LONDON: Arsenal continued their progress towards a Champions League return with a 2-0 win over Leicester. Victory lifted them back above a Manchester United team who had held fourth spot for only 24 hours.

Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli was again outstanding for the Gunners. His pace embarrassed Leicester consistently and it was his corner which provided the opening headed goal for Thomas Partey after only 11 minutes. Midfielder Partey might have had two goals but was denied by the crossbar 10 minutes later.

Partey needed time to settle after arriving from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 but is building an excellent creative partnership with Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal have played three games fewer than United and will make up one of them when they host Liverpool on Wednesday night. They have a score to settle. Liverpool defeated Arsenal in the semi-finals of the League Cup in January.

In the league the Gunners have now gone six games unbeaten, with five wins, since losing at home to Manchester City on New Year’s Day. Coincidentally their improved form, results and morale have followed the departure of disruptive former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Barcelona.

Leicester were on the back foot for most of the first half but were close to an equaliser shortly before the interval when Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made a fine save from a Harvey Barnes header.

Arsenal extended their lead 14 minutes into the second half with a penalty by Alexandre Lacazette after a long delay while VAR studied a goal-line handball by Caglar Soyuncu to another Partey header. Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel protested in vain to referee Anthony Taylor that Lacazette had stopped in his run-up.

Leeds at last

Jesse Marsch obtained his first victory as manager of Leeds after a late goal from substitute Joe Gelhardt secured a 2-1 win over Norwich.

Gelhardt, 19, had been on the pitch less than two minutes.

This was Marsch’s third match in charge after the sacking of Marcelo Bielsa. He said: “This was a big step in the right direction. It gives us more breathing room and will help the guys stay calm.”

Victory lifted Leeds four points above the relegation zone while Norwich stayed bottom, five points from safety.

Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko broke down in tears after opening the scoring in West Ham’s 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

Yarmolenko, 32, had been given compassionate leave after the Russian and had returned to the matchday squad for the first time since mid-February. The former Borussia Dortmund man replaced Michail Antonio in the 51st minute to a standing ovation and scored 20 minutes later. West Ham’s stadium announcer described the goal as being “for West Ham and Ukraine.”

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** Everton, after a 1:0 home defeat by Wolves, are above Watford in the relegation zone only on goal difference. Roy Hodgson’s team had moved level on points after winning 2:1 away to a poor Southampton. Everton ended their fourth successive defeat with 10 men after defender Jonjo Kenny was shown a red card for two yellows 13 minutes from the end. Wolves won with captain Conor Coady’s third league goal of the season.

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