Arsenal climb to third, Wigan close on Premiership safety

Arsenal‘s striker Theo Walcott (3rd L) celebrates scoring during their English Premier League football match against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in London on May 4, 2013.

LONDON - Theo Walcott scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season as Arsenal beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 to climb into third place on Saturday, while Wigan boosted their hopes of survival with a resilient 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion.

Walcott netted after just 20 seconds against relegated QPR at Loftus Road, eclipsing former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie, who had scored for Manchester United against West Ham United after 33 seconds in November.

The England forward was denied by QPR goalkeeper Rob Green on three separate occasions as the visitors sought a second goal, but Arsenal were ultimately indebted to their own goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, for a fine late save to thwart Loic Remy.

Victory took Arsenal above both Chelsea, who visit champions Manchester United on Sunday, and Tottenham Hotspur, who had briefly claimed fourth place after Gareth Bale scored yet another superb goal in a 1-0 win over his former club Southampton.

Wigan Athletic’s striker Callum McManaman celebrates after their English Premier League football match against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich, central England on May 4, 2013. Wigan won the game 3-2.

Bale was this week named the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year, to go with his double success at the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year awards, and he proved his worth once again with his 25th goal of the campaign.

In a game delayed by half an hour due to a nearby motorway closure, Southampton looked set to claim a hard-earned point until Bale struck with four minutes to play.

Collecting possession wide on the right, the Welshman cut inside and shrugged off Luke Shaw before arrowing a crisp drive into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.

“I saw the space open up and got a good strike away,” explained Bale. “It is a massive three points and keeps our Champions League hopes alive.”

Callum McManaman also scored a late winner as Wigan gave themselves renewed hope of pulling off another late escape by twice coming from behind to win at West Brom.

Tottenham Hotspur’s midfielder Gareth Bale celebrates scoring his goal during their English Premier League football match bagainst Southampton at White Hart Lane in north London on May 4, 2013. Gareth Bale fired Tottenham Hotspur up to fourth place in the Premier League with a spectacular late winner against former club Southampton.

The home side went in front twice at the Hawthorns, through Shane Long and Gareth McAuley, only for Wigan to reply on each occasion with goals from Arouna Kone and substitute James McArthur, who scored with his first touch.

McManaman then netted the decisive goal in the 80th minute, side-footing home from close range after a superb run down the left from Shaun Maloney.

“We have worked really hard for two months to get us in the position where, with two weeks of the season left, we are still involved in two competitions,” said Wigan manager Roberto Martinez.

“If we stay up, it would be like winning the title.”

FA Cup finalists Wigan are now just two points below fourth-bottom Sunderland, who host Stoke City on Monday, and three points adrift of Norwich City and Newcastle United, who could only draw 0-0 at West Ham United.

Gabriel Agbonlahor may have secured Aston Villa’s top-flight status for another year after scoring an 89th-minute winner in a 2-1 success at Norwich.

Swansea City’s defender Ashley Williams (bottom) blocks a shot from Manchester City‘s midfielder David Silva during their English Premier League football match in Swansea, south Wales, on May 4, 2013. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

Villa, who thrashed Sunderland 6-1 on Monday, took a 55th-minute lead when Agbonlahor drove forward from the halfway line before planting a shot into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Grant Holt equalised from the penalty spot with 16 minutes to play, but Agbonlahor struck again at the death to send Paul Lambert’s team five points clear of danger, albeit having played a game more than third-bottom Wigan.

Elsewhere, deposed champions Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw at Swansea City in a forgettable game at the Liberty Stadium.

The result left Roberto Mancini’s men 13 points behind champions Manchester United, who could now move 16 points clear at the summit with victory at home to fourth-place Chelsea on Sunday.

Hal Robson-Kanu scored twice as relegated Reading secured only their second away win of the season with a 4-2 success at Fulham, who fell to 13th place.

Aston Villa’s striker Gabriel Agbonlahor scores at Villa Park in Birmingham, in the West Midlands, England, on April 29, 2013. Agbonlahor boosted Aston Villa’s Premier League survival hopes as his late winner secured a vital 2-1 victory at Norwich Saturday.

The Welsh international opened the scoring with a 12th-minute penalty and curled in his second goal 17 minutes into the second half.

Bryan Ruiz hit back twice for Fulham, either side of a 75th-minute strike by Adam Le Fondre, but Jem Karacan made sure of victory with a low shot seven minutes from full-time.

Hull City secured a place in the Premier League for next season earlier on Saturday after drawing 2-2 at home to already-promoted Cardiff City on the final day of the Championship season.

Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Leicester City will contest the play-offs.