Arsenal's 5-1 rout of Manchester City stretched their lead at the top of the Barclaycard Premiership to five points today.
Arsenal's 5-1 rout of Manchester City stretched their lead at the top of the Barclaycard Premiership to five points today.
The Gunners were four up inside the first 20 minutes at Maine Road, where the goals came from Dennis Bergkamp (four), Robert Pires (12), Thierry Henry (15) and Sol Campbell (19).
Patrick Vieira (53) completed the trouncing after the break - although there was a consolation effort for Nicolas Anelka three minutes from time.
With second-placed Manchester United claiming only a point earlier on at Bolton, Arsene Wenger's Londoners appeared to have taken another significant stride towards the title.
Third-placed Newcastle did all they could to stay in the championship picture by beating Leeds 3-0 at Elland Road. Keiron Dyer (17 and 48) got the first two goals, and old favourite Alan Shearer added the third in the 54th minute.
Everton forward Tomasz Radzinski was the star of today's early kick-offs, scoring twice in the last 10 minutes of his team's 2-1 win at home to Southampton - while a goal from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer earned United their 1-1 draw at Bolton to keep the Red Devils still within striking distance of Arsenal.
The Toffees stuck to their task after trailing to James Beattie's 18th goal of the season in the 34th minute at Goodison Park.
Their reward came first via an 83rd-minute header from Canadian Radzinski, who saved the best till last when he nicked the points with an outstanding strike three minutes into injury-time.
At the Reebok Stadium Solskjaer left it until the 89th minute to earn the draw for United, after Bruno N'Gotty had put relegation candidates Wanderers in front with a header on the hour.
Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland's chances of avoiding the drop are dwindling by the week - and a 3-1 defeat at home to Middlesbrough had the look of a hammer blow.
The architect of the Black Cats' misery was former Derby forward Chris Riggott, who scored his first two goals for his new club in the 21st and 28th minutes.
Kevin Phillips (56) hinted at a home revival which was almost instantly snuffed out by another Derby signing Malcolm Christie, who scored just before the hour.
Jason Euell (51) and Jonathan Johansson (87, 90) gave in-form Charlton another Premiership win, against Aston Villa at The Valley.
There were three goals in the last five minutes at Stamford Bridge, where visitors Blackburn won 2-1 thanks to goals from Dwight Yorke four minutes from time and then David Dunn in the 90th minute.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink still had time to get one back - but it made little difference for fourth-placed Chelsea.