Arsenal Go Third, Dent City’s Title Chances

Manchester United all but sealed a 20th English title as they moved into an eight-point lead over Manchester City at the top of Premier League on Sunday with just six games left to play. United must thank London rival, Arsenal for the gap, as Arsenal further deflated Manchester City’s efforts to challenge United for the title.

United played earlier today and beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Old Trafford to pile the pressure on City.

City was expected to narrow the gap in the encounter with Arsenal in London. The result of the match did not meet the wishful expectations of City handlers, as Mikel Arteta’s goal three minutes from time securing a 1-0 victory for the Gunners, shot them back to reality.

While Arsenal leapfrogged north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur into third place in the table, City watched their Manchester rival, United soar splendidly away, eight clear points from them.

City’s misery was compounded when temperamental striker Mario Balotelli was sent-off a minute before full-time.
Before kick-off, City manager Roberto Mancini said City had to win if they were to have a chance of being crowned champions of England for the first time since 1968.

“Today for us is like a final, otherwise eight points is too much,” the Italian told Sky Sports.

Afterwards Mancini, asked if City’s title bid was finished, replied: “Not mathematcially. It’s very diffuclt but we will do our best.”

At Old Trafford, goals from Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes saw United — who are now two goals better off on goal difference than City — to victory.

England striker Rooney gave United a 15th minute lead from the penalty spot after QPR captain Shaun Derry was controversially sent off for bringing down Ashley Young inside the area, with referee Lee Mason ruling he’d denied a clear goalscoring chance.
Mason’s decision was harsh on Rangers, who are still above the relegation zone on goal difference. Derry’s contact appeared minimal and Young looked to be offside.

Even though QPR keeper Paddy Kenny correctly dived to his right, Rooney’s well-struck penalty gave him his 30th goal of the season and left the visitors, managed by former United striker Mark Hughes, with a mountain to climb.
Kenny kept QPR in the game until the 68th minute when he was beaten by a 20-yard shot from veteran midfielder Scholes, recalled from retirement this season by Ferguson.

Hughes confirmed QPR would appeal Derry’s red card in a bid to have him available for Wednesday’s match at home to Swansea.
“We’ll obviously try and appeal that and hopefully get that overturned by Wednesday,” he said. “We can ill-afford to have any more out.
“I think everybody understood that the boy (Young) was offside and that there was minimal contact. The boy has gone over too readily.”