Arsenal win puts pressure on Liverpool
MANCHESTER, England — The swagger has returned to their play. The wins and the goals are piling up. Arsene Wenger, a target of abuse for much of the season, was even greeted with rapturous applause as he walked toward the fans.
Things are looking up for Arsenal as the team makes its traditional end-of-season charge for Champions League qualification from the English Premier League.
Arsenal produced one of its best performances of the season to beat Stoke 4-1 on Saturday and move to within one point of the top four with two games remaining.
If fourth-placed Liverpool fails to beat West Ham away today, Arsenal knows victories over Sunderland on Tuesday and Everton on the final day will earn the team a place in the Champions League for the 20th straight season.
It’s some turnaround from a month ago, when Arsenal lost 3-0 at Crystal Palace and Wenger’s future was looking bleak amid strong criticism from a section of fans.
On Saturday, as he was making his way along the touchline toward the dressing room after the final whistle, Wenger gave a wave to Arsenal’s visiting supporters and they roared their approval.
“At the moment, we have consistency,” Wenger said. “Let’s finish well.”
Olivier Giroud tapped in two close-range finishes, while Alexis Sanchez netted his 50th Premier League goal for Arsenal in the team’s fifth win in its last six games. Mesut Ozil also scored.
Stoke’s reply came through Peter Crouch in the 67th, which made it 2-1.
MAN CITY 2, LEICESTER 1
City got two big breaks on its way to victory over the deposed champions.
The team’s first goal, scored by David Silva, could have been ruled out as Raheem Sterling was standing in an offside position and directly in Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel’s line of vision when Silva took aim.
Gabriel Jesus made it 2-0 from the penalty spot before Shinji Okazaki reduced the deficit with an acrobatic volley. Then came City’s second piece of fortune.
Leicester was awarded a penalty in the 76th minute when Riyad Mahrez was fouled. Mahrez took it himself but slipped as he shot, kicking the ball against his standing foot and into the net. The referee disallowed the goal and awarded City a free kick, holding up two fingers to show that Mahrez took two consecutive touches.
“The referee was so brave in making the decision,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “I’ve seen that happen before (but) a long time ago.”
SWANSEA 2, SUNDERLAND 0
Swansea could be celebrating another season in the league today.
Saturday’s win, achieved courtesy of first-half goals by Fernando Llorente and Kyle Naughton, lifted Swansea four points above the relegation zone.
Third-to-last Hull will join Sunderland and Middlesbrough in being relegated if it loses today at Crystal Palace. Even a draw probably won’t be enough for Hull because of its inferior goal difference.