Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Hull City and Arsenal at KCOM Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Hull, England. Robert Snodgrass stepped up made no mistake from the spot, 2-1.
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The goal is Xhaka’s first for the Gunners, who have now won three in a row in the Premier League.
The Gunners are famed for their team play, but if there’s one player capable of doing it himself it has to be Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez, who already has two goals to his name this season.
After been offered the job on a permanent role, Phelan will hope to not lose the siege mentality he and his players have developed in hard circumstances over recent weeks amid a toxic relationship between fans and the club’s board over a number of off the field factors.
“We had possession before and after the red card and we kept going”.
“We still tried to have a go but Arsenal’s quality came out in the end and they deserved the victory”.
“We have momentous games coming up and this is one of them”.
“We have to make the game”.
“I don’t know who is involved any more and how far discussions have gone”, he told a media conference ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Arsenal. After taking a point from their first two matches, this was their third consecutive victory, a feat they last achieved nine months ago.
Sanchez struck late to earn Arsenal a point in the Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, and he played an influential role again on Saturday, although he was unable to complete a hat-trick.
“Overall it’s been a positive week”.
“Due to this game being so quickly upon us, I decided just to leave that alone and we’ll have a little read of it and see where we are going with it and discuss it with the family, hopefully take this club on”.
Form doubts arise from the fact that their other positive results have been against Swansea and Burnley, who may end up among the strugglers as the season wears on, but confidence is much higher than it was at the start of the campaign and this is nearly a shot to nothing for Phelan’s side.
At the Etihad, Manchester City maintained their 100% record with a comfortable-as-they-come 4-0 win over Bournemouth.
Phelan has reported no new injury concerns, with Michael Dawson (knee), Allan McGregor (back), Alex Bruce (Achilles), Moses Odubajo, Greg Luer and Brian Lenihan (all knee) remaining unavailable for selection.
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Wenger has doubts surrounding the fitness of Gabriel and Theo Walcott (both knee), but is still without Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Danny Welbeck, Per Mertesacker and Jenkinson (all knee).
