Mesut Ozil and Arsenal happy to be above Spurs in Premier League top four race
Emery praises Ozil as victory over Newcastle takes the Gunners up to third
Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0
Tottenham Hotspur may have just taken possession of a new stadium but the move that interests Arsenal fans was the one that took them above their north London rivals in the Premier League table.
The Gunners’ 2-0 win against Newcastle United on Monday lifts them into third – their highest league position since February 2017 – and they are now two points clear of Spurs with seven matches remaining.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
With Manchester United on the same number of points as Tottenham, and Chelsea only a point behind, the battle to finish in the top four and secure a spot in next season’s Uefa Champions League is going down to the wire.
Gunners look good
But the force looks to be with the Gunners, who in early February trailed Tottenham by ten points, and Monday night’s regulation win over the Magpies was their tenth consecutive home league victory.
“We need to continue being consistent, continue creating a big mentality, learning when we need to struggle and when we need to push together,” said Arsenal boss Unai Emery, when asked what his team must do to ensure they finish in the top four.
“Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester United will win a lot of matches. It’s going to be difficult and the next game at Everton is very difficult.”
Arsenal travel to Goodison Park on Sunday – one of five away fixtures between now and 12 May – but the encouraging aspect for the Arsenal manager is that his key players are running into top form at the right time.
Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette impressed against Newcastle, to the satisfaction of their manager. “I like how every player is playing and Mesut with his quality is helping us and giving us his work,” said Emery. “Also individual moments and skills, he has the capacity to help us.”
Ozil on fire
Ozil was rewarded for his display with the man-of-the-match award, and Emery said of the German: “Mesut is playing like we want, with the system and tactically. He is working a lot and after that work he is also giving us his quality.”
Ozil said he was pleased with his performance, and what it means in the context of the north London rivalry.
“We’re happy that we’re in front of Tottenham,” said the German midfielder. “It’s always a big competition with them. My work is to give everything on the pitch, like today. I only want to help my team-mates to win the game.”
Ramsey put the Gunners ahead on the half-hour mark and Lacazette doubled Arsenal’s advantage late in the second half with a sweet chip.
The hosts could have had more, but Lacazette was denied by a brilliant block from Matt Ritchie and Ramsey had a goal disallowed in the first half after referee Anthony Taylor ruled that Sokratis had fouled Florian Lejeune, although TV replays showed the pair were pulling each other’s shirts as the corner came in.
Keeping it clean
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect for Emery was a third consecutive clean sheet, the first time since December 2017 that Arsenal have strung together such defensive solidity.
“We played very consistent over 90 minutes,” he reflected. “We didn’t concede any chances. We created and dominated the match. We are happy.”
Graphic: Arsenal/Twitter
Premier League results, fixtures and TV guide
Weekend results
- Fulham 0 Manchester City 2
- Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Southampton 1
- Burnley 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
- Crystal Palace 2 Huddersfield Town 0
- Leicester City 2 AFC Bournemouth 0
- Manchester United 2 Watford 1
- West Ham United 0 Everton 2
- Cardiff City 1 Chelsea 2
- Liverpool 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
- Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0
Fixtures Tuesday 2 April
- Watford vs. Fulham (7.45pm)
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Manchester United (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
Wednesday 3 April
- Chelsea vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (7.45pm)
- Manchester City vs. Cardiff City (7.45pm, live on Sky Sports)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Crystal Palace (7.45pm)
Friday 5 April
- Southampton vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
Saturday 6 April
- AFC Bournemouth vs. Burnley (3pm)
- Huddersfield Town vs. Leicester City (3pm)
- Newcastle United vs. Crystal Palace (3pm)
Sunday 7 April
- Everton vs. Arsenal (2.05pm, live on Sky Sports)
Monday 8 April
- Chelsea vs. West Ham United (8pm, live on Sky Sports)
FA Cup semi-final fixtures
Saturday 6 April
- Manchester City vs. Brighton & Hove Albion (5.30pm, live on BBC One)
Sunday 7 April
- Watford vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (4pm, live on BT Sport)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
Manchester United and Mason Greenwood: duty of care or double standards?
Talking Point The 21-year-old footballer’s possible return has provoked an outpouring of dismay from supporters
By Jamie Timson Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published