Arsenal keep European dream alive at Leicester, Bale fires Spurs to Burnley win
Arsenal revived their hopes of playing in European competition next season after goals from David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe helped them to a 3-1 win at Leicester City on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Gareth Bale produced his most impressive performance since returning to Tottenham as his side hammered Burnley 4-0. At Crystal Palace, Fulham extended their unbeaten Premier League run to five matches with a 0-0 draw.
David Luiz beats Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel to score for Arsenal.Credit:Getty Images
The Foxes produced another poor performance against Arsenal after Thursday’s 2-0 home defeat by Slavia Prague sent them crashing out of Europe’s second-tier competition.
Lacazette said two successive wins would boost Arsenal’s confidence in their bid to climb higher up the standings.
“We want to go as high as possible in the league and the reaction today after the goal we conceded was really good,” the French striker told BT Sport.
“We know it’s really important now, we have March April and May to finish well. Comeback wins in two successive games will be a massive confidence boost.”
Leicester took a sixth-minute lead at King Power stadium as Youri Tielemans robbed two Arsenal players of the ball on the right flank and cut inside the area before he fired a low shot into the far corner.
The Gunners equalised in the 39th when Luiz headed a Willian cross into the bottom right corner and Lacazette turned the tide in first-half stoppage time as he drilled in a penalty after a VAR check showed Wilfred Ndidi had handled the ball in the area.
Poor defending cost Leicester again in the 52nd minute as they allowed the visitors to break through the middle before Willian slipped the ball to Pepe and the Ivorian forward tucked it into an empty net from two metres.
Arsenal held on comfortably in the closing stages and missed chances to win by a bigger margin as Kieran Tierney volleyed just wide from 20 metres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came close with a fizzing low shot.
Kelechi Iheanacho summed up Leicester’s afternoon in the last minute of stoppage time when he blazed the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Bale runs riot over Burnley
Gareth Bale was in full control as Tottenham Hotspur scored twice in his side’s 4-0 win over Burnley.
The Welshman continued his recent resurgence by marking only his third league start of the season with the opening goal after only two minutes, prodding in from close range.
Gareth Bale beats Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope to score for Spurs.Credit:AP
He then set up Harry Kane for Tottenham’s second after 15 minutes before Lucas Moura made it 3-0 before halftime.
Bale then claimed his second of the game with a clinical finish after 55 minutes as Tottenham returned to form in the league having lost five of their previous six games.
Bale’s lack of Premier League game time has been something of an anti-climax after the club’s former talisman returned in October on loan from Real Madrid having left in 2013.
He has now scored four times in his last four appearances in all competitions and although he did not register in the loss by West Ham United last week, he was eye-catching as a second-half substitute.
Looking fit and sharp, Bale linked up superbly with Kane and Son Heung-min as manager Jose Mourinho unleashed the trio together, albeit against a Burnley side who were there for the taking.
“It’s not just about scoring. It’s about our all-round play and helping the team. I’m delighted with the goals and the assist and whatever I can do for the team,” Bale said.
“I’ve been happy all season. In the dressing room I feel comfortable and I’m having fun. I’m happy and I’m sure it’s showing on the pitch.”
A flowing Tottenham move after two minutes ended with Bale ghosting on to Son’s astute pass to touch past Nick Pope.
Bale then spotted the run of Kane with a sublime diagonal ball and the England captain’s shot deflected past Pope for his 14th Premier League goal of the season.
It was all too easy for Tottenham and Moura made it 3-0 when Sergio Reguilon’s ball into the box was only half cleared and the Brazilian fired past Pope.
Tottenham’s tempo dropped a little after the break but Bale capped a fine display with a cultured left-foot finish into the bottom corner from Son’s feed.
Fulham and Palace draw
Meanwhile, Fulham moved to within three points of safety after Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita reacted quickly to keep out a header from Fulham’s Josh Maja.
Centreback Joachim Andersen threatened the goal at both ends, forcing a save from his own goalkeeper with a misplaced clearance attempt, and heading wide at a corner soon after. He also had a shot blocked by Palace defender Gary Cahill later on in a game where set pieces often proved the most effective way to create chances.
Fulham’s Ademola Lookman and Maja sent shots wide late in the game as Fulham pushed for what could have been their first back-to-back wins since returning to the Premier League this season. Fulham has conceded one goal in their last five league games.
Roy Hodgson’s team has now lost three of their last four league games without scoring, with the exception being a 2-1 win over Brighton on Monday.
Reuters, AP