Gunning for glory
Arsene Wenger keeps cool as Arsenal continue their late dash for the top four by thrashing Stoke, observes David Barclay
ARSENE Wenger is refusing to get carried away by Arsenal’s late push for a Champions League place after the Gunners thrashed Stoke 4-1.
Two efforts from Olivier Giroud bookended strikes from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, which meant Peter Crouch’s controversial goal counted for nothing.
The former England striker knocked the ball past Petr Cech with his hand from Marko Arnautovic’s cross to make it 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium.
But Arsenal recovered well and their third successive victory leaves them a point behind Liverpool with both teams having two games to play.
Liverpool head to West Ham today, when anything but a win would give the Gunners the chance of leapfrogging them when they host relegated Sunderland on Tuesday.
Wenger said: “I think let’s do our job and see after what happens. We’re on 69 [points] tonight, it could go to 72 on Tuesday. We just have to focus on the game.
“We have 69 points. We’ve gone through a difficult period, but at the moment we have consistency and let’s finish well. We have a big game again on Tuesday. It’s important to recover and keep focus.”
Earlier in the day, Kyle Naughton’s first goal in more than six years helped Swansea to the brink of Premier League safety as relegated Sunderland capitulated horribly.
Naughton’s piledriver in firsthalf stoppage time coupled with Fernando Llorente’s early header gave the Welsh club a 2-0 win and eased them four points clear of Hull with a better goal difference.
And Paul Clement’s men will stay up if the Tigers lose at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Sunderland manager David Moyes was subjected to sustained calls for his head with owner Ellis Short watching from the stands.
Riyad Mahrez’s penalty slip ensured Manchester City did not take a tumble of their own in the Champions League race, moving third with a 2-1 win over Leicester at the Etihad Stadium.
On the fifth anniversary of their first Premier League title win, their 2012 hero Sergio Aguero was restricted to a late cameo, but a penalty from his heir apparent, Gabriel Jesus, and David Silva’s opener left City with the points.
Shinji Okazaki gave the Foxes hope with a stunning volley before half-time but when Mahrez had the chance to level from the spot 13 minutes from time, he lost his footing and touched the ball into his standing leg.
Southampton emerged 2-1 victors from a lifeless clash at relegated Middlesbrough, where disillusioned fans made their anger clear as the Riverside bid a meek farewell to top-flight football.
Substitute Nathan Redmond scored a goal just as impressive as Jay Rodriguez’s first-half effort before Shane Long put a penalty over the crossbar. Patrick Bamford scored his first ever Premier League goal but it was mere consolation for Boro.
Josh King’s late winner ensured Bournemouth will finish the season with their highest-ever tally in the top flight after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Burnley after Junior Stanislas’ first-half effort and an 83rd-minute equaliser courtesy of Sam Vokes.