Van Persie enjoyed an eventful return to his old club Arsenal as he scored and got booked with champions United holding the Londoners to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. PHOTO: REUTERS
Robin van Persie returned to punish his former club by scoring an equaliser as newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester United compromised Arsenal’s Champions League hopes in a feisty 1-1 draw.
Back at Arsenal for the first time since his £24 million transfer to Old Trafford in 2012, Van Persie netted a superb penalty just before half-time to cancel out Theo Walcott’s early opener.
It could prove a costly goal for Arsenal, who failed to reclaim third place from Chelsea and now find their hold on the fourth and final Champions League qualifying place under threat from Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsene Wenger’s side trail Chelsea by one point and lead Spurs by two, but they have played a game more than both their London rivals.
The draw left United 14 points clear of Manchester City, although they can no longer fulfil manager Alex Ferguson’s wish of breaking Chelsea’s Premier League points record of 95 from the 2004-05 campaign.
Spot-on Lampard helps Chelsea’s cause
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard moved to within one goal of Bobby Tambling’s Chelsea record with a penalty that sealed his team’s 2-0 victory over Swansea.
With Tambling watching from the stands, Lampard hit his 201st goal for the Blues shortly after setting up Oscar for the strike that put Rafael Benitez’s side ahead in the 44th minute at Stamford Bridge.
The win strengthened Chelsea’s grip on a top four place, moving them three points clear of Tottenham who lie fifth with just four games remaining.
The match also marked referee Mark Clattenburg’s first appearance at the Bridge since he was cleared of racially abusing John Obi Mikel during Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United last October.
Clattenburg’s return passed off with little controversy, although Benitez and his players were convinced Swansea captain Ashley Williams should have received a second yellow card midway through the second half.
The referee’s decision not to punish Williams for pulling back Demba Ba made little difference to the outcome, however, with Chelsea easing their way to victory against a Swansea team with little to play for.
Benitez’s side came into the game on the back of Thursday’s impressive victory in Basle in the first-leg of their Europa League semi-final.
That result moved the Blues closer to a second successive European final following last year’s Champions League triumph, but Benitez has always maintained a place in the top four is the club’s main priority.
And Chelsea’s hopes of securing a place in next season’s Champions League were lifted ahead of this clash by Tottenham’s failure to beat Wigan 24 hours earlier.
But there were few signs the prospect of putting clear water between themselves and the White Hart Lane club had provided any extra motivation during a tepid opening.
Lampard’s introduction
in place of the injured Ramires in the 28th minute injected more urgency into Chelsea’s play.
The deadlock was broken in the 43th minute when Lampard released Oscar on the right hand side of the Swansea area and the Brazil international finished with a clinical right foot shot across Vorm and inside the far post.
With half time fast approaching, Lampard killed off Swansea’s resistance from the penalty spot after Juan Mata had been tripped by Leon Britton.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2013.
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