Arsenal stretched their Premier League lead to four points as Eberechi Eze’s goal beat his former club Crystal Palace 1-0, while Manchester City lost 1-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday.
Bournemouth are now the Gunners’ closest challengers in second after they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.
After Liverpool’s latest defeat to Brentford on Saturday, Arsenal enjoyed the perfect weekend as both their title rivals fell further behind as they go from strength to strength.
Eze left the Eagles to join Arsenal in a £60-million deal in August and his first Premier League goal was decisive as Mikel Arteta’s men were again able to lean on their set-piece prowess and a solid defence.
The England international blasted in on the volley after Palace failed to clear Declan Rice’s free-kick six minutes before halftime.
Arsenal again failed to hit top gear going forward, but didn’t need to as they kept a 10th clean sheet in 13 games in all competitions this season.
The only concern for Arteta was the sight of Rice and William Saliba having to be replaced in the second half due to injury.
Arsenal now lead fourth-placed City by six points and have a seven-point cushion over Liverpool in sixth.
City appeared to be emerging as Arsenal’s biggest obstacle in the title race after a nine-game unbeaten run.
But Pep Guardiola’s men lost at Villa Park for the third consecutive season as Erling Haaland’s 12-game scoring streak came to an end.
Matty Cash’s stunning strike from outside the box on 19 minutes secured a fourth consecutive league win for Villa as Unai Emery’s men climb to seventh.