minute following an assist from Ashley Cole as the Blues finally got the three points after four fixtures.

Ramires shoved Chelsea ahead in the 54^th but Wolverhampton equalised in the 84^th through Stephen Ward.

Lampard was lucky not to have been banished midway through the second half when he slid to challenge Wolves winger Adam Hammill. The veteran midfielder later said there was no malice on his action and that he was lucky to stay on the pitch.

At Craven Cottage, Arsenal failed to recover as Laurent Koscielny’s header in the 21st was cancelled out by Steve Sidwell’s brace in the 85^th.

The Gunners were already down to 10 men when Johan Djourou was sent off in the 78^th and their defence finally crumbled in stoppage time when Bobby Zamora converted the game-winner in the second minute of stoppage time after Sebastien Squillacci failed to clear Stephen Kelly’s cross.

It was a sorry loss for Arsene Wenger’s men who are aiming to snare one of four Champions League seats up for grabs.

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