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Spurs defeat Norwich as Fletcher frustrates Gunners

Gareth Bale was the difference for Tottenham © PA Photos

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Two goals from Gareth Bale saw Tottenham thrust themselves into the Premier League title race with victory over Norwich, on a day that saw Arsenal held to a 1-1 draw at home against 10-man Wolves and Swansea play out an entertaining stalemate with QPR.

Having seen teams around them at the top of the table drop points already over the festive period, Tottenham defeated Norwich City 2-0 at Carrow Road to move within seven points of both Manchester City and Manchester United in the table - with a game in hand.

Gareth Bale scored both goals, latching onto Emmanuel Adebayor's smart pass early in the second half to break the deadlock before showing his composure with a clever strike 10 minutes later to give Harry Redknapp an important three points against a Norwich side that gave a good account of themselves.

Before kick-off Luka Modric passed a fitness test to give Spurs an early boost, who also called in Younes Kaboul to replace Ledley King. Norwich, meanwhile, made their intentions known by starting both Grant Holt and Steve Morison in attack once again.

The first half was an even affair, although Spurs probably created the more dangerous opportunities. Bale gave warning of his threat by breaking free on the half-hour mark after an error from Russell Martin, but the Welshman could only lash wildly over as he bore down on John Ruddy.

It was around this time that Spurs really began to turn the screw, with Adebayor just running out of room to round Ruddy and Bale forcing a smart save from the former Everton man. Rafael van der Vaart then got in on the act, scaring Ruddy with a low drive that only drifted narrowly wide, although before that Morison had gone close with an ambitious attempt.

On 55 minutes, however, Spurs were finally ahead - in the process extending Norwich's run of games without a clean sheet. Adebayor was the architect of the strike, showing great close control inside the box to worry the Canaries defenders, before slipping a short pass square to Bale. The Welshman needed a touch to steady himself, before powering a left-foot effort low and beyond Ruddy to end his individual resistance.

Bale would double Spurs' advantage 10 minutes later, although this time he could take the majority of the plaudits for the goal. Bursting through the centre of Norwich's defence, Bale had the wherewithal to notice Ruddy was rushing from his line and coolly clipped the ball up over the keeper and into the net - effectively killing off the contest.

That left Spurs to simply keep things tight until the final whistle, and that they did with relative ease. Morison went close with a headed attempt with around five minutes remaining on the clock, and Martin nearly got on the scoresheet in the dying moments, but the home side never really threatened - as Spurs closed the gap on the league leaders and distanced themselves from those chasing behind.

Steven Fletcher nods past Wojciech Szczesny © PA Photos

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That was possible partly because Arsenal were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Wolves in Tuesday's early kick-off, after Steven Fletcher cancelled out Gervinho's eighth minute opener in a game that also saw Nenad Milijas harshly dismissed in the second half.

As the match kicked off all eyes were on striker Robin van Persie, who was looking for the two goals he needs to equal Alan Shearer's record for Premier League goals in a calendar year. But it was another Arsenal forward who opened the scoring after barely eight minutes - Gervinho being played through on goal by Yossi Benayoun's delightful pass before burying the ball beyond Wayne Hennessey.

Arsenal continued to dominate from that point, with Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky both seeing efforts denied by the Wolves defence as Van Persie proved uncharacteristically quiet. The Dutchman was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty, however, as referee Stuart Attwell deemed Roger Johnson to have fouled him just outside the area - with Arteta wasting the resultant opportunity.

Just before half-time Wolves found themselves on level terms, and it was very much against the run of play. A cross was deflected into the box by the Arsenal defence, and Fletcher showed great composure at the far post to stoop and power the awkward ball into the bottom corner.

The second half saw Arsenal continue to push forward, although Wolves showed their resolve with some hard work in midfield. Their task, however, was made much harder with a little under 20 minutes remaining, as Milijas was given a straight red card for a what initially appeared to be high, late challenge on the unfortunate Arteta - although replays suggested Attwell had perhaps made a mistake in dismissing the Serbian.

Van Persie then began to become a bigger presence in the game, with Hennessey denying him another goal in the chase for Shearer's record on more than one occasion. Despite six minutes of injury time the Gunners were unable to find a late winner, as they missed out on the opportunity to leapfrog Chelsea into the Champions League places in the table.

Jamie Mackie struck to deny Swansea © PA Photos

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In the second game of the day, Swansea City were also held to a 1-1 draw as they hosted QPR at the Liberty City Stadium.

Danny Graham had given the home side the lead early in the first half, but Jamie Mackie made the most of some indecision in the Swansea defence to slide a shot under Michel Vorm and ensure Neil Warnock's men a share of the points in a clash between two newly-promoted sides.

It was Graham who opened the scoring inside the first 15 minutes, and in classy fashion too. Bringing down a clipped cross into the box the striker was forced to turn his back to goal, but dragged the ball onto his right side and somehow caressed a shot around the outstretched leg of the defender and right into the far corner of the goal - beyond Paddy Kenny's despairing dive.

It was a measured, cultured finish that gave Swansea a massive boost, although they were unable to build on it in what was a fairly uneventful 30 minutes to the break.

QPR started the second half the brighter - perhaps a result of a Warnock half-time rollicking - but their equaliser just before the hour-mark came with its own slice of luck. Kenny's speculative long kick appeared to offer little danger as Leon Britton rose unchallenged to head it away, but he only managed to send it over the heads of his defenders as a grateful Mackie ran onto it.

The Scotland international took a touch as Vorm rushed from goal, and kept his composure to slide a shot under the Dutchman to restore parity.

Further chances came for both sides, but none were clear-cut enough to suggest a winning goal was warranted. Swansea had a loud penalty claim turned down after Armand Traore put a clumsy challenge on Graham, before Vorm had to be at his best to deny Adel Taarabt's fine attempt.

That was to prove as close as the visitors would come to an unlikely winner, however, as Swansea were unable to build on their slight dominance of the play with a real threat in front of goal.

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