Arsenal extended their Premier League lead to four points with a goal from Eberechi Eze against his former club Crystal Palace, while Manchester City lost 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Bournemouth are now the Gunners’ closest competitors in second place, having defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0.
Following Liverpool’s latest defeat to Brentford on Saturday, Arsenal had a perfect weekend, as both of their title rivals dropped farther behind while they continued to improve.
Eze left the Eagles in August for Arsenal for £60 million ($80 million), and his first Premier League goal proved decisive as Mikel Arteta’s side relied on their set-piece proficiency and sturdy defense.
The England international scored on the volley after Palace failed to clear Declan Rice’s free kick six minutes before halftime.
Arsenal failed to hit top gear again, but they didn’t need to, as they kept their 10th clean sheet in 13 games across all competitions this season.
Arteta’s major concern was seeing Rice and William Saliba substituted in the second half due to injuries.
Arsenal now leads fourth-placed City by six points and has a seven-point lead over Liverpool in sixth.
After a nine-game unbeaten streak, City appeared to be Arsenal’s most formidable title rivals.
However, Pep Guardiola’s side lost at Villa Park for the third season in a row, as Erling Haaland’s 12-game scoring streak came to an end.
Matty Cash’s remarkable strike from beyond the box in 19 minutes clinched Villa’s fourth consecutive league victory, propelling Unai Emery’s team to seventh place.
Haaland’s late strike was called out for offside, but City’s lack of goal threat beyond the Norwegian ultimately cost the visitors.
Except for Haaland, no City player has scored in the Premier League in the past month.
Bournemouth moved up to second place as Forest’s difficulties persisted despite a change in management.
Sean Dyche began his rule with a win against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, but Forest remain in the bottom three after a convincing defeat on the south coast.
Marcus Tavernier scored for the Cherries from a corner after Matz Sels was taken off guard by the whirling wind.
Eli Junior Kroupi then scored his fourth goal in six Premier League outings, doubling Bournemouth’s lead.
Wolves remain at the bottom of the table as Burnley won a 3-2 thriller in stoppage time at Molineux due to Lyle Foster.
Zian Flemming’s double gave the visitors a 2-0 lead after 30 minutes, but Wolves responded before halftime through Jorgen Strand Larsen and Marshall Munetsi.
Foster’s late strike pushed the Clarets five points clear of the relegation zone, while Wolves fell six points behind.
