Premier League, Week 34: Big wins for Arsenal, Sunderland and Stoke

Adel Taarabt had three excellent chances to score in the first half from free kicks, which all resulted from Stoke fouls on the edge of the area to kill QPR attacks. While Taarabt’s free kicks looked dangerous, the tactic ultimately proved effective. He had one go an inch wide in the 7th minute, another saved in the 32nd minute, and drilled one into the wall later in the half.

In the 74th minute, the Potters doubled their lead. Robert Green gave away a silly penalty with a clumsy attempt to claim the ball from Crouch during a scramble, on which he got much more of the towering striker than the ball. Jonathan Walters buried his first attempt at the spot kick, but it was called back for encroachment. His second attempt was just as successful, and his side held on for three important points.

A less than spectacular game at Carrow Road featured a quick crumbling by Reading, who are potentially days from being officially relegated to the Championship. They held their own in the first half, but were overrun early in the second half. An impressive consolation goal was merely that, as the Canaries won 2-1.

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Sidwell, who recently served a three-match ban, managed to pick up another one for himself with a reckless tackle on Mikel Arteta. He went over the ball and planted his studs into Arteta’s shin, leaving Andre Marriner no choice but to show a straight red. That changed the game very little and simply made Arsenal more careless, giving Fulham more space to counter into.

There was a bit of late drama, with Giroud picking up a red card in the 90th minute for a challenge similar to Sidwell’s earlier in the game. Fulham had a pair of corners and a couple of other dangerous crosses into the box in stoppage time, but Arsenal cleared all of them away, holding on for three points.

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After withstanding Sunderland’s attack, Everton appeared to regroup late on to mount a comeback attempt, and there was some drama when Larsson gave them a huge opportunity with a silly backpass for Mignolet, who had no choice but to handle the ball. The resultant free-kick saw a chaotic passage of play as the wall stood firm, but through a serious of blocks, hacks, and desperate clearances Sunderland managed to keep their lead intact.

Sunderland had the chance to seal the win with time running out as Johnson and Sessegnon sprung with most of the Everton team forward, but the Englishman chose to go on the run himself, and Howard managed to keep out his finish with an outstretched leg to keep his team in with a shout. The visitors were unable to mount any further real pressure, however, and Sunderland held out for another superb victory to follow up their derby success.

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Vorm’s guard was in fact breached in the 42nd minute. Rodriguez did mean things to Chico Flores on the touchline before sending in a cross which the goalkeeper first claimed then dropped on Adam Lallana’s foot, leaving the midfielder to celebrate his good fortune by slotting the ball in. Lallana’s joy was, however, short lived -- Mark Halsey ruled out the goal for an imaginary foul on Vorm in the buildup.

Ultimately, neither side deserved a goal, and they weren’t really too fussed about it. 0-0 it was.

Pick: Arsenal, 2-0

It’s a testament to how close things are at the bottom of the table that Norwich is in 14th place and still very much in the relegation battle. The extra point the Canaries have over the three teams directly below them will certainly come in handy, as should a relatively easy remaining slate of games. With Reading’s return to the Championship all but a given at this point, Norwich can’t afford a letdown in this game. At this point, if you can’t beat Reading at home, it’s entirely reasonable to question whether or not you’re good enough to stay in the league.