Laurent Koscielny urges Arsenal to build on Bournemouth win

Laurent Koscielny has urged Arsenal to kick on from their vital win at Bournemouth and put themselves firmly back into the Premier League title picture.

Having been top of the table at the turn of the year, Arsene Wenger’s men slipped to fourth following a four-game winless streak before securing a 2-0 victory against the Cherries on Sunday.

The Gunners had gone almost five and a half hours without a league goal before Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struck 88 seconds apart at the midway point of the first-half at the Vitality Stadium.

The victory takes Arsenal five points behind leaders Leicester, who visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday looking to keep their unexpected title tilt in full swing having won at Manchester City at the weekend.

Koscielny, however, wants Sunday’s south coast success to set Arsenal on their way to a first Premier League crown in 12 years.

“It was important to win because we needed to stay high up the table with Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester City,” he said.

“We didn’t play well during January and we didn’t win a lot of points.

“We needed to start a good run with this game and we stayed strong at the back, and scored two goals with our first two opportunities.

“We had three games without scoring so it was important for our players.” Gunners midfielder Aaron Ramsey admits Leicester’s rise has been an impressive one.

“It was important to stay within touching distance of them. It is going to be an interesting game next week now.”