Manchester City more or less assured of berth in europe’s top competition
London: Alexis Sanchez sank Sunderland to keep Arsenal in the hunt for Champions League qualification Tuesday, while Manchester City all but secured a top-four place by beating West Bromwich Albion.
Sanchez scored two late close-range goals to earn Arsenal a 2-0 home victory over relegated Sunderland, while Kevin De Bruyne starred as City comfortably defeated West Brom 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
City climbed to third in the Premier League, two points above Liverpool and three points clear of Arsenal, with only the teams finishing third and fourth assured to join Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League.
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal must win their final game Sunday at home to Everton and hope Liverpool slip up at home to relegated Middlesbrough if they are to guarantee a 20th successive season of Champions League.
A conspicuous number of empty seats at the Emirates Stadium articulated the apathy that has taken hold among Arsenal fans this season and Wenger’s team made heavy work of beating Sunderland.
They had the best of the first half, with Hector Bellerin striking the outside of the post from one of a succession of home attacks.
Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford looked set to foil Arsenal in the second half, saving from Aaron Ramsey and substitute Danny Welbeck, but in the 72nd minute the hosts’ pressure told.
Granit Xhaka’s lofted pass was squared by Mesut Ozil and Sanchez volleyed in his 22nd goal of the league campaign from beneath the crossbar.
Sanchez then made sure of the points in the 81st minute, heading in after Pickford had blocked Olivier Giroud’s volley.
Meanwhile it was easy for City against West Brom. After Aleksandar Kolarov’s free-kick was pushed behind by visiting goalkeeper Ben Foster and Leroy Sane had dragged wide, City went ahead in the 27th minute with a fine team goal.
Sergio Aguero’s artful back-heel released De Bruyne, whose deflected cross from the left was tapped in by Gabriel Jesus.
De Bruyne doubled City’s lead within two minutes when he shaped a half-volley inside the right-hand post from the edge of the box.
Yaya Toure added a third shortly before the hour, exchanging passes with Aguero, driving into the box and slotting home.
Guardiola used the final half hour to offer Pablo Zabaleta a farewell appearance in City’s colours. The popular Argentine right-back, who has been at the Etihad for nine years, is due to leave the club at the end of the season.
AFP