LONDON (Reuters) – Newcastle United produced an astonishing fightback to draw 4-4 at home to Arsenal yesterday after trailing 4-0 as a record 38 goals were scored in the Premier League yesterday.
Second-placed Arsenal were four-up after 26 minutes with Robin van Persie twice on target. But after Abou Diaby was sent off in the 50th minute, the home side struck four times to grab an unlikely point and leave the Gunners four points behind leaders Manchester United who played at Wolverhampton Wanderers later.
Carlos Tevez scored a hat-trick before halftime for third-placed Manchester City in a 3-0 win against West Bromwich Albion, twice converting from the penalty spot, as City close the gap on United to five points.
Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur moved level on points with Chelsea after substitute Niko Kranjcar’s last-gasp winner in a 2-1 home victory over Bolton Wanderers while sixth-placed Sunderland suffered a 3-2 defeat at Stoke City after twice leading.
Louis Saha scored four times in Everton’s 5-3 home win against Blackpool, Wigan Athletic beat Blackburn Rovers 4-3 to edge out of the bottom three and Aston Villa and Fulham shared four goals at Villa Park.
The 38 goals scored eclipsed the previous Premier League record of 36 on a single Saturday set on November 27 last year.
Arsenal were left kicking themselves as they blew the chance to keep the pressure on United when a fourth consecutive Premier League victory appeared to be in the bag.
Theo Walcott fired the Gunners ahead in the first minute and Johan Djourou headed a second soon after before Van Persie’s double had some home fans heading for the exits.
However, Diaby’s sending off turned the tide against the visitors who fell apart after Joey Barton’s 68th minute penalty gave Newcastle a glimmer of hope.
Leon Best made it 4-2, Barton struck again from the penalty spot and Cheik Tiote scored the equaliser after 87 minutes with a stunning volley from 20 metres.
