English Premier League: Gritty Arsenal on a roll

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said the team’s  1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday was an encouraging sign for the English Premier League leaders as they ended their recent struggles at Craven Cottage (they had picked up just one point from their previous two matches at the venue).

Leandro Trossard’s close-range finish in the 58th minute secured Arsenal’s fifth successive victory in all competitions.

Flying high

The Gunners are three points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the title race, with champions Liverpool four points behind prior to their clash with Manchester United on Sunday.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Arsenal took just one point in their away fixtures at Newcastle and Fulham, and at home to West Ham, last season. This term they have already recorded nine points from nine in those matches, boosting Arteta’s confidence as the Gunners look to win their first top-flight title since 2004.

“The recent history wasn’t in our favour and we wanted to change that, like we did against Newcastle and West Ham at home. This is another step to having that mindset and that ability to win these kind of matches against a really good opposition, and a really difficult place to come,” said Arteta. “When it is 0-0, the longer the game goes the more difficult it becomes. But we showed a lot of maturity. We kept knocking on the door in various ways, and in the end we found a way, with the set-piece to do it, but we deserved it,” he added.

The only sour note for Arteta was striker Viktor Gyokeres’s failure to find the net for the seventh game running. 

“He was very close again today. We were all begging for him to score. The work rate he puts in for the team is phenomenal. We try to give him support and the love, and it [the goals] will eventually come,” said a confident Arteta.

Villa beat Spurs 2-1

On Sunday, Emiliano Buendia’s 77th-minute strike helped Aston Villa beat Tottenham Hotpsur 2-1. Rodrigo Bentancur had given Spurs an early advantage (5th min)  before Morgan Rogers (37th min) scored the equaliser for Villa.

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