Arsenal have opened up a two point gap at the top of the division with victory over Newcastle United
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League after edging past Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.
A goal from centre-back Laurent Koscielny was enough to separate the sides and move the Gunners two points clear of Leicester City, who were held to a goalless draw by Bournemouth.
Arsene Wenger’s side are now priced at 5/4 to win what would be there first league title in twelve years, just behind favourites Manchester City who came from behind to beat Watford.
Leaving it late
An own goal from Aleksander Kolarov gave the Hornets the lead ten minutes into the second half though late efforts from Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero wrapped up the points for Manuel Pellegrini’s men, who stay three points behind the leaders.
Despite dropping two points Leicester remain in second though they spurned a golden opportunity to seal victory when Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty just shy of the hour mark.
Tottenham Hotspur stay in fourth after securing a 1-1 draw at Everton, who were given the lead by Aaron Lennon, who spent ten years at White Hart Lane prior to his move to Merseyside.
The Toffees sit in eleventh, nine points behind Spurs and now turn their attention to Wednesday evening’s League Cup semi-final against Manchester City, with Stoke City playing Liverpool in the competition’s other tie.
After securing back-to-back 1-0 wins over the Christmas period, Jurgen Klopp’s side lost 2-0 at West Ham United with former Reds striker Andy Carroll sealing the win for the Hammers who are now sixth.
Back on track
Crystal Palace slip to seventh after being thumped 3-0 by Chelsea, who secured their first triumph of Guus Hiddink’s second spell in charge of the club at the third time of asking.
Last season’s champions are now up to fourteenth place with the gap between themselves and the Champions League qualification places now standing at thirteen points.
After two impressive victories over Christmas, Stoke lost to West Bromwich Albion with a late Jonny Evans goal giving Tony Pulis a victory on his one year anniversary at the Hawthorns.
The Baggies are up to twelfth place, two places and three points behind Mark Hughes’ side.
Manchester United win
Southampton lost for a sixth time in eight with Norwich City the latest team to triumph over the south coast side while Manchester United arrested their slide with victory over Swansea City.
Wayne Rooney grabbed the winner at Old Trafford – a goal that puts him outright second in the list of all time Premier League goalscorers, and also in the list of all time scorers for the Red Devils.
Finally, the divisions bottom two sides met at the Stadium of Light and it was the hosts who were celebrating as the put three past Aston Villa who remain eleven points from safety, and seven behind Sunderland in nineteenth.
Can this be the season Arsenal end their Premier League trophy drought?
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