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LONDON. — Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal’s gritty 1-0 win against Chelsea as a significant step in their English Premier League football title challenge after Gabriel Magalhaes sent the Gunners back to the top of the table yesterday.
Arteta’s side made it 11 wins from 13 league games thanks to a close-range finish from Brazilian defender Gabriel in the second half at Stamford Bridge.
The Gunners are two points clear of second-placed Manchester City after the champions briefly took pole position with a 2-1 win against Fulham on Saturday.
After beating Tottenham and Liverpool at home earlier this season, winning in west London was another major statement from Arsenal as their unexpected title challenge gathers pace.
“Big win for us, another step as a team. To come here against a top team and perform and actually win will give the boys even more belief,” Arteta said.
“We are a really young team but we showed a lot of composure and courage to play in this stadium.
“I was really impressed.
“We were under pressure to go back to the top and what we did today was just phenomenal.”
This was an even sweeter victory than their other landmark successes this term as it came at the expense of former Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag labelled Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa as “unacceptable” as Unai Emery enjoyed a dream start to life as Villa boss on Sunday.
The Red Devils were unbeaten in nine games before their trip to Birmingham as Ten Hag’s project at Old Trafford was beginning to take shape.
But the visitors were blown away in a bright opening from the hosts as Leon Bailey and Lucas Digne struck inside the first 11 minutes.
Luke Shaw’s strike deflected off Jacob Ramsey into his own net just before halftime to give United life.
But Ramsey restored Villa’s two-goal cushion four minutes into the second half with a cool finish from Ollie Watkins’ cut-back.
“You have to read the game and get right the organisation. Not concede two goals – that’s totally unnecessary,” said Ten Hag of his side’s start.
“It’s not acceptable that you concede a goal so quickly in the second half on the counter-attack.
“Our players are experienced. You have to win your battles.
In another match, Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-1 on Sunday to maintain their hex over the London club, returning to winning ways after two consecutive Premier League defeats.
Jurgen Klopp’s men started the match 10 points behind fourth-placed Spurs, with questions growing over their ability even to mount a challenge for next season’s Champions League places.
But they dominated the contest from the start and took the lead in the 11th minute when the impressive Darwin Nunez teed up Salah, who fired into the bottom corner.
The visitors’ intensity dropped as the half wore on but they doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Salah took advantage of a horrendous error by Eric Dier, who headed the ball straight into the path of the Egyptian forward.Newcastle United produced another ruthlessly impressive display in a 4-1 Premier League win over struggling Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday, with Miguel Almiron bagging his seventh goal in as many games.
Quick fire second-half goals from substitute Chris Wood and Joe Willock all but sealed a fourth straight win for Newcastle, with Bruno Guimaraes adding a late flourish after Romain Perraud’s consolation goal for the hosts.
The result lifted Newcastle, who extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, provisionally into third place on 27 points from 14 games, before Tottenham Hotspur’s game against Liverpool later on Sunday.
Michael Olise scored a 94th-minute goal as Crystal Palace earned a first away win of the season with a 2-1 Premier League victory over a sloppy West Ham United on Sunday, but the home side were aggrieved that they did not get a late penalty. — AFP.
Online Reporter