Arsenal go clear after win over Palace, Man City slip up at Villa

LONDON :Arsenal enjoyed a serene Sunday as they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 and title rivals Manchester City lost by the same margin at Aston Villa to leave the north London club four points clear at the top of the table on Sunday.

Champions Liverpool's 3-2 defeat at Brentford on Saturday gave Arsenal the chance to move seven points clear of Arne Slot's side and they did just that with Eberechi Eze scoring the only goal against his old club.

City were unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions since a stumbling start to the campaign but they came unstuck at Villa Park where Matty Cash's goal earned his side a fourth successive league win to lift them to eighth.

Tottenham Hotspur's impressive away form continued with a 3-0 win at Everton to move them third - defender Micky van de Ven's headed double in the first half helping the visitors become the first side to win at Everton's new home.

Bournemouth continue to punch above their weight as a 2-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest moved them second while bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers remain winless following a 3-2 defeat at home to promoted Burnley.

Arsenal have 22 points from nine games with Bournemouth on 18 and Tottenham and Sunderland both on 17.

At the bottom, Wolves have two points with 19th-placed West Ham United on four and Forest on five.

EZE RETURNS TO PUNISH PALACE

Eze spent five seasons at Selhurst Park before Arsenal signed him in August and he did not celebrate when he showed great dexterity to score Arsenal's winner in the 39th minute after yet another set-piece goal.

Gabriel headed Declan Rice's free kick into his path and Eze leapt to steer a first-time finish past Dean Henderson.

"I just told the boys that I probably value this victory more than any other