LONDON — Arsenal kept alive their slim hopes of securing a Champions League spot next season with a 2-1 Premier League victory at Middlesbrough on Monday that left the hosts in deep danger of relegation.
A superb Alexis Sanchez free kick put the Gunners ahead three minutes before the break but Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo brought Boro level four minutes after the interval.
German midfielder Mesut Ozil grabbed a close-range winner for Arsenal in the 71st minute.
The result left Arsenal in sixth, seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City who have played one game more. Boro are second bottom, six points adrift of safety with six games left.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made six changes to the team which had lost in humiliating fashion 3-0 to Crystal Palace last week and switched to a 3-4-3 formation, a new approach for the Gunners.
“Sometimes when a team lacks confidence, changing the system helps the team to believe in something different,” Wenger said.
A low-key first half ended with Arsenal getting ahead when Sanchez showed great technique as he lifted the ball over a long wall and past motionless Boro keeper Brad Guzan.
Boro responded positively, though, and their equalizer was perfectly executed, Stewart Downing racing down the right flank and delivering a pinpoint cross which Negredo met with a side-foot finish after losing his marker Laurent Koscielny.
Middlesbrough went close to a second with a stooping Daniel Ayala header which Arsenal keeper Petr Cech saved well, allowing his defense to scramble clear.
But Arsenal secured their first away win in five Premier League matches when Sanchez floated a ball into the box which Aaron Ramsey cleverly chested down to Ozil who made no mistake from close range.
“I think we were focused and committed and you could see that we did not play with full confidence during some moments in the game,” Wenger said.
“When you are in a lack of confidence situation it comes back slowly and only the results help,” added the Frenchman. Arsenal face Manchester City on Sunday in the FA Cup semifinals.
Brighton promoted to Premier League
Brighton and Hove Albion were promoted to the Premier League as goals from Glenn Murray and Solly March secured a 2-1 win over Wigan Athletic in the Championship on Monday. Brighton’”s rise to the top flight was confirmed after Huddersfield Town were held to a 1-1 draw at Derby County in the late game.
That result left Brighton on 92 points, seven ahead of Newcastle United and 13 clear of third-placed Reading with four games remaining. Brighton fans had invaded the pitch at the end of their game to celebrate their return to the top flight after a 34-year absence.
A run of five straight wins came at just the right time for Brighton, who agonizingly missed out on automatic promotion last season after finishing third and failing to get through the playoffs.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way that they bounced back. To put together the run they have, at this stage of the season, is incredibly difficult, and they deserve every bit of credit,” Brighton manager Chris Hughton said.
“I knew we had a group of lads that were capable of doing it, but being capable of doing it and actually doing it are two different things.
“They’ve been good all season. They’ve bounced back and shown good determination and desire to win as many game as possible. It is a wonderful achievement,” he added.
Second-placed Newcastle slumped to a 3-1 loss to Ipswich Town in what has been a disappointing Easter for Rafa Benitez’”s team who were held to a 1-1 home draw by Leeds United on Friday.
Reading kept up the pressure on Newcastle and are now six points behind them after coming from a goal down to beat bottom side Rotherham United 2-1 thanks to second-half strikes from Lewis Grabban and John Swift.
Fulham defeated Aston Villa 3-1, taking advantage of Leeds’”s 1-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers to climb above them into sixth position and the final playoff spot.
Sheffield Wednesday maintained their playoff push and are in fifth place on 75 points, two ahead of Fulham, after a 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers. — Reuters
