Arsenal all but seal Champions League qualification

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal all but sealed Champions League qualification for an 18th successive season after they eased past relegation-threatened Hull City 3-1 in the Premier League on Monday.

Arsenal beat Hull to all but seal Champions League qualification

(Reuters)





Alexis Sanchez's deflected free-kick wrong-footed stranded keeper Steve Harper to hand Arsenal a 28th-minute opener before Aaron Ramsey doubled the advantage four minutes later when his shot was diverted into the net via a Hull defender.

Sanchez rounded Harper to add his second in first half stoppage time and, though they improved after the break, Hull's solitary response came from Stephen Quinn's 56th minute header.

Arsenal, in third, have 70 points from 34 matches and trail second-placed Manchester City, who have played a game more, on goal difference.

Hull sit one point and place above the relegation zone and face the daunting prospect of games against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United among their remaining three fixtures.

"The most important thing was the victory today because the team is in a very good moment," Arsenal's Santi Cazorla, who dictated proceedings throughout, told Sky Sports.

"We want to win the title next year. We want to get second place this season but the most important thing now is qualify for the Champions League, win the FA Cup and then prepare well for next season."

Arsenal are unbeaten in the Premier League since February and there were few signs in the opening stages at the KC Stadium that Hull would hand them a first league defeat in 10 games.

After a commanding opening the Gunners hit Hull with two rapid fire goals through dynamic attacking-midfielders Sanchez and Ramsey -- though keeper Harper had no chance with either trajectory-altering deflections.

If their first two goals had an element of fortuity, Arsenal's third was particularly eye-catching with Sanchez collecting Ramsey's defence splitting pass before rounding Harper and finishing with ease.

Hull improved after halftime and pulled a goal back through Quinn but Arsenal boast the Premier League's third stingiest defence and rarely looked like conceding again.

Arsenal welcomed back midfielder Jack Wilshere for the first time since injuring his ankle in November and the diminutive England international, who impressed as a 67th-minute substitute, was unlucky to see his goal-bound shot blocked in the closing stages.





(This version of the story adds quotes and details)





(Reporting by Tom Hayward; editing by Justin Palmer)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world