Watch Goals: Blackpool 1 - 3 Arsenal

After Manchester United's influential Nani orchestrated an easy yet uninspired win and won three points against Fulham on Saturday, Arsenal's game against Blackpool was even more crucial in their race for the title. The Gunners fended off Blackpool's good start, helped by their loud and vibrant home support, cheering at every attack, and, against the run of play, Arsenal were able to carve open the Blackpool defence twice in quick succession to silence Bloomfield Road.

Blackpool were not in the giving up mood however. The second half saw the home crowd have much more to cheer about, with plenty of chances created, mostly in the first 20 minuted or so of the half. About 7 minutes into the second half, Taylor-Fletcher had forced the Tangerines back into the game with a good finish to beat the returning Jens Lehmann who was playing due to the late injury to Almunia in the warm up. Reports that Lehmann injured the Spaniard himself are unconfirmed. 

The German keeper could have been sent off in the lead up to the goal, bringing down an onrushing DJ Campbell to prevent him from scoring. Lee Mason had played the advantage previously when Wilshere brought down a Blackpool player, and he played it again which prevented Lehmann's dream return turning into a nightmare.

For about 10 or 15 minutes after the goal, Blackpool looked dangerous, but as Arsenal began to weather the storm, there looked like there would be only one result. And despite Blackpool's worthy efforts to get the equaliser, the game was killed off by a van Persie goal thanks to Theo Walcott's break in the 76th minute.

The Manchester United optimists and the Arsenal pessimists believe that the title race is already over, with a now seven point gap too much to overcome. But with a game in hand and a big game between the two sides to come, it may not be that simple.

Watch: Wales 0 - 2 England

England played impressively on away soil at the Millenium Stadium today, with two early goals separating the two sides. The three lions proved too much for the one dragon as England breezed to victory without any real problems at the back whilst performing very well in the midfield and out wide. 

Watch the Goals below:

WATCH: Arsenal 1 - 2 Birmingham Carling Cup Final

Match Report Here

Arsenal 0 - 1 Birmingham [Zigic]



Arsenal 1 - 1 Birmingham [van Persie]



Arsenal 1 - 2 Birmingham [Martins]

Watch: Manchester United 1 - 0 Arsenal

Park Ji-Sung scored a spectacular headed goal just before half time to clinch a Manchester United win which takes them to the top of the table with a game in hand, and a superior goal difference.

The man of the match was Rio Ferdinand, which emphasises the kind of game it was - very close, tight and nervy, which is understandable in a big match. The first half an hour was littered with fouls and stoppages as defence got close to the attack, and passes went astray. United had the best of the chances and the game as a whole, and the goal was well deserved in the 40th minute from Park - even though it may have been a little lucky.

The Arsenal goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny was impressive - he made no mistakes, and made a good save from Anderson in a one-on-one, as well as tipping away a clever Rooney chip near the end. The 20 year-old Polish keeper didn't have to save a penalty however - because although one was given, Rooney uncharacteristically blasted it over.

Anderson too was impressive. His emergence as being a more attacking force than he was when he first joined United and he is becoming a bigger threat - bursting into the box, and playing a much more significant part in the final third of the pitch.

Arsenal tried near the end to create a goal, but their attempts failed as they just couldn't find that final ball or cunning finish to bulge in the net. Both van Persie and Fabregas were risked for the Gunners in the 63rd minute, but even they couldn't summon anything to push their team forward.

It was an exciting 1 - 0, especially as both teams attacked each-other, but the facts are that United are top, unbeaten and have a game in hand, and in their hands lay the Premier League, because with their game in hand being against Blackpool, the Premier League is theirs to lose.