LONDON, May 9: Champions Arsenal moved within one game of completing an unbeaten premier league season as Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes earned them a 1-0 win at Fulham on Sunday.
But Newcastle United's chances of joining them in next season's Champions League were left hanging by a thread after they were held to a 1-1 home draw by relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Newcastle, knocked out of the UEFA Cup semifinals by Olympique Marseille on Thursday, need to win their final two premier league games to finish 4th. Bobby Robson's team, with only two away league wins all season, trail Liverpool by five points and could even miss out on fifth and a UEFA Cup place as they are also two behind Aston Villa.
The result also made mathematically certain that Wolves would be relegated. Arsenal's success at Loftus Road took them to 87 points, 11 clear of Chelsea, and meant they at least matched their record of 1991 when they lost once on the way to the title.
If they avoid defeat in Saturday's home game against relegated Leicester City they would become only the second team in history to complete an unbeaten top-flight season.
Preston North End managed it in the Football League's inaugural season in 1888-89, but that was a campaign of 22 matches. Sunday's game will not linger long in the memory, though the decisive goal after nine minutes will not be easily forgotten by Fulham's goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
He was sloppy in attempting to control a Martin Djetou backpass and far too casual as he tried to fool Reyes, who dispossessed him with ease before rolling the ball into an empty net.
At St James' Park Newcastle led after 38 minutes through Lee Bowyer but Wolves claimed a deserved equaliser in the 70th minute with a low shot by Romanian substitute Viorel Ganea.
