LONDON — Arsenal all but sealed Champions League qualification for an 18th successive season after it eased past relegation-threatened Hull City 3-1 in the Premier League Monday. Alexis Sanchez's deflected free-kick wrong-footed stranded keeper Steve Harper to hand Arsenal a 28th-minute opener before Aaron Ramsey doubled the advantage four minutes later when his shot was diverted into the net via a Hull defender. Sanchez rounded Harper to add his second in first half stoppage time and, though it improved after the break, Hull's solitary response came from Stephen Quinn's 56th minute header. Arsenal, in third, has 70 points from 34 matches and trails second-placed Manchester City, which has played a game more, on goal difference. Hull sits one point and place above the relegation zone and faces the daunting prospect of games against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United among their remaining three fixtures. “The most important thing was the victory because the team is in a very good moment,” Arsenal's Santi Cazorla, who dictated proceedings throughout, told Sky Sports. “We want to win the title next year. We want to get second place this season but the most important thing now is qualify for the Champions League, win the FA Cup and then prepare well for next season.” Arsenal is unbeaten in the Premier League since February. It welcomed back midfielder Jack Wilshere for the first time since injuring his ankle in November and the diminutive England international, who impressed as a 67th-minute substitute, was unlucky to see his goal-bound shot blocked in the closing stages. Abandoned game will not be replayed Relegated Blackpool's final Championship fixture against Huddersfield Town which was abandoned soon after halftime following crowd protests will not be replayed, the Football League said Monday. Saturday's match was abandoned in the 48th minute, with the score at 0-0, after hundreds of Blackpool fans invaded the pitch and refused to leave in a protest against the club's owners, the Oyston family. Blackpool was relegated from the Championship with just 25 points from its 45 games while Huddersfield finished 16th with 54 points. Cagliari cruises past Parma Cagliari cruised past already relegated Parma 4-0 in Serie A Monday, offering hope that the Sardinian club can climb out of the drop zone. Cagliari is third from bottom, six points from safety and 17th-place Atalanta with four matches remaining. Crisis-hit Parma is last. Almeria holds Celta Forward Thievy Bifouma scored one goal and forced a sending off as Almeria erased a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against Celta Vigo Monday in a Spanish league match both sides finished with 10 men. Almeria inched two points away from the relegation zone with three rounds remaining, while Celta remained in ninth place. — Agencies
