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| April 2, 2002 | Tuesday | Muharram 18,1423 |
Gunners take huge step towards Premier title
LONDON, April 1: Arsenal moved to the top of the English Premiership Monday when they crushed Charlton 3-0 to move a point clear of Liverpool and two ahead of Manchester United with a game in hand.
French international striker Thierry Henry was the star of the show at The Valley when he reached 24 league goals for the season by hitting two in the first half.
Henry put the Gunners in front in the 16th minute when he beat the offside trap, raced past Charlton defender Richard Rufus to slot the ball home.
Five minutes later, it was 2-0 when Freddie Ljungberg scored. Again, Henry was instrumental as he picked up a pass from Lee Dixon and then freed Dennis Bergkamp allowing the Dutchman to set-up an easy chance for Ljungberg.
After 25 minutes, Henry added the third and his second of the game when he tapped in from close range after fellow French international Sylvain Wiltord had left his marker behind.
While Arsenal were moving effortlessly to the top of the table, the pressure was showing on those sides at the bottom who are fighting relegation.
At Pride Park, John Gregory’s hopes of saving Derby from the drop suffered a setback when Robbie Mustoe put Middlesbrough in front at Pride Park after just 12 minutes.
It proved to be the only goal of the game as Derby remain second from bottom on 29 points after putting in a lacklustre display which had all the hallmarks of a doomed team.
Leicester stay rooted to the foot of the table with 22 points after going down 2-1 at Sunderland.
Sunderland had a dream start when American international Claudio Reyna fired in a superb left-foot volley aftre just three minutes, but the lead didn’t last long as Paul Dickov headed in an equaliser six minutes later.
However, Reyna added his second after 18 minutes to ease the pressure on manager Peter Reid and add to the gloom for Leicester.
Ipswich, third from bottom at the start of play, drew 0-0 with Chelsea but will regret missing a golden opportunity to grab the three points when Marcus Bent missed a first half penalty.
Alun Armstrong had been brought down by John Terry but Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini pushed Bent’s spot-kick over the bar.
Despite constant pressure Ipswich couldn’t break through although the point did lift them out of the bottom three although they may sink back down again later on Monday if Blackburn get a point from their game with Southampton.
Everton, thrashed 6-2 at Newcastle on Friday, look to have guaranteed their safety with a 3-1 win over fellow-relegation candidates Bolton at Goodison Park.
Both teams had a player sent-off in the first half. Everton striker Duncan Ferguson was dimissed for violent conduct in the 20th minute while Bolton’s Kostas Konstantinidis followed him 11 minutes later for a second bookable offence.
The home side then nosed in front when Alessandro Pistone scores his first goal for the club four minutes from the interval.
Tomasz Radzinski settled Everton nerves when he made it 2-0 when his shot took a deflection off Paul Warhurst.
Bruno N’Gotty then pulled one back in the 75th minute for Bolton when he headed home but any chances of a revival were shattered when substitute Nick Chadwick made it 3-1 for Everton who now have 39 points.
Fulham’s relegation fears deepened when they fell behind to a Freddy Kanoute strike right on the half-time whistle at Craven Cottage as the Frenchman scored his 10th goal of the season.
At White Hart Lane, Tottenham beat Leeds 2-1.
Norwegian international Steffan Iversen gave Tottenham the lead after 10 minutes before Teddy Sheringham put away the second after 29 minutes to add to Leeds’ hangover they had been suffering after their 4-3 defeat to Manchester United Saturday.
Leeds pulled one back through Mark Viduka after 52 minutes.
Results:
Charlton Athletic 0 Arsenal 3
Derby County 0 Middlesbrough 1
Everton 3 Bolton Wanderers 1
Fulham 0 West Ham United 1
Ipswich Town 0 Chelsea 0
Sunderland 2 Leicester City 1
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Leeds United 1
—AFP
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