ARSENAL KEPT UP the pressure on their top-four rivals as goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud ensured a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The pair were on target before the interval in south London as Arsene Wenger’s side moved third in the Premier League after Manchester United were beaten by Swansea City, with Southampton in action against Liverpool on Sunday.
A clumsy tackle from Pape Souare on Danny Welbeck allowed Cazorla to open the scoring from the spot after eight minutes, before Arsenal landed another blow on the stroke of half-time.
Quick thinking from Giroud inside the area allowed him to prod home the second and despite their resolute second-half display eventually being ended when substitute Glenn Murray scored late on for Palace and then struck the woodwork with another late chance, the visitors held on.
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Elsewhere, the pressure continues to increase on Gus Poyet after Sunderland drew 0-0 with West Brom at the Stadium of Light.
Poyet wrote an open letter to the Sunderland support in midweek, appealing for unity between the fans and the team, but the Uruguayan’s prospects will not have been helped by another stodgy display.
Although failing to create clear-cut chances, Sunderland should have been ahead on the stroke of half time when Adam Johnson stole in to tuck home from close-range, but the goal was erroneously ruled out by the officials.
Santiago Vergini wasted a golden opportunity to open his Sunderland account 15 minutes into the second half, with the hosts the only side showing any attacking intent as the game wore on.
Connor Wickham went close with a header with just over 10 minutes remaining, but for all their pressure, Sunderland were unable to snatch a winner.
They have now only claimed one victory from their last nine league fixtures, with Saturday’s goalless stalemate their 13th of the campaign.
