By Adeyinka Akintunde, with reports on April 10, 2016

Andy Carroll’s hat-trick dealt another blow to Arsenal’s already slim Premier League title hopes, despite the Gunners fighting back to draw at West Ham on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners are 10 points behind leaders Leicester with six games to play.

Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez converted Alex Iwobi passes to put Arsenal 2-0 up but Carroll netted twice in three minutes to bring his side level by half-time.

A far-post header completed Carroll’s hattrick, before Laurent Koscielny hooked in the equaliser later on.

The hosts extended their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 14 games but Slaven Bilic’s side remains sixth on the log.

In another fixture, Swansea defeated Chelsea 1-0 from a Gylfi Sigurdsson’s volley. Chelsea dominated most of the second half, but could not convert it to goal, as they surrendered their 14-match unbeaten record under interim coach Guus Hiddink.

At the Etihad Stadium, Samir Nasri marked his first Premier League start since September with the decisive goal as Manchester City kept a grip on their spot in the top four with a 2-1 home win over West Brom.

Nasri’s season has been disturbed by a thigh tendon injury that required surgery and that was why he missed the game against PSG in Paris last Wednesday.

Manuel Pellegrini made five changes to his side with an eye on that tie and City subsequently lacked fluency against a West Brom team apparently liberated by reaching the feted 40-point mark last weekend.

Sergio Aguero cancelled out Stephane Sessegnon’s opener in the 19th minute but West Brom carried a threat that a creaking City rearguard rarely contained with any comfort.

Pellegrini was forced to send on reinforcements in the form of Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne and their introduction cranked a great performance through the gears long enough for Nasri to settle matters.

City are four points ahead of Manchester United in fifth – their rivals travel to title-chasing Tottenham on Sunday – and two behind Arsenal in third after recording back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since October.

ALL THE RESULTS

West Ham 3-3 Arsenal

Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth

Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich

Southampton 3-1 Newcastle

Swansea 1-0 Chelsea

Watford 1-1 Everton

Man City 2-1 West Brom.

•Photo shows West ham’s hattrick hero Andy Carrol.

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 10, 2016

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