Niklas Bendtner powers Arsenal ahead in the 88th minute of their home EPL match against Cardiff City.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Arsenal stay top of the English Premier League with late goals
- Niklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott score in 2-0 win over Cardiff
- Chasing Manchester City and Chelsea both win
- Manchester United beaten 2-1 in late game by Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal left it late to stay top of the
English Premier League title race as Niklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott
scored in the last two minutes at the Emirates Wednesday to beat Cardiff
City 2-0.
The match looked headed
for a draw until Danish international Bendtner converted from close
range to break the deadlock and Walcott rounded off the job in injury
time.
With Manchester City
and Chelsea both winning, the three points was vital for the Gunners,
who were top heading into the New Year and maintained a one-point
advantage over City.
They are also an unexpected 11 points clear of reigning champions Manchester United whose recent revival came to a shuddering halt with a 2-1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the late kickoff.
Tottenham, who recently
replaced Andre Villas-Boas with Tim Sherwood, moved up to challenging
sixth place with a third win in four games for the new manager.
They took the
lead just before half time through recalled Emmanuel Adebayor after a
smart counter attack and added a second through Christian Eriksen in the
66th minute.
Danny Welbeck pulled one
back within a minute and Tottenham had to ride their luck in the last
few minutes, but it added up to a fourth defeat at Old Trafford for
United under David Moyes.
Earlier, Cardiff, without
a manager since the sacking of Malky Mackay, restricted leaders Arsenal
to few opportunities despite their domination.
Jack Wilshere was denied
a penalty in the first half and then struck the base of the post after
the break until Bendtner reacted quickly to score after Cardiff
goalkeeper David Marshall saved superbly from Bacary Sagna's header.