Arsenal reclaimed third spot in the Premier League following their 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday evening.
Per Mertesacker’s header just before the break was enough to secure all three points for the Gunners, who extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
The hosts were reduced to ten men after just twelve minutes when former Gunner Steve Sidwell was dismissed following a challenge on Mikel Arteta, and it was 10 vs 10 in stoppage time when Olivier Giroud was shown a straight red card for serious foul play.
The striker is now set to miss three of the final four games of the season.
The win leaves Arsene Wenger’s men on course for qualifying for next seasons Champions Leage, despite having played a game more than the rest of the top five.
Both fourth place Chelsea and fifth place Tottenham Hotspur have a game in hand over Arsene Wenger’s men, though the two play each other on May 8th.
Meanwhile, the club are in discussions over whether to have a guard of honour for Manchester United in next weekend’s game at the Emirates, should the league leaders clinch the title against Aston Villa this evening, as United did towards the end of the 1990/91 season.
