Third win in succession for Arsenal
LONDON: Resurgent Arsenal continued to resurrect its English Premier League season after thumping West Bromwich Albion 40 yesterday to pile more misery on the Baggies.
Alexandre Lacazette’s secondhalf brace added to excellent strikes from Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka.
Earlier, north London rival Tottenham kept the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester United at the top with a 30 home win against Leeds.
At The Hawthorns, Arsenal overwhelmed West Brom to record three successive league victories for just the second time under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners only climbed to 11th but they are at least within striking distance of the top six, sitting three points behind Chelsea, having played a game more.
WBA remains secondbottom, with just one win, and has now conceded 12 goals in Sam Allardyce’s three home games.
No team with eight points or fewer from its opening 17 matches has avoided relegation from the Premier League.
Arsenal took the lead after 23 minutes when left back Tierney twice beat defender Darnell Furlong on the left and cut inside before firing high with his right foot past Johnstone from 15m.
Five minutes later, it was 20 when Emile Smith Rowe swapped passes with Saka and Lacazette before Saka, who had continued his run unmarked, tapped in.
Arsenal wrapped up the points with two more quickfire goals from Lacazette.
Saka’s 61stminute cross was turned on to his own post by Semi Ajayi, who then blocked Smith Rowe’s followup strike, but Lacazette gobbled up the rebound.
The second, after 64 minutes, was equally as simple as the French striker converted Tierney’s cross from close range.
‘‘It was a convincing win, and to win three games over the festive period in the Premier League is not easy,’’ Arsenal manager Arteta told BT Sport.
‘‘The first goal with Kieran was terrific and the second goal with the combination between players was fantastic as well.
‘‘The clean sheet, our second in a row, gives us a platform to go on and win the games and we looked more creative in the final third.
In London, Tottenham skipper Harry Kane scored from the spot on 29 minutes after Ezgjan Alioski had fouled Steven Bergwijn and the England captain then provided the cross as Son Heungmin added the second before halftime.
Toby Alderweireld made it 30 and, although Spurs defender Matt Doherty was sent off late on for his second yellow card, his side moved just four points behind leader Liverpool, which plays at Southampton tomorrow. Leeds remains 11th.
Elsewhere, Sheffield United’s problems deepened as the bottom side lost 20 at Crystal Palace.
Jeffrey Schlupp and
Eberechi Eze scored the firsthalf goals that gave the Eagles victory and they climbed to 12th.
Brighton, still minus Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan in its squad, came from 31 down to clinch a 33 draw at home to Wolves and put itself three points above the bottom three.
On Sunday, Manchester United pulled level with Liverpool at the top of the table after a 21 win over Aston Villa.
The Red Devils were as much as nine points behind the champion earlier in the season after a slow start but are on a 10match unbeaten run.
Everton was upended 10 at home by West Ham and is now fifth on goal difference but level on points with Spurs and Leicester.