London [UK], February 8: Viktor Gyokeres scored a second-half brace as Arsenal piled the pressure on rivals Manchester City with a statement 3-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday to move nine points clear in the Premier League title race.
Martin Zubimendi fired Mikel Arteta's side on their way with a brilliant long-range opener just three minutes before half-time at the Emirates Stadium.
Gyokeres doubled the hosts' advantage six minutes after he was introduced as a substitute on the hour mark. He then added a breakaway third for Arsenal deep into stoppage time.
The Sweden striker's double takes his tally to four in as many matches, and six from his last eight appearances after a tricky start to his Gunners career.
Coach Mikel Arteta said: "Confidence is the magic word. When you feel confident, when you feel important, when you feel at your best, that's when you can really take your game to the highest level.
"We are really behind him in every moment to try to help him, to try to support him. And he is delivering, and he's in a really good moment now." Pep Guardiola's City are now tasked with pegging Arsenal's advantage back to six on the eve of their daunting trip to face champions Liverpool at Anfield, while Aston Villa are nine points off the championship pace following their 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.
Rayan's first goal in English football ensured Bournemouth split the points with third-placed Villa in an entertaining game at the Vitality Stadium.
Morgan Rogers had opened the scoring for the visitors against the run of play in the 22nd minute.
Michael Carrick oversaw a fourth straight victory as revitalized Manchester United capitalized on Cristian Romero's red card to win 2-0 and extend Tottenham's wait for a first Premier League win of 2026.
The Red Devils have been reborn since the short-term appointment of their former midfielder, whose honeymoon period continued as triumphs against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham were followed up on Saturday.
Bryan Mbeumo scored from a well-worked corner shortly after Tottenham captain Romero saw red for a reckless first-half challenge on Casemiro, with Bruno Fernandes wrapping up a deserved victory against Carrick's old club.
United's first win against Spurs since 2022 increased their stranglehold on fourth spot and means social media sensation and fan Frank Ilett is in line for a long-awaited haircut should United rack up a fifth successive win at West Ham on Tuesday.
Tottenham host Newcastle that night looking to end a seven-match wait for a Premier League win, but Destiny Udogie looks to have joined their lengthy injury list for a match skipper Romero will miss following his latest red card.
Cole Palmer struck a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea beat bottom side Wolves 3-1 at Molineux to make it four Premier League wins from four under Liam Rosenior.
After a tough spell for the England forward, marred by fitness issues, a dearth of goals and reports he is unsettled, this was a return of the free-scoring talisman that for so long carried the team but who now looks just one part of a balanced side brimming with promise.
Rosenoir said: "We know what a world-class player he is. He's played a lot of football over the last year with not much rest. When he's at his best, he's unstoppable. I'm delighted to be working with him." Dango Ouattara blasted Brentford victory at Newcastle to boost their hopes of European qualification and further dent those of the Magpies.
The 23-year-old Burkina Faso international struck five minutes from time to seal a 3-2 Premier League win at a wintry St James' Park.
It proved another difficult day for the Magpies, who had taken an early lead through Sven Botman's first goal since New Year's Day 2024, only for Vitaly Janelt and Igor Thiago's penalty - his 18th goal of the season - to turn the game on its head before Bruno Guimaraes levelled from the spot.
West Ham moved to within three points of safety and pushed Burnley a step closer to relegation with a 2-0 win that saw sections of the Turf Moor crowd turn on home coach Scott Parker.
A late turnaround helped Everton continue their fine away form with a 2-1 win at Fulham.
Premier League Saturday Results
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Bournemouth 1 Aston Villa 1
Arsenal 3 Sunderland 0
Burnley 0 West Ham United 2
Fulham 1 Everton 2
Wolverhampton 1 Chelsea 3
Newcastle United 2 Brentford 3.
Source: Qatar Tribune
