22nd March, 2012
Thomas Vermaelen’s eighth-minute header lifted Arsenal above Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday and was enough for Arsene Wenger’s men to jump to the third spot ahead of north London rivals Tottenham in the Premier League.
Vermaelen headed home a Robin van Persie corner for the Gunners, who have now won six in a row in the EPL in start contrast to Harry Redknapp’s side.
Spurs were fortunate to snap a run of three straight league defeats with a 1-1 draw with Stoke at White Hart Lane, but it was not enough to prevent them falling behind the Gunners. Cameron Jerome looked set to increase Redknapp’s woes when he put Stoke ahead after 75 minutes, but Rafael van der Vaart salvaged a point when he headed home Gareth Bale’s cross in injury time.
In another match, QPR jumped out of the relegation zone after an incredible comeback at Loftus Road, where they trailed Liverpool 2-0 with 13 minutes to go but ended up winning 3-2.
Sebastian Coates opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 54th minute and when Dirk Kuyt added a second in the 72nd, it looked certain to be an eighth game without a win for Mark Hughes’ men.
But Shaun Derry pulled one back after 77 minutes sparking a superb finish in which former Reds star Djibril Cisse headed an equaliser four minutes from time and Jamie Mackie swept home in injury-time for a 3-2 win.