Premier League on Betfair: Spurs solidify Top Four claims with win over Arsenal

4Mar 2013

England - Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur took a huge leap towards finishing in the Top Four and above Arsenal for the first time 1995 today after a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane...

In a scoreline that was matched at 16.0 in the Correct Score market on the Betfair Exchange, goals from Gareth Bale (matched at 7.8 in the First Goalscorer market) and Aaron Lennon ensured the bragging rights and the points went to the White Hart Lane outfit.

In a high-tempo, hugely exciting game, Spurs scored two goals in rapid succession past a static Arsenal defensive line to go into the break 2-0 up, a score that was matched as big as 65.0 on Betfair. After interval, it was clear that Andre Villas-Boas would have impressed upon his charges the need to keep it tight for at least fifteen minutes to try and see their opponents off for good. They were unable to do so however and a needless free kick given away in the left wing position was sent into the box and nodded in by Per Mertesacker via a deflection from Gareth Bale.

All that made for an exciting last half hour, and Spurs were eventually able to hold on, even though they couldn't extend their lead when Bale and Sigurdsson spurned reasonably easy chances.

Spurs are now 1.33 to finish in the Top Four and 2.28 to go one better and make the Top Three, while Arsenal's price sits far longer at 3.1. Spurs head to Anfield in their next league game, a game they're currently 4.1 to win. Arsenal head to Swansea after a difficult looking Champions League tie at Bayern Munich.

In the weekend's remaining Premier League fixture, Manchester City head to Aston Villa, hoping to extend their lead over third placed Spurs to five points.