ARSENAL MOVED ever closer to a first Premier League title for 22 years as a 3-0 win over Sunderland took the Gunners nine points clear at the top of the table.
Martin Zubimendi’s long-range drive just before half-time settled the nerves of the home crowd at the Emirates Stadium before Viktor Gyokeres struck twice to quieten his critics.
Manchester City can reduce the gap at the top back to six points should they end a wait since 2003 to beat Liverpool at Anfield in front of a crowd on Sunday.
But after three consecutive second-placed finishes, it appears a matter of when, not if, Mikel Arteta’s men will finally be crowned champions.
Defeat dented Sunderland’s dream of European football on their first season back in the top flight.
Regis Le Bris’ side showed why they sit eighth with a dogged first-half showing that left the Arsenal crowd again bemoaning a lack of creativity from open play.
However, Zubimendi picked the lock of the Black Cats’ defence with a crisp strike from outside the box that clipped the inside of the post on its way in for the sixth goal of his impressive debut season in English football.
Gyokeres has attracted plenty of criticism for failing to replicate his free-scoring form at Sporting Lisbon in the Premier League.
But the Sweden international is the club’s top scorer and took his tally for the season to 13 in all competitions.
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Gyokeres made the points safe when his powerful drive from Kai Havertz’s pass had too much power for Robin Roefs 25 minutes from time.
He was then presented with an open goal by Gabriel Martinelli in stoppage time.
The shine was taken off Arsenal’s day late on when Leandro Trossard was forced off through injury.
Arteta needs as many players available as possible with Arsenal still competing in four competitions.
Arsenal face City in the League Cup final next month, host Wigan in the fourth round of the FA Cup and cruised into the Champions League last 16 with eight wins from eight games in the league phase.
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers takes his shirt off to give to a fan after the Premier League match at the Vitality Stadium. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Third-placed Aston Villa are also nine points adrift of the Gunners after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Villa took the lead as Morgan Rogers lashed into the top corner in the 22nd minute.
But Brazilian teenager Rayan equalised for Bournemouth with his first top-flight goal in the 55th minute.
Cole Palmer scored a first-half hat-trick as fifth-placed Chelsea won 3-1 at bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
Matt Doherty fouled Joao Pedro, and Palmer stepped up to send Jose Sa the wrong way with his 13th-minute penalty.
Palmer converted another spot-kick in the 35th minute after Yerson Mosquera’s needless shove on Joao Pedro.
The England forward completed his hat-trick three minutes later, drilling home from Marc Cucurella’s pass after more woeful Wolves defending.
Toluwalase Arokodare got one back for Wolves in the 54th minute, but Blues boss Liam Rosenior is just the second English manager to win his first four Premier League games after Craig Shakespeare at Leicester.
West Ham improved their hopes of avoiding relegation and pushed Burnley closer to the drop with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor.
The Hammers struck first through Crysencio Summerville in the 13th minute, and Valentin Castellanos bagged their second in the 26th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-bottom side are three points behind fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest, while second-bottom Burnley are 11 points from safety after 16 games without a win.
Everton won 2-1 at Fulham thanks to a farcical own goal from Cottagers keeper Bernd Leno.
Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko’s 18th-minute own goal was cancelled out by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 75th-minute equaliser.
In the 83rd minute, Leno punched an Everton corner into his own net under pressure from Everton’s Jake O’Brien.
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Gyokeres double helps Arsenal edge closer to Premier League title
Premier League 3pm results:
ARSENAL MOVED ever closer to a first Premier League title for 22 years as a 3-0 win over Sunderland took the Gunners nine points clear at the top of the table.
Martin Zubimendi’s long-range drive just before half-time settled the nerves of the home crowd at the Emirates Stadium before Viktor Gyokeres struck twice to quieten his critics.
Manchester City can reduce the gap at the top back to six points should they end a wait since 2003 to beat Liverpool at Anfield in front of a crowd on Sunday.
But after three consecutive second-placed finishes, it appears a matter of when, not if, Mikel Arteta’s men will finally be crowned champions.
Defeat dented Sunderland’s dream of European football on their first season back in the top flight.
Regis Le Bris’ side showed why they sit eighth with a dogged first-half showing that left the Arsenal crowd again bemoaning a lack of creativity from open play.
However, Zubimendi picked the lock of the Black Cats’ defence with a crisp strike from outside the box that clipped the inside of the post on its way in for the sixth goal of his impressive debut season in English football.
Gyokeres has attracted plenty of criticism for failing to replicate his free-scoring form at Sporting Lisbon in the Premier League.
But the Sweden international is the club’s top scorer and took his tally for the season to 13 in all competitions.
Gyokeres made the points safe when his powerful drive from Kai Havertz’s pass had too much power for Robin Roefs 25 minutes from time.
He was then presented with an open goal by Gabriel Martinelli in stoppage time.
The shine was taken off Arsenal’s day late on when Leandro Trossard was forced off through injury.
Arteta needs as many players available as possible with Arsenal still competing in four competitions.
Arsenal face City in the League Cup final next month, host Wigan in the fourth round of the FA Cup and cruised into the Champions League last 16 with eight wins from eight games in the league phase.
Third-placed Aston Villa are also nine points adrift of the Gunners after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.
Villa took the lead as Morgan Rogers lashed into the top corner in the 22nd minute.
But Brazilian teenager Rayan equalised for Bournemouth with his first top-flight goal in the 55th minute.
Cole Palmer scored a first-half hat-trick as fifth-placed Chelsea won 3-1 at bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
Matt Doherty fouled Joao Pedro, and Palmer stepped up to send Jose Sa the wrong way with his 13th-minute penalty.
Palmer converted another spot-kick in the 35th minute after Yerson Mosquera’s needless shove on Joao Pedro.
The England forward completed his hat-trick three minutes later, drilling home from Marc Cucurella’s pass after more woeful Wolves defending.
Toluwalase Arokodare got one back for Wolves in the 54th minute, but Blues boss Liam Rosenior is just the second English manager to win his first four Premier League games after Craig Shakespeare at Leicester.
West Ham improved their hopes of avoiding relegation and pushed Burnley closer to the drop with a 2-0 win at Turf Moor.
The Hammers struck first through Crysencio Summerville in the 13th minute, and Valentin Castellanos bagged their second in the 26th minute.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-bottom side are three points behind fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest, while second-bottom Burnley are 11 points from safety after 16 games without a win.
Everton won 2-1 at Fulham thanks to a farcical own goal from Cottagers keeper Bernd Leno.
Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko’s 18th-minute own goal was cancelled out by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 75th-minute equaliser.
In the 83rd minute, Leno punched an Everton corner into his own net under pressure from Everton’s Jake O’Brien.
– © AFP 2026
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