Everton thrash Stoke 4-0
LONDON: Aaron Ramsey indulged his new goalscoring habit on his return to his boyhood club as Arsenal opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory at Cardiff City on Saturday.
Welshman Ramsey, who spent eight years with the Bluebirds until his five million-pound move to north London in 2008, notched his 12th and 13th strikes of the season and was applauded by the Cardiff fans in Arsenal’s 10th win of the league campaign.
Mesut Ozil assisted with a cross and Ramsey, in the centre of the box, headed the ball in for the first goal in the 29th minute.
“I managed to get some sleep last night – it was an exciting time for me and my family to come back here and play,” said Ramsey after the match. “It was a great day and one I’m going to remember. The ball came in and I thought ‘why not head it?’ and luckily it went in.
“I’m really pleased with the way the fans reacted. I’ve got a lot of respect for them. This is where I started off in my career and they realised I needed to make the next step. They were really respectful and I gave them my respect too by not celebrating.
“I hope I put on a performance for them. This is where I started my career and everything began, and hopefully they’ve seen the player they produced today.
“I’m sure Cardiff will have enough to stay up this season and hopefully they do.”
Ozil aided in the second goal as well, sending a through ball to Mathieu Flamini, who netted the ball with a right-footer to the top right corner in the 86th minute.
Ramsey added his second in stoppage time with a right-footer of his own.
“It shows you how much Aaron Ramsey has improved,” manager Arsene Wenger said after the game.
“We came here two or three years ago and he had a nightmare here in a cup game, which shows you how much improved he is as a player.
“You are always torn between being happy to score and happy you can win the game, but out of respect for the club where he was educated he didn’t celebrate.
“It was a very solid defensive performance that was needed against Cardiff. When you play first [before your rivals] you can only do your job and see what happens after. But if you do your job well you can relax,” the Frenchman added.
Spanish teenager Gerard Deulofeu scored one and inspired Everton to a 4-0 triumph over Stoke City that took them into the top four.
Fulham manager Martin Jol was facing increased pressure after his relegation-threatened side went down 3-0 at fellow strugglers West Ham United, while Sunderland, second from bottom, drew 0-0 at Aston Villa.
Tony Pulis’s first game in charge of basement club Crystal Palace ended in a 1-0 defeat at Norwich City.
Arsenal have 31 points from 13 games, ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton, all on 24.
Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all play on Sunday, when Manchester United also visit Tottenham Hotspur. (Reuters)