LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - Arsenal beat Manchester United 1-0 to keep the Premier League title race wide open on Sunday with Aaron Ramsey's second-half winner cheered almost as loudly by Chelsea's fans as Arsenal's.United stayed top of the table with 73 points from 35 matches but, with three matches to play, remained just three points clear of champions Chelsea who play
United at Old Trafford next Sunday.
Chelsea, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday, trailed United by 15 points two months ago but if they beat United next week they will go ahead of them on goal difference.
Arsenal, who maintain a slim mathematical chance of winning the title, are third with 67 points but manager Arsene Wenger conceded that their challenge was over last week and the win was more about keeping alive their hopes of finishing third and securing a place in next season's Champions League group stage.
Wenger told reporters: "We had a good performance, disciplined with fighting spirit. Until we scored, I think we controlled it completely, then we came under more pressure.
"It was immense pressure to be out of the title race because I felt so strongly we would win it. But we will fight until the last seconds of the season. We've been unlucky till now and maybe that will change until the end of the season.
"I still make United favourites, they are at home. For us to have a small chance it's in our interest for Chelsea to win."
SECOND START
The only goal of a match Arsenal largely dominated at a sun-drenched Emirates Stadium came after Robin van Persie cut the ball back to Ramsey who found the corner of Edwin van der Sar's net after 56 minutes.
Ramsey was making only his second Premier League start of the season because captain Cesc Fabregas was injured, and scored his first goal in the Premier League since August 2009.
Arsenal, who had lost six of their previous seven matches to United, could have made the breakthrough earlier when referee Chris Foy missed a clear handball by United defender Nemanja Vidic as Van Persie was poised to head in a cross from Theo Walcott.
The tall Serbian defender was lucky that none of the officials spotted what appeared to be a deliberate handball which would inevitably have resulted in a penalty to Arsenal and a red card for him.
United could have had a penalty late in the game when Gael Clichy appeared to rake his studs down substitute Michael Owen's leg and sent him sprawling in the area.
Earlier, Liverpool, who share the record of 18 championships with United, beat Newcastle United 3-0 to move into fifth place, maintaining their climb up the table that began when Kenny Dalglish took over as caretaker-manager in January.
A goal from Maxi Rodriguez after 10 minutes, a Dirk Kuyt penalty after 59 minutes and a strike from Luis Suarez six minutes later lifted Liverpool into the Europa League qualifying berth, pushing Tottenham Hotspur, who lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Saturday, down to sixth.
Birmingham City drew 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Andrews, leaving Wolves deep in relegation trouble. They remain second bottom on 34 points, a point from safety, while Birmingham are 15th on 39 points.
United at Old Trafford next Sunday.
Chelsea, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Saturday, trailed United by 15 points two months ago but if they beat United next week they will go ahead of them on goal difference.
Arsenal, who maintain a slim mathematical chance of winning the title, are third with 67 points but manager Arsene Wenger conceded that their challenge was over last week and the win was more about keeping alive their hopes of finishing third and securing a place in next season's Champions League group stage.
Wenger told reporters: "We had a good performance, disciplined with fighting spirit. Until we scored, I think we controlled it completely, then we came under more pressure.
"It was immense pressure to be out of the title race because I felt so strongly we would win it. But we will fight until the last seconds of the season. We've been unlucky till now and maybe that will change until the end of the season.
"I still make United favourites, they are at home. For us to have a small chance it's in our interest for Chelsea to win."
SECOND START
The only goal of a match Arsenal largely dominated at a sun-drenched Emirates Stadium came after Robin van Persie cut the ball back to Ramsey who found the corner of Edwin van der Sar's net after 56 minutes.
Ramsey was making only his second Premier League start of the season because captain Cesc Fabregas was injured, and scored his first goal in the Premier League since August 2009.
Arsenal, who had lost six of their previous seven matches to United, could have made the breakthrough earlier when referee Chris Foy missed a clear handball by United defender Nemanja Vidic as Van Persie was poised to head in a cross from Theo Walcott.
The tall Serbian defender was lucky that none of the officials spotted what appeared to be a deliberate handball which would inevitably have resulted in a penalty to Arsenal and a red card for him.
United could have had a penalty late in the game when Gael Clichy appeared to rake his studs down substitute Michael Owen's leg and sent him sprawling in the area.
Earlier, Liverpool, who share the record of 18 championships with United, beat Newcastle United 3-0 to move into fifth place, maintaining their climb up the table that began when Kenny Dalglish took over as caretaker-manager in January.
A goal from Maxi Rodriguez after 10 minutes, a Dirk Kuyt penalty after 59 minutes and a strike from Luis Suarez six minutes later lifted Liverpool into the Europa League qualifying berth, pushing Tottenham Hotspur, who lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Saturday, down to sixth.
Birmingham City drew 1-1 with Wolverhampton Wanderers at St Andrews, leaving Wolves deep in relegation trouble. They remain second bottom on 34 points, a point from safety, while Birmingham are 15th on 39 points.
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