Welbeck strike eases pressure on Wenger
Despite some fans demanding he leave, it looks more positive for Arsenal manager with top-four aspirations boosted in the Premier League
Danny Welbeck's header eased the pressure on Arsene Wenger as Arsenal made it two victories in a week with a 1-0 success at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
England striker Welbeck struck on the hour mark at the Hawthorns to boost the Gunners' top-four aspirations following successive defeats in their last two Premier League matches.
That had left Wenger's position under scrutiny, yet the picture now looks more positive for the Arsenal manager and his team following this win and a midweek success over Borussia Dortmund, which secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
I try to do my best for this club that I love. We are very united with the players and staff around the team, that's all you can do
On some fans demanding that he leaves the club: "I don't want to comment on that. I try to do my best for this club that I love. We are very united with the players and staff around the team, that's all you can do.
"It's easier to deal with the upwards than the downwards, but you cannot be a manager and have only one side."
Despite the win, Wenger was not satisfied: "We played well, but we couldn't take our chances, sometimes because of the final ball, sometimes because of finishing," he said.
"After playing on Wednesday, we finished the game looking more for solidarity because the legs were a bit jaded, but we kept it together. We had a bit of luck, but as well we had focus to defend to the end."
Welbeck said: "The clean sheet is very important. We always believe we will score goals, so if we get a clean sheet we feel we'll win the game. It was a vital three points for us today."
Robin van Persie scored only his fourth goal for Manchester United this season as the hosts cruised to a 3-0 win over Hull at Old Trafford.
Louis van Gaal's side took the lead in the 16th minute with Chris Smalling's scrambled effort and captain Wayne Rooney got the second goal in the 42nd minute. Van Persie netted in the 66th minute to seal his fourth-placed team's third successive win.
Liverpool ended a three-match losing streak as Glen Johnson's late goal clinched a hard-fought 1-0 win against Stoke at Anfield. Captain Steven Gerrard was on the bench on the 16th anniversary of his Liverpool debut but they improved when he came on for the final 16 minutes.
West Ham leapfrogged Newcastle into fifth place with a 1-0 effort at Upton Park. Newcastle fell behind in the 56th minute when Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell turned in Cheikhou Kouyate's miscued shot.
The Magpies' hopes of an equaliser were wrecked when midfielder Moussa Sissoko was sent off for earning two bookings in the space of 46 seconds in the second half.
QPR moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of fellow-strugglers Leicester, who slipped to 20th place after their 3-2 defeat at Loftus Road. Burnley rescued a 1-1 draw against relegation rivals Aston Villa at Turf Moor while Swansea and Crystal Palace drew 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium.
