Arsenal cruised to a 5-0 win at hapless bottom side Norwich City on Sunday, with Bukayo Saka’s double helping them to secure the victory as they consolidated fourth place in the Premier League.
Saka opened the scoring early on before Kieran Tierney added another goal just before the break. The England forward got his brace midway through the second half, while Alexandre Lacazette, with a penalty, and Emile Smith Rowe wrapped up the victory.
The win takes Arsenal to 35 points from 19 games following their fourth straight league victory, just over two years since manager Mikel Arteta’s first match in charge of the Gunners.
They have a six-point lead over fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, although their London rivals have three games in hand.
“It’s a very satisfying result because in this festive period we have to keep performances to a high level,” said Arteta. “We looked really sharp and committed.
“It’s a big win for us. The amount of chances we create is pleasing. We go to every ground to try and impose our game. Today was a really good example.”
The visitors took the lead after six minutes through Saka, who stroked the ball past goalkeeper Angus Gunn, who was making his Premier League debut, following a neat passing move that led to Martin Odegaard laying the ball into the forward’s path.
Arsenal continued to test the Norwich defence with Saka the danger man thanks to his jinking runs down the wing and Gabriel Martinelli also posing a threat as the Gunners dominated.
Norwich’s last top-flight Boxing Day win was in 1987 so the signs were ominous for the struggling Canaries from the start.
However, it took Arsenal until just before halftime to score again on the break when Scotland left back Tierney fired home a low shot, with Odegaard again providing the killer pass.
Norwich stayed in the game until the 67th minute but then the floodgates opened as the visitors struck three times.
England forward Saka got Arsenal’s third goal with another precise strike after cleverly weaving his way past Brandon Williams on the right edge of the area.
Lacazette was then fouled in the box by Ozan Kabak, and the Frenchman got up to convert the spot kick in the 84th.
Substitute Smith Rowe complete the rout with a goal in added time, leaving Norwich on 10 points – three adrift of fourth-bottom Watford having played two games more.
Moura inspires Tottenham to easy win over Crystal Palace
Brazilian Lucas Moura inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace that stretched their unbeaten Premier League run under new manager Antonio Conte to six games in murky north London on Sunday.
Moura created goals for Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and bagged one for himself as Tottenham comfortably beat a Palace side for whom manager Patrick Vieira missed the game because of a positive COVID-19 test.
While victory moved Tottenham up to fifth in the table, it proved a dispiriting day for Palace, who faded after a decent start and were reduced to 10 men in the 37th minute when Wilfried Zaha was sent off for a needless second yellow-card offence.
By that time Tottenham were well in control after Kane swept in from Moura’s pass before Moura headed the second.
Son wrapped up the Boxing Day win with his side’s third from close range in the 74th minute.
Tottenham have 29 points, six less than fourth-placed Arsenal but have played three games fewer after having two matches postponed this month because of COVID-19.
Conte has changed the vibe at Tottenham since taking over from Nuno Espirito Santo, and this latest victory provided further proof that his methods are paying off as his side avenged a 3-0 defeat at Palace in September.
“We started a bit slow but created chances to score. We improved the quality and the intensity and scored twice and for sure when we played against 10 men it was easier,” Conte said.
“Now we have to recover and make the best decision around our starting 11 for Southampton (on Tuesday). It won’t be easy for us or other teams to play after two days.”
It took them a while to get into their stride, however, with Kane almost invisible until the 32nd minute when the lively Moura sped down the right wing and looked up before pulling back a pass for the England skipper to fire in a right-footed shot.
Two minutes later Moura was in the thick of the action again, seizing possession and playing in Kane who in turn slid an astute ball into the path of Emerson Royal. Royal then crossed and Moura steamed in to the area to power in a header.
Things got even worse for Palace shortly afterwards when Zaha, who had already been booked, needlessly shoved Davinson Sanchez as they tussled for the ball near the touchline.
Tottenham substituted Kane after an hour and played most of the second half in cruise control as the game petered out, but Moura completed a superb individual display when he crossed for Son to score with a silky touch.
Palace, who are 12th, failed to register a shot on target.
“The two goals and the red card changed the game. We knew it would be difficult with 11 men on the pitch, but it made it even more difficult after the red card,” Crystal Palace assistant manager Osian Roberts said.
