Arsenal strengthen grip on champions league spot

LONDON: Arsenal went four points clear in the race for fourth spot in the Premier League and a place in next season´s Champions League with a 3-0 win at home to Newcastle on Monday.

First-half goals from Laurent Koscielny and Mesut Ozil left Arsenal in complete command at the Emirates Stadium before Olivier Giroud´s 66th-minute header saw Arsene Wenger´s side go 3-0 in front.

Victory left the Gunners on 73 points, four ahead of fifth-placed Everton, with both sides having two league games to play in the battle for the fourth and final Champions League spot on offer to English clubs.

But Newcastle´s sixth successive Premier League defeat -- their worst run in the English top flight since January 1987 -- piled the pressure on Magpies´ manager Alan Pardew. (AFP)