Arsenal handed boost as City and Villa drop points
Arsenal's Premier League title prospects were enhanced without the Gunners even playing on Thursday (AEDT) as closest challengers Manchester City and Aston Villa both dropped points in their respective matches.
Erling Haaland scored his 150th goal for City as he put it in front against Brighton and Hove Albion from the penalty spot but Kaoru Mitoma equalised for the visitors on the hour with the game finishing 1-1.
It was the second game in succession in which City was held after a 0-0 stalemate with Sunderland at the weekend.
Haaland should have won it for City late on but fired a shot straight at Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen.
Second-placed City remains five points behind Arsenal, which can stretch the lead to eight if it beats Liverpool on Friday (AEDT).
Third-placed Villa is also five behind after it could only draw 0-0 in a dour contest at Crystal Palace, Ollie Watkins going closest for Villa with a late effort against the woodwork.
Chelsea's new manager Liam Rosenior watched on in the stands at Craven Cottage as his new club went down 2-1 at Fulham after having Marc Cucurella sent off midway through the first half.
Raul Jimenez gave Fulham the lead and although Liam Delap equalised for the visitors, Harry Wilson sealed the points for Fulham, which moved into eighth place.
Brentford moved above Chelsea into fifth spot as Brazilian striker Igor Thiago scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Sunderland while bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers' recent upturn continued with a 1-1 draw at Everton.
Everton ended the game with nine men after Michael Keane, who scored its goal, and Jack Grealish were both sent off late on, Keane for an apparent hair pull.
Antoine Semenyo gave Bournemouth fans a final gift before his expected move to Manchester City, scoring in stoppage-time to give his side a 3-2 victory at home against Tottenham Hotspur, his side's first win in 12 league games.
Semenyo illustrated just why City is prepared to pay £65 million ($130.2 million) for his services with a curling shot past Guglielmo Vicario sparking wild celebrations.
