Late Gunners goals keeps title race alive

Arteta brace sinks Latics

Shepherd calls for Hall decision

—– Manchester United are less than ten minutes away from taking a significant nine-point lead at the top of the Premiership.
In their 200th meeting with Arsenal, United lead 1-0 on their first visit to the Emirates Stadium through Wayne Rooney but two late goals from Robin Van Persie and Thierry Henry keep the Gunners slim title hopes alive. They also restrict Manchester’s advantage ahead of out-of-form Chelsea to only six points.
Despite the setback, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks on the bright side: “We have a game less to play and are a goal better off than Chelsea following their 2-0 defeat at Liverpool yesterday. So it’s not all doom and gloom.”

—– A 0-2 home defeat by Everton condemns Wigan Athletic to a club record equalling seventh consecutive league defeat as the Latics relegation worries deepen.
Mikel Arteta scores both the goals at a windswept JJB Stadium.
On the day of what-would-have-been the 100th birthday of the greatest-ever goalscorer Dixie Dean, Everton’s joy is dampened due to a serious injury to star striker Andrew Johnson.

—– Following the Belgravia Group’s decision to cut short takeover talks, Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd calls for Sir John Hall to end speculation about the Premiership club’s future.
The Hall family hold 41.6% of the club’s shares.
Shepherd says: “If he lives to be 100, is Sir John going to keep trying to sell these shares? Are we going to have this uncertainty forever? I want him to be honest with me and the supporters. The club simply cannot go on dealing with proposed buyers knocking on the door who turn out to be time-wasters.”