Premier League review:Champions Manchester City climbed to second in the Premier League table after a Carlos Tevez thunderbolt in the second half gave them a 1-0 win over Swansea City. Unbeaten City moved to 21 points from nine games, a point behind leaders Chelsea who play Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
United slipped to third on 18 points but both Chelsea and United have a match in hand on City.
Tevez struck with a venomous angled shot from 25 metres which nestled in the corner of Swansea keeper Michel Vorm's net.
Vorm injured himself while diving for the ball and after a lengthy stoppage for treatment he was replaced by German Gerhard Tremmel. More than 12 minutes of stoppage time were played at the Etihad Stadium as City defender Micah Richards also needed lengthy treatment before being taken off on a stretcher.
Arsenalrose from ninth to fourth after their 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, Mikel Arteta's 84th minute goal securing the points for Arsene Wenger's men.
Arsenal have 15 points from their nine games but could end the weekend in sixth place if Everton beat Liverpool in Sunday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and Tottenham Hotspur win their match on Sunday at Southampton.
Bottom side Rangers shot themselves in the foot when Stephane Mbia was sent off in the 80th minute for inexplicably kicking out at Thomas Vermaelen when the QPR man lay on the floor.
And Arsene Wenger’s side eventually made them pay, despite being frustrated for most of the game by a succession of missed chances and some fantastic saves from Julio Cesar.
QPR could have equalised in a thrilling finish only for Esteban Granero and Jamie Mackie to see openings go begging.
Jack Wilshere returned to the Gunners’ starting line-up following more than a year out and he was the brightest spark before being withdrawn midway through the second half.
Winless Readingthrew away a 1-0 lead and then came from behind twice in the final six minutes to snatch a 3-3 draw at home to Fulham.
Mikele Leigertwood rifled into the top corner from just outside the area in the 26th minute to give the Royals the lead, but Bryan Ruiz levelled with an equally well-struck shot just after the half-hour mark and Chris Baird’s 77th-minute header completed the turnaround.
Garath McCleary made it 2-2 in the 85th minute, only for Dimitar Berbatov to appear to win it for the Cottagers three minutes later. But there was more drama to come as substitute Hal Robson-Kanu struck the equaliser in the final minute.
Aston Villaboss Paul Lambert failed to get one over on his old side as Norwichwere more than worth a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Lambert, who left the Canaries in the summer, saw his new side go ahead in the 27th minute when Christian Benteke took advantage of poor defending to finish well. But the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Joe Bennett received a second booking.
Norwich got an equaliser their domination deserved thanks to Michael Turner’s 79th-minute glancing header from Wes Hoolahan's cross and they would have gone on to win it had they not wasted a clutch of chances.
Hoolahan had been guilty of two of those but his performance was inspirational for the Canaries and saw him named man-of-the-match.
“He is a wonderful player," said Norwich manager Chris Hughton of Hoolahan. "He is no different to what I thought before I came here. I always thought he was a superb player. With Wes, it’s about getting him into the team, which way you are going to play, are you going to play two out and out strikers.
“Whether Wes is in the team or not, it will not change my opinion of what a good player he is.”
Wiganpicked up their first win in seven league matches with a 2-0 success at home to West Ham, who missed the chance to move into a European spot.
Ivan Ramis volleyed powerfully home in the eighth minute and James McArthur’s well-controlled finish two minutes after the break doubled the lead.
James Tomkins headed a stoppage-time consolation, but the Latics were already home and dry.
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni was at the Brittania Stadium to see Stoke Cityhost Sunderland, but the Italian was treated to a dour goalless draw in which the visitors failed to hit the target even once.
