“For him to have the courage to say I’m going to take it again, because I’m sure it was in the back of his mind, for me it is ‘chapeau’, even if he misses,” Arteta said.
Arsenal’s victory was a major boost in their bid to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish and Arteta was delighted that his side had shown they could compete on the big stage.
“I said to them if you want to be playing Champions League football you have to come to big stages and beat those top teams,” he said. “Tonight we have done it and I am really proud of them.”
The win left Arsenal just outside the Champions League qualifying positions in fifth place but level with Spurs on 57 points and only behind them on goal difference.
Elsewhere, Richarlison scored an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time as Everton drew 1-1 with Leicester to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
Harvey Barnes’ fifth-minute goal looked set to win the game for Leicester and leave Everton in the sights of third-to-last Burnley, who play Southampton on Thursday.
But in Everton’s final attack at Goodison Park, the ball reached Richarlison via Dele Alli and Salomon Rondon, and the Brazil international converted the chance.
Ben White and Romelu Lukaku jostle for possession.Credit:AP
Goodison Park continues to be something of a stronghold for Everton under Frank Lampard, with the team only losing two of its last eight games there.
Burnley can still move to within a point of Everton by beating Southampton.
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Leicester’s priority is Europe in the final few weeks of the season, with the team progressing to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League. Still, Brendan Rodgers fielded a full-strength line-up against Everton and their front three combined for the goal.
James Maddison crossed from the right, Kelechi Iheanacho got the faintest touch that was deflected out to Barnes, and the winger turned the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Newcastle, themselves threatened with relegation not that long ago, moved to within striking distance of the top half of the table with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace while Manchester City took back pole position thanks to three second-half goals at home to Brighton.
Reuters









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