Arsenal produced a three-goal burst in eight minutes on Saturday to beat liverpool 4-1, making Champions league qualification look increasingly likely for the london club and keeping its faint title hopes alive. The gulf between the sides was exposed in a commanding first half by Arsenal which ended with Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez scoring against the sloppy visitors. “We were focused and clinical,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “We had the killer instinct.”
Although liverpool captain Jordan Henderson pulled one back from the penalty spot, Emre Can was sent off in the 84th minute. Arsenal used its man advantage to ensure the victory with Olivier Giroud scoring in stoppage time. For liverpool, it was a listless response to its 13-match unbeaten run ending before the international break to Manchester United. With liverpool in fifth after last season’s runners-up finish, it was the type of performance that led to Raheem Sterling expressing misgivings about his Anfield future during the week. Ozil and Ramsey combined with a flowing move to set up the Spanish defender to curl the ball past Mignolet in the 37th minute. Two minutes later Ozil was fouled and the Germany playmaker bent the free kick around the wall and past Mignolet for second goal.
Manchester UTD beat villa 3-1
Manchester: Wayne Rooney scored from an exquisitely executed volley as Manchester United beat struggling Aston Villa 3-1 on Saturday to enhance its chances of UEFA Champions league qualification. The captain’s eye-catching goal overshadowed two from Ander Herrera as United climbed into third place above Manchester City. Results: Arsenal 4-1 l’pool, Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa, Everton 1-0 S’ton, Swansea 3-1 Hull City, West Brom 1-4 QPR, leicester 2-1 West Ham, Chelsea 2-1 Stoke City.