Chelsea takes second as Arsenal draws 3-3 at Spurs
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Chelsea overtook Arsenal as Manchester United's closest rival for the Premier League title yesterday after the Gunners surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Tottenham.
Arsenal led 3-1 but Tom Huddlestone got a goal back before halftime and Rafael van der Vaart equalized with a 70th-minute penalty to push its fiercest rival down to third place in the standings.
Defending champion Chelsea moved above Arsenal on goal difference after Florent Malouda scored either side of a goal by Salomon Kalou for a straightforward 3-1 win over Birmingham.
United is six points ahead of its rivals with five games remaining, but must still play both sides.
"Chelsea's now back in the race," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "It's down to us to keep our faith and keep battling. We'll not always draw when we score three goals."
But Arsenal has now drawn four of its last five Premier League matches, with three straight games at home exactly accounting for the margin now between it and United.
"To close the gap of six points with five games left won't be easy," Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But in football, I've learned that anything can happen until the end.
"Everything's open - but I'd still like to be in United's position."
Wenger praised his team's attitude in bouncing back from Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool - when his team conceded a penalty equalizer in the 12th minute of injury time - but acknowledged that the series of draws has rendered a 16-game unbeaten run less effective than it should be.
Having beaten Arsenal 2-1 in the corresponding fixture last season, Tottenham may have helped deny its north London neighbor the title for a second straight year.
"They came here in a red-hot atmosphere and the football they played in the first 15 minutes was outstanding," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. "But you couldn't really see them doing it (winning the title) now."
Spurs, who also won 3-2 at Emirates Stadium in November, are now two points behind fourth-place Manchester City in the race for Champions League qualification.
Walcott put Arsenal ahead in the fifth minute with a low shot past goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, but the lead lasted only 82 seconds as Van der Vaart met a cross from the right channel to steer the ball low for his first club goal since Feb. 5 - and second against Arsenal this season.
Nasri restored Arsenal's advantage with a quickly taken shot past Gomes, whose view was blocked by a defender, and Van Persie made it 3-1 with a shot from a rebound after a bad mistake by Tottenham defender William Gallas. Huddlestone then volleyed in low from 30 meters (yards) to reduce the deficit.
Both teams had chances and Van Persie had a goal ruled out because of offside before Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny brought down substitute Aaron Lennon in the area for Van der Vaart's penalty.
Szczesny tried to atone for his mistake with saves that denied Peter Crouch, Younes Kaboul, Van der Vaart and Sandro a winning goal. The goalkeeper remains confident about his team's chances of winning the title.
"I'm confident Manchester United will drop points," Szczesny said. "We have to win every single game. If we do, it could be very interesting."
Malouda scored at Stamford Bridge after just three minutes with a far-post finish and rounded off Chelsea's scoring in the 62nd with a firm header from eight yards, taking his season's tally in the league to 12 goals.
But the best goal came from Kalou in the 26th. Collecting a pass from Drogba, the Ivory Coast forward span past Roger Johnson, dummied his way around Stuart Parnaby and curled a sublime shot into the corner from outside the penalty area.
Birmingham's consolation goal came through Sweden winger Sebastian Larsson from the penalty spot in the 76th, after David Luiz tripped substitute Matt Derbyshire.
Birmingham still has a five-point cushion above the relegation zone.
