Wenger celebrates 21 years at Arsenal on a winning note
WITH 24-PASS MOVE, BURNLEY PRODUCES GOAL TO WIN AT EVERTON
eff Hendrick completed a 24-pass move to give Burnley a 1-0 victory at Everton yesterday and extend the team’s best start to a Premier League season.
Hendrick easily sidestepped Morgan Schneiderlin in the penalty area to slide home a low shot in the 21st minute after Scott Arfield and Stephen Ward combined down the left toward the end of the flowing advance.
It delivered the latest impressive away result for Sean Dyche’s side on top of an openingday win at Chelsea and draws at Tottenham and Liverpool. Burnley climbed to sixth place, seven points behind the Manchester pacesetters City and United.
Pressure is mounting on Everton coach Ronald Koeman heading into the two-week international break after a fourth loss in seven matches despite spending 140 million pounds (Dh688 million) in the summer transfer window.
Koeman was booed by his own fans after a disjointed performance left Everton two points above the relegation zone in 16th place.
Earlier, Arsene Wenger celebrated the 21st anniversary of his arrival at Arsenal in winning style as the Gunners cruised to a 2-0 victory over Brighton yesterday.
Pushed to the edge
It is too early to predict whether Arsenal can end their 13-year wait to win a fourth Premier League title under Wenger, but there were some encouraging signs as Brighton were put to the sword at the Emirates Stadium.
Nacho Monreal opened the scoring in the first half before Alex Iwobi, converting Alexis Sanchez’s majestic assist, wrapped up the points after the interval.
Arsenal’s sixth win from their last seven matches in all competitions moved them to within six points of leaders Manchester City heading into the international break.
Fittingly, Wenger marked his milestone date with a notable record of his own.
Brighton are the 45th different Premier League club to be defeated by Arsenal since Wenger took over in 1996, breaking the record he shared with Manchester United legend Alex Ferguson.
Just 64 hours after winning at Belarus’s Bate Borisov in the Arsenal Everton Newcastle 2 0 1 Brighton Burnley Liverpool 0 1 1 Europa League on Thursday, Arsenal were back in action and Wenger freshened up his side by making nine changes.
Wenger this week claimed Arsenal are a more unified team since the transfer window closed just after their humiliating 4-0 defeat at Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Liverpool missed the chance to move into the top six, after playing out a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. Philippe Coutinho handed the Reds the lead with a superb curling effort from 25-yards out.
However, the Magpies levelled matters just before the break when Joel Matip’s attempted clearance deflected off Joselu and sailed into the net.