The Malta Independent 23 April 2024, Tuesday
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Arsenal climb to third in league, Chelsea save point against Manchester United

Associated Press Sunday, 7 February 2016, 17:52 Last update: about 9 years ago

Arsenal ended a four-game winless run by scoring quick-fire goals to beat Bournemouth 2-0 on Sunday, rising to third in the Premier League.

Mesut Ozil tucked away the opener in the 23rd minute for his first goal since netting in December's reverse fixture against Bournemouth. And only 88 seconds later, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struck to end a 17-month wait for a Premier League goal.

When the Gunners beat Bournemouth on Dec. 28 they had moved to the summit but they have fallen off the pace during a poor run since.

Leicester is now in front with Tottenham and Arsenal five points behind and only separated by goal difference. Manchester City dropped to fourth after losing to Leicester on Saturday.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa struck in stoppage time against Manchester United to maintain his scoring streak under interim manager Guus Hiddink, ensuring a 1-1 stalemate in Sunday's meeting of fallen Premier League powers.

The striker rounded goalkeeper David De Gea to net his sixth goal in seven league appearances under Hiddink and cancel out Jesse Lingard's 61st-minute volley.

Although Hiddink's unbeaten record since replacing the fired Jose Mourinho was preserved, Chelsea has drawn most of its league games — six of nine — to leave the defending champions in 13th place.

While reaching the Champions League's top tier has not seemed likely since Mourinho was dismissed by Chelsea in December, the draw is more damaging for United, which is six points from neighbor Manchester City in fourth.

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