Rosicky double lifts Arsenal to fourth

Arsenal climbed back into the English Premier League's top four for the first time since December when it won 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion thanks to two goals from Tomas Rosicky despite having defender Per Mertesacker sent off yesterday.

The victory moved Arsenal on to 56 points, one more than Chelsea, which slipped back to fifth, at least until it plays Sunderland at Stamford Bridge today.

Rosicky, whose season has been disrupted by injury, headed Arsenal ahead after 20 minutes and scored the second from a rebound in the 50th.

Mertesacker was sent off for a foul in the penalty area on Shane Long after 71 minutes and James Morrison scored from the spot to set up a nervous finale for the Gunners.

Aston Villa moved out of the relegation zone and improved its chances of staying up with a 3-1 win at Stoke City and Norwich City drew 2-2 with Swansea City at Carrow Road.

Reading's hopes of avoiding relegation were seriously compromised, however, after a 0-2 loss at home to manager Nigel Adkins's former club Southampton left it eight points from safety with only six games remaining. It is level on 23 points with Queens Park Rangers

Despite sustained early pressure from Reading, Southampton took a 34th-minute lead through Jay Rodriguez and completed victory with 18 minutes remaining when captain Adam Lallana coolly tucked away his 50th goal for the club.

Adkins joined Reading last month after Southampton sacked him in January, but his bid to steer his new club off the foot of the table is beginning to look like an impossible task, particularly as the Royals have now played at least a game more than all the teams above them.

Southampton, meanwhile, is seven points above the bottom three after its third consecutive victory and appear poised to secure its status among the elite for a second season.

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