Gunners cruise but Spurs end in defeat
RACE FOR THIRD
ARSENAL (4) vs FULHAM (0)
ARSENAL ensured there was no slip-ups in the race to secure third place as they brushed aside a weakened Fulham team at the Emirates.
The Gunners needed victory to clinch automatic entry into the Champions League next season at the expense of north London rivals Tottenham, who had closed the gap to within two points.
Arsene Wenger’s men may have stuttered of late but victory, and third place, was never in doubt here as goals from Andrei Arshavin, Robin van Persie, a Chris Baird own goal and Carlos Vela, wrapped up an easy win against a Fulham side with one eye on Wednesday’s Europa League final against Atletico Madrid.
But the Gunners needn’t have worried as Spurs failed to keep the pressure up, letting slip a 2-0 lead against relegated Burnley to go down 4-2 at Turf Moor.
“We really were a shadow ourselves,” said Spurs boss Harry Redknapp. “I’ve no excuses. A lot of the defending was poor.”
As for Wenger, he was delighted with the way his Gunners side ended an otherwise frustrating campaign. He added: “We did what we wanted today and that was to win the game, so we didn’t need to focus on the Tottenham result.”
Wenger also admitted that a deal to sign Bordeaux striker Maruoane Chamakh was “very close”.