<p>Arsenal took a big step to securing their place in the Champions League for a 17th consecutive season after a comfortable 3-0 home win against an increasingly woeful Newcastle United on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With two Premier League games remaining, Arsenal have 73 points, four clear of fifth-placed Everton who lost 2-0 at Southampton on Saturday and have still to play title favourites Manchester City.<br /><br />“One more win and we will be in the top four for sure,” Wenger told reporters, while injecting a note of caution. “I'm long enough in the job to know to get over the line is always difficult.”<br /><br />Arsenal, who will face a European side in a playoff to reach the Champions League proper if they finish fourth, opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Laurent Koscielny when he prodded home Santi Cazorla's free-kick.<br /><br />Mesut Ozil then doubled the hosts' lead in the 42nd minute with a tap-in after Tim Krul had twice denied Olivier Giroud.<br /><br />Arsenal were rarely threatened and added a third after 66 minutes with a powerful Giroud header.<br /><br />Arsenal's 3-0 humbling at Everton earlier this month looked to have ended their hopes of Champions League qualification but a run of three successive victories coupled with Everton's stuttering form has the Gunners back in the driving seat.<br /><br />“We have gone through a difficult period and Goodison Park was one of them,” said Wenger. <br /><br />“The spirit in the team is strong, determined and healthy and you can see that in the way we have bounced back from disappointment.<br /><br />The Gunners dominated possession early on but failed to create any clear chances.<br /><br />When the first goal did come it was through the unlikely source of centre back Koscielny, who got the faintest touch on Cazorla's teasing delivery.<br /><br />Arsenal could have doubled their advantage immediately but the in-form Lukas Podolski was thwarted by Krul twice within two minutes.<br /><br />Ozil did what his German international team mate could not and added a second with a simple finish after Krul had pulled off an impressive double save at the feet of Giroud.<br /><br />Ozil then turned provider with a wicked cross for Giroud to power in his 15th Premier League goal of the season.<br /></p>
<p>Arsenal took a big step to securing their place in the Champions League for a 17th consecutive season after a comfortable 3-0 home win against an increasingly woeful Newcastle United on Monday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>With two Premier League games remaining, Arsenal have 73 points, four clear of fifth-placed Everton who lost 2-0 at Southampton on Saturday and have still to play title favourites Manchester City.<br /><br />“One more win and we will be in the top four for sure,” Wenger told reporters, while injecting a note of caution. “I'm long enough in the job to know to get over the line is always difficult.”<br /><br />Arsenal, who will face a European side in a playoff to reach the Champions League proper if they finish fourth, opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Laurent Koscielny when he prodded home Santi Cazorla's free-kick.<br /><br />Mesut Ozil then doubled the hosts' lead in the 42nd minute with a tap-in after Tim Krul had twice denied Olivier Giroud.<br /><br />Arsenal were rarely threatened and added a third after 66 minutes with a powerful Giroud header.<br /><br />Arsenal's 3-0 humbling at Everton earlier this month looked to have ended their hopes of Champions League qualification but a run of three successive victories coupled with Everton's stuttering form has the Gunners back in the driving seat.<br /><br />“We have gone through a difficult period and Goodison Park was one of them,” said Wenger. <br /><br />“The spirit in the team is strong, determined and healthy and you can see that in the way we have bounced back from disappointment.<br /><br />The Gunners dominated possession early on but failed to create any clear chances.<br /><br />When the first goal did come it was through the unlikely source of centre back Koscielny, who got the faintest touch on Cazorla's teasing delivery.<br /><br />Arsenal could have doubled their advantage immediately but the in-form Lukas Podolski was thwarted by Krul twice within two minutes.<br /><br />Ozil did what his German international team mate could not and added a second with a simple finish after Krul had pulled off an impressive double save at the feet of Giroud.<br /><br />Ozil then turned provider with a wicked cross for Giroud to power in his 15th Premier League goal of the season.<br /></p>