Arsenal played with the style, pace and confidence of their glory days under Arsene Wenger to crush Norwich City 4-1 to underline their title credentials at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners, without a trophy since 2005, gave their fans renewed hope that that famine could end this season with Jack Wilshere and substitute Aaron Ramsey scoring outstanding goals with the other two coming from club record signing Mesut Ozil.
The win lifted Arsenal, temporarily knocked off top spot after Liverpool had played earlier in the day, back to the summit of the Premier League with 19 points from eight matches, two points clear of Chelsea.
“We had periods when we were absolutely outstanding and periods when we suffered as well because Norwich played well and they are a good side,” Wenger told Sky Sports.
“But we scored a fantastic first goal and the goals after that were absolutely amazing. We took advantage of Norwich getting tired in the last 20 minutes in a very clinical way. But they made it difficult for us.”
Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Cardiff City 4-1 moved on to 17 points and into second place, above Liverpool on goal difference.
Chelsea, who started the day in third place, fell behind at Stamford Bridge after some woeful defending by David Luiz who allowed Jordan Mutch to score after 10 minutes.
Luiz’s mistake meant that Petr Cech, making his 300th Premier League appearance, could not mark the occasion with a clean sheet, but that was a minor irritation as Chelsea bagged all three points.
Eden Hazard equalised in the 33rd minute after Samuel Eto’o nipped in to steal the ball from goalkeeper David Marshall as he was bouncing it up and down. Eto’o, Oscar and Hazard put the issue beyond doubt with goals in the second half.
Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero scored twice and set up another goal as Manchester City moved to fourth place in the English Premier League with a 3-1 win at West Ham.
City dominated from the off and opened up the Hammers’ defense in the 16th minute when Aguero coolly broke the deadlock after Alvaro Negredo cleverly let Fernandinho’s pass run through.
The Argentine doubled City’s lead with a header after being left unmarked before West Ham pulled one back through Ricardo Vaz Te, who scored with an acrobatic strike.
But David Silva sealed City’s first away win of the season 10 minutes from the final whistle when he found the top corner with a curled shot at the conclusion of a fast break after being set up by Aguero.
LIVERPOOL SLIP
Liverpool led the table for a brief spell after their early kick off, but they slipped to third following their 2-2 draw at Newcastle United with skipper Steven Gerrard scoring his 100th league goal from a penalty.
Newcastle played for the whole of the second half with 10 men after French defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off shortly before halftime. Although they trailed twice, Liverpool dominated the depleted home side and deserved more than a point.
Newcastle went ahead with a stunning 25-metre strike from Yohan Cabaye but Gerrard equalised from the spot after Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off for hauling down Luis Suarez.
Newcastle defender Paul Dummett was brought on to shore up the defence after the Frenchman walked, but he was at the other end to score with a volley at the far post to put Newcastle ahead in the 57th minute with his first goal for the club on his second league appearance.
Daniel Sturridge equalised with a header 17 minutes from time, the 126th goal in this fixture, a record tally between any two sides in the Premier League era.
DISAPPOINTING UNITED
It was another disappointing day for champions Manchester United, who started in ninth place but were widely expected to beat visitors Southampton, despite the Saints standing fourth in the table.
But United, who lost 2-1 to West Bromwich Albion in their last home match, slipped up again.
Robin van Persie scored for United in the 26th minute before the Saints equalised a minute from the end of normal time with a goal credited to Dejan Lovren.
However, teammate Adam Lallana told Sky Sports: “It hit my legs on the way in, I’m claiming it. It was a great point for us and we could have taken all three.”
United boss David Moyes, who has not made the best start since taking over from Alex Ferguson at the start of the season, said he was disappointed by the result.
“We had a few chances to get it wrapped up and to let in a goal in the last couple of minutes is very frustrating, especially as we had the chances to win it,” he said.
Gus Poyet’s tenure as Sunderland’s new manager got off to a terrible start when his bottom-of-the-table side were crushed 4-0 at Swansea City leaving them bottom with one point from their opening eight games.
In other action Everton beat Hull City 2-1 while Stoke City drew 0-0 with West Brom. West Ham were playing Manchester City in the late match.
