City go fourth as Gunners win late

City go fourth as Gunners win late

Published Apr. 3, 2010 7:41 p.m. ET

The Gunners' title challenge looked to be all but over as they entered the fourth minute of injury time against Wolves with the score still goalless. But Nicklas Bendtner headed in Bacary Sagna's cross to send Arsene Wenger running down the touchline in delight, as his side stayed within three points of Chelsea. The Gunners played the last 25 minutes against 10 men after Karl Henry saw red for a reckless challenge on Tomas Rosicky. Manchester City moved into the final Champions League place with a 6-1 hammering of Burnley. City showed their class with a blistering first-half show at Turf Moor that saw them go in at the break with the biggest half-time lead ever seen in the Premier League. Emmanuel Adebayor started the ball rolling with a goal in the fourth minute, with Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez quickly notching to leave the Clarets 3-0 down inside seven minutes. Patrick Vieira headed home another before Adebayor again struck on the stroke of half-time to make it 5-0 at the break. Vincent Kompany powered home a header just prior to the hour-mark before Burnley grabbed a consolation through Steven Fletcher. The win took City above Tottenham, who lost 3-1 at Sunderland. Spurs old boy Darren Bent put the Black Cats ahead after only 36 seconds and the striker doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker handled. Bent was then given the chance to complete his hat-trick from the spot following Luka Modric's foul on Fraizer Campbell but this time Heurelho Gomes kept out his effort. Incredibly, Sunderland were awarded a third penalty in the second half but Gomes again denied Bent a treble, and the hosts then had an Anton Ferdinand effort chalked off after Campbell was harshly penalised for a foul on Gomes. That looked like it could be crucial when Peter Crouch headed in for Tottenham but Boudewijn Zenden sealed the victory with a late volley. Aston Villa closed to within four points of Spurs as Ashley Young gave Martin O'Neill's side a 1-0 win at Bolton with a spectacular 11th-minute effort. The Midlanders were looking to put behind them last weekend's 7-1 humiliation at Chelsea and speculation about O'Neill's future and they held on to post their first win in four matches. Struggling Hull, who went into their match against Stoke still seeking their first away win of the season, were one down inside six minutes as Ricardo Fuller took advantage of Paul McShane's slip. To add to the Tigers' misery, George Boateng needed lengthy treatment after being accidentally kicked in the head by Tuncay Sanli. He was carried straight into an ambulance with an oxygen mask on, leaving his side to play out the end of the match with 10 men, and Liam Lawrence netted late on to hand Stoke a 2-0 win. Bottom side Portsmouth battled to a 0-0 draw against Blackburn despite playing for half an hour with 10 men after Anthony Vanden Borre picked up a second booking. However, victory for West Ham at Everton on Sunday would see Pompey relegated.

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