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LONDON -- Arsenal remains on course for another season in the Champions League after beating Newcastle 3-0 at home on Monday. Rob Ninkovich Youth Jersey . The win puts Arsenal four points clear of Everton in fourth place with two games to play in the Premier League, a position which would qualify the club for Europes top competition for the 17th straight year. Having been contained for the first quarter of the match, the hosts found their rhythm after defender Laurent Koscielny gave the Gunners the lead in the 26th minute when he poked in from close range a well-placed free kick from Santi Cazorla. Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski went close to doubling the lead, notably when his powerful header from six-yards out was parried away by Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul. Arsenal went two up in the 42nd minute when midfielder Mesut Ozil tapped in from close range after Krul saved two efforts from Olivier Giroud, the second of which fell comfortably into the path of the Germany international. Ozil then became the provider in the 66th minute when his whipped cross was powerfully headed into the net by Giroud. The win means that one more victory in the final two games will be enough to confirm a Champions League spot for Arsenal next season. Everton takes on Manchester City at home on Saturday in a game that also has huge implications for the title race between City, Liverpool and Chelsea. Arsenal then plays West Bromwich Albion at home on Sunday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is taking nothing for granted, though. "To get over the line is always difficult," he said. As well as qualifying for the lucrative Champions League, Arsenal is hoping to lift its first trophy in nine years when it takes on Hull in the FA Cup Final on May 17 at Wembley Stadium. Newcastle chances were few and far though winger Yoan Gouffran had a good chance to halve the deficit early on in the second half but he shot straight at Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny when through on goal. The defeat was Newcastles sixth straight loss and ratcheted up the pressure on manager Alan Pardew. Despite that ignominious run, the club remains in ninth place following a strong first half to the season. The match was also Pardews first on the touchline since a seven-game suspension for head-butting Hulls David Meyler -- the longest suspension ever handed down to a Premier League manager. A section of the 2,000 or so Newcastle fans who made the trip down from the northeast of England turned against Pardew in the second half. "We want Pardew out" and "Six in a row" boomed down from the away section as they grew increasingly restless. Pardew conceded the second half of the season has not been good enough and said the fans had the right to vent their frustrations. "Theyve seen us lose again and theyre not happy and I have to respect that," he said. "Weve been top 10 all year, this recent run is not something Im hiding from, we should have performed better in this run and weve got to finish in the top 10." Stevan Ridley Pink Jersey . Midfielder Michael Bradley, one of the teams new designated players, will make his debut, while striker Gilberto could see his first action for TFC in the contest. Jamie Collins Jersey . The assistants greeted Aldridge with compliments and high fives. Stotts had only one word for his high-scoring forward: "Thanks." Aldridge had 25 points and 16 rebounds in his return after missing seven games with a lower back contusion, and the Trail Blazers beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-85 on Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak.STUTTGART, Germany -- Gael Monfils swept past Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets to give France a 2-0 lead after the opening singles Friday in its Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany. France can secure a place in the semifinals if it wins Saturdays doubles. Monfils beat Kohlschreiber 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-4 to double Frances lead after Richard Gasquets unlikely 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win over a cramping Florian Mayer in the first singles. "I didnt play that well but I won and thats whats important," said Gasquet, who was one game away from defeat. France was the runner-up last year, when it lost to Serbia in the final, while Germany is looking for its first semifinal since 2007. France has a 6-2 record against Germany and has not lost to its neighbour since 1938. Monfils, Frances top-ranked player at No. 7, broke for a 3-2 lead in the third set and hung on to give France a comfortable lead after the first day. He finished the match with an ace, his 15th of the match. He also had eight double-faults, but another 14 service winners. Gasquet celebrated his return to Davis Cup singles play after three years with an important win for his team. Mayer served for the match but dropped his serve at love and never recovered. Gasquets only previous victory from two sets down was against Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 20007. Kyle Arrington Camo Jersey. The Frenchman went up a break in each of the first two sets but could not use the advantage. After breaking back, Mayer won four straight games to claim the first set. The German was down 3-1 in the second before bouncing back. Gasquet saved seven set points before Mayer hit a volley winner to go two sets up. The Frenchman wasted a 2-0 lead in the third and double-faulted to give Mayer a 5-4 lead and a chance to serve out the match. But the German rushed his shots and could not win a point. Gasquet broke Mayer at love to win the set and put France back into the match. "Thats when I got more confident," Gasquet said. After Gasquet broke to go up 3-1, Mayer started wincing in pain from cramps in his left thigh. Visibly bothered, Mayer could not offer much resistance. In the decisive fifth, Gasquet broke to go up 4-3 and fired an ace to make it 5-3. Mayer saved two match points but Gasquet hit a return winner to clinch the match. "I played really well and had the match under control," Mayer said of the first two sets. "I never had cramps in my life before, maybe thats because of the extra tension in Davis Cup." Gasquet is ranked No. 11, nine spots higher than Mayer. The Frenchman had 10 aces against four for Mayer, who had 58 unforced errors, compared to 40 for Gasquet. Wholesale Jerseys ' ' ' |
