Viktor Gyokeres struck twice on Saturday as Arsenal comfortably defeated Sunderland 3-0 to stretch their lead at the top of the English Premier League table to nine points.
The Gunners looked like they were going to be frustrated by a well organised Sunderland defence before Martin Zubimendi’s excellent strike beat Robin Roefs, after hitting the post.
Sunderland did cause problems, with Brian Brobbey unsettling the Arsenal backline with his physicality and the forward had a shot cleared off the line by Kai Havertz after keeper David Raya fumbled a long ball into the area.
Declan Rice and Havertz went close with curling strikes before substitute Viktor Gyokeres slammed the ball into the net after being teed up by Havertz in the 66th minute.
The Swedish international scored his second in stoppage time after Gabriel Martinelli rolled the ball across the box and Gyokeres finished into an empty net.
After Aston Villa’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth and Manchester City not in action until Sunday, the victory adds more pressure on Arsenal’s title rivals.
Also on Saturday, Cole Palmer scored a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea won 3-1 at bottom-of-the-table Wolves to continue their good run of form under Liam Rosenior.
The forward had four Premier League goals this season before the match but almost equalled that tally in just one game as he produced an impressive display.
His first two came from the penalty spot, first converting coolly into the bottom corner after Joao Pedro had been fouled, then sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for his second, again coming after Pedro had been fouled.
Palmer then drove in from Marc Cucurella’s pass to wrap up the hat-trick in the 38th minute, with the Wolves defence having fallen apart.
Those three goals also ensured his name entered the history books as he became the first player in the Premier League to score three first-half hat-tricks.
Wolves were better at the start of the second half with Mateus Mane hitting the woodwork before Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare turned in from close range following a corner.
But despite an improved display from the hosts, Chelsea were able to keep them at bay for the remainder of the match.
The win – Chelsea’s fourth in a row under Rosenior – keeps them firmly in the top-four picture.
They remain fifth in the table, one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
At Craven Cottage, Super Eagles stars Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi started for Fulham, who lost 2-1 to Everton after taking a first-half lead.
EPL RESULTS:
Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland
Bournemouth 1-1 Aston Villa
Burnley 0-2 West Ham
Fulham 1-2 Everton
Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
