Arsenal 1 - 0 Man Utd

Welsh midfielder Ramsey scores through the outstretched legs of Michael Carrick, Arsenal , Man Utd, wallpaper, poster, photo

By Phil McNulty  Chief football writer at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal blew the Premier League title race wide open as leaders Manchester United were deservedly beaten at the Emirates Stadium.

Aaron Ramsey's winner early in the second half condemned United to defeat and leaves them only three points ahead of Chelsea with identical goal difference - and a meeting between the two to come at Old Trafford next Sunday.

Forced to rebuild his promising career after suffering a broken leg, Ramsey made the most of a chance to deputise for injured captain Cesc Fabregas with a goal that will have been met with almost as much joy at Stamford Bridge as it was in front of Arsenal's fans.

Victory was well-earned reward for their superiority against a United side that never looked like repeating the heroics of their Champions League semi-final first leg victory against Schalke 04 on Tuesday in Germany.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger must have thought the fates had conspired against him when they were denied a clear first-half penalty after Nemanja Vidic handled Theo Walcott's cross.

Arsenal will keep fighting - Wenger

But the game concluded with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson angry at referee Chris Foy after substitute Michael Owen was hauled down in the area by Gael Clichy in the closing moments, only to have his appeals ignored.

It is a win that has probably come too late to revive Arsenal's own title aspirations, but one which gives Chelsea real hope that they can retain their crown if they can beat United next week.

Ferguson cut a frustrated figure throughout, a mood matched by his players as they rarely got to grips with an Arsenal side they have enjoyed so much success against in the recent past.

Arsenal lost Fabregas to a thigh injury sustained in training on Saturday - but his absence did not stop the Gunners dominating a first half that concluded with them nursing an acute sense of injustice.

Vidic, a central figure in every sense, was fortunate not to be punished for an uncharacteristic error after only three minutes.

In attempting to clear, he only succeeded in finding Jack Wilshere and was relieved to see the teenager pull his effort inches wide.

And Walcott could not keep a close-range shot under control as he stretched to meet Clichy's cross, sending it well over the top of Edwin van der Sar's crossbar.

United have had joy against Arsenal in the past by lying deep before striking with devastating effect on the counter attack.

And they almost delivered a sucker punch in the face of Arsenal's early superiority when Fabio da Silva burst into the area unmarked, but was unable to find Javier Hernandez.

Click to playPhelan disappointed with Man UtdArsenal, with justification, were furious just after the half-hour when Vidic clearly used his hand to direct Walcott's cross away from the incoming Robin van Persie - an offence missed by the officials.

England striker Wayne Rooney's main contribution had been a yellow card for fouling England team-mate Wilshere just before the interval.

He did show his enduring quality with a curling 25-yard free-kick after 48 minutes, but the previously unemployed Wojciech Szczesny was equal to the task with a diving save.

Arsenal finally got the goal they had merited after 56 minutes, Ramsey sliding a low finish into the corner of the net from Van Persie's incisive cut-back.

United, thoroughly out of sorts, replaced Anderson with Antonio Valencia moments before the goal.

They did muster a response, however, when Vidic rose highest from a corner to head just wide.

And in a belated show of urgency by United, Szczesny was then forced to save well from Nani after Rooney had driven deep into the Arsenal half in a bid to lift his team-mates from their slumbers.

With three minutes left Ferguson and United's players were reduced to a fury as Owen was brought down from behind by Clichy as he raced into the area.

Referee Foy, much to Ferguson's obvious disgust, was unimpressed.

It was Arsenal's last anxious moment before closing out a win that leaves the title potentially on the line when United confront champions Chelsea, who narrowly beat Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday.

Arsenal 1 - 0 Man Utd

Welsh midfielder Ramsey scores through the outstretched legs of Michael Carrick

By Phil McNulty  Chief football writer at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal blew the Premier League title race wide open as leaders Manchester United were deservedly beaten at the Emirates Stadium.

Aaron Ramsey's winner early in the second half condemned United to defeat and leaves them only three points ahead of Chelsea with identical goal difference - and a meeting between the two to come at Old Trafford next Sunday.

Forced to rebuild his promising career after suffering a broken leg, Ramsey made the most of a chance to deputise for injured captain Cesc Fabregas with a goal that will have been met with almost as much joy at Stamford Bridge as it was in front of Arsenal's fans.

Victory was well-earned reward for their superiority against a United side that never looked like repeating the heroics of their Champions League semi-final first leg victory against Schalke 04 on Tuesday in Germany.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger must have thought the fates had conspired against him when they were denied a clear first-half penalty after Nemanja Vidic handled Theo Walcott's cross.

Arsenal will keep fighting - Wenger

But the game concluded with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson angry at referee Chris Foy after substitute Michael Owen was hauled down in the area by Gael Clichy in the closing moments, only to have his appeals ignored.

It is a win that has probably come too late to revive Arsenal's own title aspirations, but one which gives Chelsea real hope that they can retain their crown if they can beat United next week.

Ferguson cut a frustrated figure throughout, a mood matched by his players as they rarely got to grips with an Arsenal side they have enjoyed so much success against in the recent past.

Arsenal lost Fabregas to a thigh injury sustained in training on Saturday - but his absence did not stop the Gunners dominating a first half that concluded with them nursing an acute sense of injustice.

Vidic, a central figure in every sense, was fortunate not to be punished for an uncharacteristic error after only three minutes.

In attempting to clear, he only succeeded in finding Jack Wilshere and was relieved to see the teenager pull his effort inches wide.

And Walcott could not keep a close-range shot under control as he stretched to meet Clichy's cross, sending it well over the top of Edwin van der Sar's crossbar.

United have had joy against Arsenal in the past by lying deep before striking with devastating effect on the counter attack.

And they almost delivered a sucker punch in the face of Arsenal's early superiority when Fabio da Silva burst into the area unmarked, but was unable to find Javier Hernandez.

Click to playPhelan disappointed with Man UtdArsenal, with justification, were furious just after the half-hour when Vidic clearly used his hand to direct Walcott's cross away from the incoming Robin van Persie - an offence missed by the officials.

England striker Wayne Rooney's main contribution had been a yellow card for fouling England team-mate Wilshere just before the interval.

He did show his enduring quality with a curling 25-yard free-kick after 48 minutes, but the previously unemployed Wojciech Szczesny was equal to the task with a diving save.

Arsenal finally got the goal they had merited after 56 minutes, Ramsey sliding a low finish into the corner of the net from Van Persie's incisive cut-back.

United, thoroughly out of sorts, replaced Anderson with Antonio Valencia moments before the goal.

They did muster a response, however, when Vidic rose highest from a corner to head just wide.

And in a belated show of urgency by United, Szczesny was then forced to save well from Nani after Rooney had driven deep into the Arsenal half in a bid to lift his team-mates from their slumbers.

With three minutes left Ferguson and United's players were reduced to a fury as Owen was brought down from behind by Clichy as he raced into the area.

Referee Foy, much to Ferguson's obvious disgust, was unimpressed.

It was Arsenal's last anxious moment before closing out a win that leaves the title potentially on the line when United confront champions Chelsea, who narrowly beat Tottenham 2-1 on Saturday.

Newcastle 0-0 Manchester United: Ferguson’s men extend lead to seven points but stalemate offers Arsenal hope

The champions-elect were unable to break down a resilient Magpies side as both teams saw second half penalty shouts turned down by Lee Probert

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Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points after drawing 0-0 withNewcastle at St. James’ Park.In a high octane clash on Tyneside, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side failed to break down their resilient hosts and have offered slim hope of title glory to both Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of their respective games on Wednesday night.
With the celebrations of their noisy neighbours still ringing in the ears of the United squad, Ferguson looked to erase the memories of Wembley by making five changes to his side. Wayne Rooney returned from a much talked about two-game ban for his foulmouthed tirade at Upton Park the most notable boost to the visitors. The man he replaced, Dimitar Berbatov, didn’t even make the bench.
As one talismanic Liverpudlian returned for the champions-in-waiting another was missing for the hosts, with Kevin Nolan suspended for a clash against a team he has haunted on a number of occasions during his time at Bolton. Nolan was the most glaring omission from an Alan Pardew side that were looking to finally cement their place in the Premier League for next season, as well as disrupting their opponent’s title charge.
St. James’ Park was rocking from the off and the opening exchanges were as vigorous as you might expect for a battle taking place in the height of end-of-season intensity. It took only two minutes for the game to nearly yield a breakthrough as Rooney, finding space down the left, hit an inch-perfect cross to the feet of Javier Herandez only for the Mexican to be foiled by a superb Tim Krul save in a position from where he is often so dangerous.
An opening that appeared to signal the beginning of a dominant trip to Tyneside for the Premier League leaders was soon turned on its head however as Newcastle, clearly shaken into life, began to dictate possession and plough forward in great numbers. Their endeavour was so nearly rewarded as Gutierrez, jinking in from the left, saw a dangerous looking effort deflected wide. It was a start that was certainly giving the home fans something to shout about.
Pardew’s charges were showing no fear and certainly had the better of the opening 20 minutes but as is so often the way against a United side of such dynamism, the Magpies appeared culpable on the break and it was a counter attack that led to United’s second excellent chance as Rooney, latching on to a fine ball over the top from Hernandez, failed to finish from a position where he is certainly capable of hitting the back of the net.
The ferocity of the St James’ crowd had been quelled somewhat as United’s maturity and assured touch on the ball blossomed on the half hour mark and the visitors were looking to pin their hosts into their own half. However, lacking the cutting edge to capitalise on their dominance threatened to leave United’s endeavours wasted as the first half neared its conclusion.

Stalemate | Barton impressed as Giggs missed terrific second half chance

A turn of fortunes should have come to fruition only two minutes before the break as the hosts broke in the form of Barton, who down the right hand side and looked dangerous for much of the first half.  A deep cross from the flank met Peter Lovenkrands alone in the box but the Dane failed to prove great, heading a fantastic chance hopelessly wide to the despair of the Toon Army.
United returned from the half time break looking very like a team with a more pressing agenda than their hosts and sustained five minute period of pressure culminated in a header from Ryan Giggs, who had spent much of the first half as a passenger in the visitor’s midfield, saved comfortably by Krul.  A let off for a Newcastle side under increasing pressure.
However, in a game that had been topsy-turvy from the opening minute the pendulum nearly swung the way of Alan Pardew’s side just before the hour mark as Lovenkrands, tentatively prowling on the edge of the box, fell to the floor under a tackle from Anderson. The crowd were convinced, unfortunately for the former Rangers man, Lee Probert was not.
United continued to probe as the 70th minute mark approached and their breakthrough looked all the world to have arrived at the feet of Giggs but the Welshman, who had been rusty throughout, passively sidefooted an effort wide from about 10 yards out having collected the ball after a fantastic venture into the box by Patrice Evra.
It was becoming a fight of subtle counter punching as the game inevitably stretched and it was the home side's turn to lash narrowly wide as Stephen Ireland, having been brought on to make his debut merely seconds earlier, latched on to an Ameobi knock down to half volley past Van der Sar and the right-hand post from outside the United penalty area.

United were looking increasingly panicked as the game entered its final stages and Michael Owen, a man most unpleasant on Tyneside was brought on to break the deadlock to a chorus of boos from the St James' faithful.

Seemingly happy with an invaluable point, Newcastle looked sat deep and took in the waves of pressure coming their way and hearts were in mouths in stoppage time as Hernandez went down in the box but the referee booked the diminutive Mexican for simulation.

Complaints were made by the visitors at the final whistle but a sense of frustration with their own inability to break down Alan Pardew's side emanated more prominently. Newcastle reached the much-desired 40 point mark as the season enters its final stretch, for United, salvation may take a little more waiting.