Arsenal overcome Blackpool to keep up title challenge
Arsenal
overcame a brief Blackpool fight back to win 3-1 at Bloomfield Road and
close the gap on Manchester United to seven points at the top of the
Premier League on Sunday.
Arsenal, who
fielded 41-year-old Jens Lehmann in goal for the first time in three
years as an emergency stand-in for Manuel Almunia, were 2-0 up after 21
minutes thanks to goals from Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue.
Blackpool replied
after 52 minutes when Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored after the referee
waved play on despite Lehmann bringing down DJ Campbell in the penalty
area. Although they had other chances, the seaside strugglers failed to
find the equaliser.
Instead, Arsenal
wrapped up the victory with a superb goal on the counter-attack after
76 minutes when Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott combined on the break
before Walcott crossed for Robin van Persie to score in front of goal.
Lehmann, who left
Arsenal three years ago and returned after coming out of retirement
last month to help solve a goalkeeper crisis, was called into the game
just before kickoff after Almunia was injured in the warm-up.
The result lifted Arsenal to 62 points, seven behind leaders United
with a game in hand. Blackpool remained a point and a place above the
relegation zone.
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