Arsenal and Tottenham go joint top after wins

Germany international's dead-ball prowess instrumental in 3-1 win over Stoke, Paulinho nets late winner for Tottenham, Swansea win away at Crystal Palace.

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, right, celebrates after Arsenal's Per Mertesacker scored against Stoke. Adrian Dennis / AFP
Powered by automated translation

ARSENAL 3 Ramsey 05’, Mertesacker 36’, Sagna 72’

STOKE CITY

Cameron 26’

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised the dead-ball prowess of record signing Mesut Ozil after the Germany international helped the Gunners continue their winning streak with a 3-1 victory over Stoke City.

Ozil, making his home debut, was involved in all three goals as his set-pieces were turned home by Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna.

Ramsey continued his fine goal-scoring form by slotting home the rebound after Asmir Begovic had parried Ozil’s early free-kick, and then Mertesacker headed home a corner from the former Real Madrid playmaker after Geoff Cameron had equalised for Stoke.

In the second half, another Ozil free-kick was met by Sagna to send a looping header past Begovic.

“I didn’t expect to score so many headers from free-kicks against Stoke, but the delivery is very important and the deliveries were good today,” the Frenchman told Sky Sports.

CARDIFF CITY 0

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1

Paulinho 90+1’

Paulinho netted his first Premier League goal in stoppage time to give Tottenham Hotspur victory and finally end the resistance of Cardiff City keeper David Marshal.

Spurs dominated large sections of the game at Cardiff City Stadium but were denied on countless occasions as the Scot made crucial saves from Roberto Soldado, Christian Eriksen, Paulinho and Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Even when former Swansea man Sigurdsson did beat Marshall, his effort struck the crossbar, but Paulinho finally made their dominance tell as he tapped in Erik Lamela’s pass from close range to seal a 1-0 win.

CRYSTAL PALACE 0

SWANSEA CITY 2

Michu 02’, Dyer 48’

Despite less than 72 hours earlier demolishing Valencia at the Mestalla, Swansea City showed no sign of a Europa League hangover as they eased to a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace were left chasing shadows from the outset, with Michu’s strike after 80 seconds followed by a Nathan Dyer effort moments into the second half.

sports@thenational.ae