Arsenal storm into top spot after beating Stoke

Ramsey continues goalscoring run in 3-1 win in EPL.

LONDON: Arsenal went to the top of the English Premier League table after a 3-1 victory at home to Stoke yesterday.

Victory left the Gunners two points in front of both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey made it seven goals in eight games when he gave Arsenal a fifth-minute lead at the Emirates Stadium with a close-range strike after Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic had palmed away a Mesut Ozil free-kick.

Stoke, however, were back on level terms when US international Geoff Cameron scored his first goal for the club in the 26th minute with a controlled shot from the edge of the box after Marko Arnautovic’s volley had come back off the post.

Arsenal though were 2-1 up before half-time through centre-back Per Mertesacker’s looping header.

Bacary Sagna then scored his first goal in 19 months as Arsenal again made Stoke pay for failing to defend a set-piece when he headed home in the 72nd minute from another free-kick by £42.4 million club record signing Ozil, the Germany international producing a sparkling display on his Gunners’ home debut.

In yesterday’s other early kick-off match, Swansea won 2-0 away to Crystal Palace with Michu putting the Welsh club in front in just the second minute before Nathan Dyer added a second goal shortly after half-time.

Mourinho content with win over Fulham

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said he was happy to be in the mix at the top of the table after their 2-0 win against Fulham.

Goals from Oscar and John Mikel Obi handed Chelsea their first win in five matches.

“The important thing is to be up there, where United are, where Arsenal are, where Tottenham are,” said Mourinho.

“Some of them started the Premier League in a brilliant way, we started in a bad way and we are there, that’s good for us.

“I read it was a disaster. All the teams lost, every one of us lost a game, and it looks like for the others to lose is a normal thing and for us it’s the end of the world. But that’s fine by me.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2013.

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