Arsenal defeated Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road in the Premier League’s early kick-off.
The home side took the lead in the 15th minute. A long ball was played from the Canaries midfield and striker Steve Morison capitalised on hesitation from Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker to slot home past Wojciech Szczesny.
Arsenal were back on level terms in the 26th minute. Theo Walcott took on the Norwich full-back before firing a low cross into the box, Gervinho completely failed to make contact but Robin Van Persie slotted home from close-range.
The Gunners took the lead in the 58th minute, as Van Persie lifted the ball over John Ruddy into the net after Alex Song had put him through on goal. For Arsenal this was a sixth win in their last seven games and they moved up to sixth in the Premier League.
Everton secured three vital points with a 2-1 victory over Wolves at Goodison Park. The visitors were ahead on 37 minutes as Stephen Hunt scored from the penalty after Marouane Fellaini was adjudged to have brought down David Edwards in Everton area.
The Toffee’s were level on 44 minutes as defender Phil Jagielka headed home from a Leighton Baines free-kick. The home side took the lead in the 83rd minute, Leighton Baines firing home from the spot after Louis Saha was pushed by Stephen Ward in the Wolves area.
It was a three hard won points for David Moyes men. For Wolves it’s a seventh defeat in their last nine games.
Manchester City’s good run of form continued as they defeated Newcastle 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. City took the lead through Mario Balotelli in the 41st minute from the penalty spot after Newcastle full-back Ryan Taylor was adjudged to have handled in the area.
Just four minutes later City doubled their lead. Taylor struggled to deal with a Samir Nasri through ball and Micah Richards nipped in to score. City took a three goal lead in the 72nd minute. Argentine Sergio Aguero scored from the penalty spot after Micah Richards was bundled over by Hatem Ben Arfa.
Newcastle claimed a late consolation goal through midfielder Dan Gosling. The result means that Manchester City are now the sole unbeaten team in the English top flight.
Stoke suffered their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat as QPR beat the Potters 3-2 at the Britannia Ground. The home side took the lead on eight minutes though as Jonathan Walters slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
QPR were back on level terms in the 22nd minute as Heidar Helguson thumped home a header from an Armand Traore cross. And QPR doubled their lead in the 44th minute, Luke Young firing the ball into the roof of the net after good play by Jamie Mackie and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
QPR made it three on 54 minutes Heidar Helguson sliding in at the far post to score from Joey Barton’s cross. Ten minutes later Stoke got a goal back, centre-back Ryan Shawcross scoring with a back post header.
However Stoke couldn’t find an equaliser and it’s a worrying run of results for the men from the Potteries. This was a really good three points for the visitors though and it moved the Hoops up to ninth in the Premier League table.
Elsewhere Sunderland and Fulham drew a blank at the Stadium of Light. Mark Schwarzer produced a superb save near the death to stop the home side claiming all three points. Sunderland were also unlucky in the first half, as Kieran Richardson and Jack Colback both hit the Fulham woodwork.
Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu also had an effort cleared off the line by Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole. In the end though neither side could make the breakthrough.
Wigan and Blackburn drew 3-3 in an enthralling encounter at the DW Stadium. The visitors had the lead after less than two minutes, Rovers striker Yakubu chipping home after a long ball was flicked on by two Rovers players.
Wigan were back in the game in the seventh minute though, Spanish midfielder Jordi Gomez driving home from just outside the Rovers penalty area. Wigan took the lead on 31 minutes as defender Gary Caldwell headed home when left completely unmarked from a David Jones corner.
Just after half time Blackburn were reduced to ten men as David Dunn received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge. Blackburn were back on level terms in the 60th minute, as Morten Gamst Pedersen corner was eventually put in by Junior Hoilett.
It looked like Wigan had won the game in the 88th minute as Albert Crusat poked the ball under Paul Robinson after Hugo Rodallega had won the ball in the Rovers area.
However there was more drama yet to come. Six minutes into injury-time Rovers won a penalty as goalkeeper Paul Robinson, up for a corner was fouled by David Jones in the Wigan area. There was a delay in taking the kick but striker Yakubu stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot.
The game was fantastic for the neutral but the result does little to move the two teams away from the Premier League drop zone.
West Brom defeated Bolton 2-1 at the Hawthorns. West Brom took the lead after 16 minutes, Jerome Thomas beating the offside trap before slotting home. Thomas then conceded a penalty in the 20th minute bringing Fabrice Muamba down in the penalty area.
Croatian striker Ivan Klasnic made no mistake from the penalty spot. West Brom’s winner came in the 56th minute as Nicky Shorey produced a pinpoint cross for striker Shane Long to head home. West Brom moved into the top half of the Premier League table while Bolton remain in the bottom three.
Champions Manchester United secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium in the late kick-off. The visitors took the lead on 11 minutes. Ryan Giggs latched onto a loose pass by Angel Rangel and the Welshman found striker Javier Hernandez who bundled the ball home from close range.
The victory wasn’t an easy one for the Champions but they collected three vital points. Swansea can be proud of their performance and they keep putting in good performances in the top flight.
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