EPL Roundup: Arsenal and Manchester City win, Manchester United held at Crystal Palace
Swansea 0-3 Arsenal
Neither side were able to open the scoring in the first half with the biggest highlight being Hector Bellerin making a quick sprint back to deny Bafetimbi Gomis from scoring after he beat Petr Cech in a one-on-one situation. At the other end, it was Joel Campbell who came close with a curling effort from outside the box which left Lukasz Fabianski rooted but the shot went wide of the post. It was one of Arsenal’s most disappointing halves of the season.
But the Gunners started the second half brightly with Olivier Giroud scoring in the 49th minute from a corner kick sent in by Mesut Ozil. It was the 2000th goal scored by an Arsenal player during Arsene Wenger's reign in the French striker's 150th game.
Arsenal were able to catch Swansea offside a number of times with Andre Ayew almost getting on the scoresheet if not for the linesman’s flag and a sliding Bellerin who blocked the shot and collided painfully with the post.
Laurent Koscielny then doubled Arsenal’s lead when Fabianski failed to collect a cross after colliding with the French defender in the box. Giroud had also leapt to get to the cross but the referee allowed play to go on after the Polish goalkeeper spilt it, allowing Koscielny to slot it into an empty net.
Arsenal then made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute when Mesut Ozil’s cross from the left flank was sent into the box and Joel Campbell arrived to slot it into the opposite corner. That was how the match ended as the Gunners claimed a famous victory against the Swans.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United
The Red Devils had the majority of the possession at Selhurst Park. Anthony Martial had a decent half creating chances and drawing fouls but in spite of the United fans pleading for their side to attack, it was Palace who had more shots on target in the first half. But both sides went into the break with no goals on the score sheet.
The second half started on a bad note for United as both Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling were booked within seven minutes. Louis van Gaal then brought on Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini for Darmian and Schweinsteiger but it was still Palace making more use of the ball. Attempts by Scott Dann, Dwight Gayle and Jason Puncheon were either saved or missed the target. Juan Mata was then replaced by Jesse Lingard in the 78th minute to give United more attacking impetus.
But in spite of having more possession, United only came away with a point, with only one shot on target against Alan Pardew’s side.
Manchester City 2-1 Norwich City
Manuel Pellegrini Kelechi Iheanacho his first Premier League start alongside Wilfried Bony as the table-toppers took on Norwich City. Although fans expected a goal fest with the Canaries having one of the worst defences in the league. But they managed to keep the Sky Blues at bay for the good part of an hour. But they finally broke through in the 67th minute when Kevin De Bruyne’s cross from a corner kick was powerfully headed in by Nicolas Otamendi near the penalty spot.
Joe Hart then made a mistake leading to the Norwich equaliser. The English goalkeeper failed to collect a cross from the right flank and dropped the ball right in front of Cameron Jerome who was literally on the goal line when he tapped it in. But City restored the lead in the 89th minute after Russell Martin was sent off for a handball in the box and Yaya Toure scored from the spot.
Aleksandar Kolarov had a chance to extend the lead in injury time when City got a penalty but the full-back shot wide. But the score stayed 2-1 to ensure City stayed at the top of the table.
Watford 2-0 West Ham
The home side took the lead when Odion Ighalo scored from a tap-in in the 39th minute after some good work from Nathan Ake on the left flank. The Nigerian striker scored again two minutes into the second half with a shot from the centre of the box that flew into the top left corner. The match ended 2-0 in Watford’s favour, giving them all three points.
West Brom 2-3 Leicester City
The first goal was scored in the 30th minute when Salomon Rondon got on the scoresheet with a header from a tight angle near the edge of the six-yard box. The Venezuelan was the first to a cross from the corner kick sent in by Stephane Sessegnon to give the Baggies the lead.
But Riyad Mahrez equalised in the 57th minute with a left-footed volley at the edge of the six-yard box after Marc Albrighton sent in a cross from the left flank. The Algerian midfielder then gave the Foxes the lead minutes later but it looked like he was offside.
Jamie Vardy then extended his goalscoring run by grabbing his 11th goal in the league – his eighth in a eight consecutive matches. But West Brom scored a second in the 84th minute with Rickie Lambert converting from the penalty spot after Nathan Dyer fouled Callum McManaman in the box.