LONDON, United Kingdom, Apr 2 – Aaron Ramsey lifted Arsenal into third place in the Premier League as the Wales midfielder’s clinical finish inspired a 2-0 win against Newcastle on Monday.

Ramsey’s first half strike was followed by Alexandre Lacazette’s killer second in the closing stages at the Emirates Stadium, maintaining Arsenal’s impressive progress under Unai Emery.

Emery’s side climbed two points above fourth placed Tottenham and fifth placed Manchester United to bolster their chance of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-four finish with seven games to go.

It is the first time Arsenal have been as high as third place since April 2017, highlighting their improvement since former Paris Saint Germain boss Emery replaced Arsene Wenger at the end of last season.

Ramsey’s fifth goal of the season was only his second since he signed a lucrative pre-contract agreement to join Juventus at the end of the current campaign.

-10th consecutive home win

But, while Ramsey won’t be part of Emery’s long-term plans, the future still looks bright for Arsenal, who recorded a 10th consecutive home league victory for the first time since December 1997 to May 1998.

Arsenal finished with 63 points in Wenger’s final season, but Emery has matched that tally with seven games to spare.

No wonder Arsenal fans celebrated an important win by taunting their spluttering north London rivals with chants of “are you watching Tottenham”.

Newcastle remain seven points above the relegation zone after a 12th defeat in their last 13 meetings with Arsenal.

The Gunners hadn’t played since beating Rennes in the Europa League 18 days ago, but, after a rusty opening, they began to take the game to Newcastle.

Ramsey thought he’d given Arsenal the lead when he swept home at the far post from Sead Kolasinac’s flick.

But his celebrations were curtailed as the goal was controversially ruled out by referee Anthony Taylor for Sokratis’s shirt tug on Florian Lejeune.

If Arsenal felt aggrieved by that debatable decision, they poured their frustration into breaking down Newcastle’s five-man defence.

– Dominant Arsenal –

Emery had surprisingly left Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench as Mesut Ozil started behind Lacazette.

Aubameyang has 22 goals in all competitions this season, but his absence wasn’t a problem for Arsenal as they unhinged Newcastle’s massed rearguard in the 30th minute.

Matteo Guendouzi passed to Ramsey and his clever flick picked out Lacazette in the Newcastle area.

Lacazette was surrounded by three defenders and as he twisted to find space, the ball cannoned off DeAndre Yedlin into Ramsey’s path and he guided a low shot past Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka via the far post.

Salomon Rondon had a chance to equalise immediately when the Newcastle striker muscled Sokratis off the ball and moved into the area.

But with the angle tight, Rondon opted for a near-post effort that never threatened to beat Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.

Arsenal remained by far the dominant force and Lacazette almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when his shot was brilliantly headed off the line by Matt Ritchie.

-Aubameyang on

Looking for the decisive second goal, Emery sent on Aubameyang with half an hour left.

Sokratis couldn’t provide the finishing touch when he headed over from a corner before Ramsey departed to a rousing ovation after taking a knock that forced his substitution.

Aubameyang went close when he found space for a low shot that Dubravka turned away.

And it was Aubameyang who was the catalyst for Arsenal’s second in the 83rd minute.

Guendouzi clipped a pass to Lacazette and he redirected it to Aubameyang, who cleverly headed the ball over the statuesque Jamaal Lascelles.

With Lascelles too slow to react, Lacazette nipped ahead of the Newcastle captain and chipped over Dubravka for his 15th goal in all competitions this term.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Arsenal sinks Newcastle to move third

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Tuesday, 2nd Apr 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spursrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculationrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alivern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Halep closes on world number one Osakarn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn African players in Europe: Salah helps Liverpool back to toprn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 9 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Victorious Hamilton defends rival Vettelrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 8 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Van Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Wait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Gor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Chebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn A day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Kasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Logarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Kisumu County to host 2019 Elgon Cuprn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Ethiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spurs

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculation

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alive

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Halep closes on world number one Osaka

rn rn rn Gamern rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

African players in Europe: Salah helps Liverpool back to top

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Victorious Hamilton defends rival Vettel

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Five things we learned in European football this weekend

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Warriors thump Hornets, take one game lead over Nuggets

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Napoli run riot in Rome to pull clear of Inter Milan

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Benzema saves Real Madrid blushes with late Huesca winner

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spursrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculationrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alivern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Halep closes on world number one Osakarn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn African players in Europe: Salah helps Liverpool back to toprn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tVan Dijk house hunting after landlord Solskjaer lands Utd jobrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWait continues for Nyayo Stadium openingrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 28th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tGor hit Kariobangi Sharks to go top of KPLrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChebet wins Junior gold for Kenya after appealrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tA day in the life of Harambee Stars Captain Victor Wanyamarn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKasarani miss might push Gor to Machakosrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tLogarusic open to Kenya coaching returnrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 27th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tKisumu County to host 2019 Elgon Cuprn

rn Rugbyrn rn Friday, 29th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEthiopia crush Kenya to Mixed Relay goldrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 30th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Pochettino admits ‘reality’ check for struggling Spursrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Solskjaer plays down Pogba to Real Madrid speculationrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn AC Milan push to keep Champions League hopes alivern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Halep closes on world number one Osakarn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn African players in Europe: Salah helps Liverpool back to toprn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 1st Apr 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */