EPL: Arsenal Go Top As Spurs And Liverpool Drop Points

Arsenal moved to the top of the English Premier League on Sunday after a comfortable 2-0 win at Aston Villa that leaves Remi Garde’s side further adrift at the bottom, while Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool dropped points.

Following his feats at Olympiakos in mid-week, Olivier Giroud was again on the score-sheet. The Frenchman set the London side ahead against Villa with an early penalty.

Mesut Ozil then produced his 13th assist of the season to allow Aaron Ramsey to slot home in the 38th minute and enable Arsenal to move on to 33 points, one point clear of Manchester City and Leicester City and four ahead of Manchester United.

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With eight goals, two clean sheets and three wins, Wenger’s one word description of the past fortnight was simple. “Perfect,” the Arsenal boss said.

“It was a perfect week for us,” Wenger told the BBC. “We spent a lot of energy away in the Champions League on Wednesday, but found the resources to win again here today (Sunday), in another away match.

“This season is so unpredictable that you just focus on yourself and try to play well in the next game. You know if you are consistent then you have a chance.”
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech equalled David James’s all-time Premier League record with his 169th clean sheet, in 349 games, prompting Wenger to hail him as “an absolute all-time great”.

The defeat left Villa stranded at the foot of the table on six points from 16 games, six adrift of 19th-placed Sunderland.

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Meanwhile, Tottenham’s 14-game unbeaten run came to an end after a resolute Newcastle side stunned them to a 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane on Sunday evening.

The defeat means Spurs stay fifth on 26 points, missing the chance to move into the top four ahead of Manchester United who suffered a shock 2-1 loss at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Steve McClaren’s side moved out of the relegation zone at Norwich City’s expense.

After the game, Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino said: “We are very disappointed in the dressing room.

“This is our 16th league game and our second defeat. It is a bad feeling, but we need to work hard and look forward.”

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Elsewhere, Divock Origi’s deflected 95th-minute strike rescued a point for Liverpool against a stubborn West Bromwich Albion.

Leicester have the chance to regain the leadership when they entertain Chelsea on Monday.

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