Arsenal gunned down Manchester City 4-0 tonight as City suffered their 11th league defeat of the season at Maine Road to slip closer to the First Division. Two goals from Fredrik Ljungberg and one each from Sylvain Wiltord and Kanu gave the FA Cup finalists a comfortable victory.
Keeper Carlo Nash made his debut between the posts for City. But Nicky Weaver's replacement could not have had a worse start. They stormed into a two-goal lead after just nine minutes and were never in danger after that blistering opening spell. Nash was drafted in by manager Joe Royle after blunders in successive games by Weaver. But the keeper was again left exposed in the 17th minute when Arsenal scored a third.
Ljungberg got his second goal of the game with a delightful chip over Nash after Kanu had threaded the ball through. Arsenal went 4-0 ahead after 37 minutes to leave the City supporters disconsolate. Some even headed for the exits. Wiltord split the defence with a back heel into the path of Ashley Cole. Unselfishly he delivered the ball to Kanu, who was able to turn in acres of space and fire a shot beyond Nash.
Arsenal continued to knock the ball about at will at the start of the second half but soon became a non-event with City happy to take part in a damage limitation exercise.
Sean Davis grabbed a last-gasp winner to stun Blackburn at Ewood Park and move 10-man Fulham to within three points of the First Division title. The 21-year-old pounced from six yards with seconds remaining to hand Jean Tigana's men an unlikely win in the top-of-the-table clash.
Earlier Louis Saha's 28th of the season looked to have salvaged a point for the Cottagers in first-half stoppage time after Matt Jansen had given Rovers a sixth-minute lead.
In the Scottish Premier League Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo fired a first-half double to take Rangers a step closer to a place in next season's Champions League qualifiers. Garry Hay grabbed a late consolation, but it could have been so different had Ibrox legend Ally McCoist not had a first-half penalty kick saved by Rangers goalkeeper Stefan Klos.
Filed by Seán Folan
