Ten-man Arsenal go top of the table

Arsenal FC moved a point clear at top of the Premier League, for 24 hours at least, by defeating West Ham United FC 2-0 despite the first-half dismissal of Thomas Vermaelen.

Denilson's shot, after exchanging passes with Nicklas Bendtner on the edge of the area, gave the Gunners a fifth-minute lead. With seconds of the opening period remaining, Vermaelen was sent off for pulling down Guillermo Franco but Alessandro Diamanti's ensuing penalty was brilliantly saved by Manuel Almunia. The hosts were not so profligate with their own spot-kick seven minutes from time, when Cesc Fàbregas put the seal on a sixth successive win.

Manchester United FC need a point against Liverpool FC on Sunday to return to the summit, while a Chelsea FC triumph at Blackburn Rovers FC could drop the Gunners back into third. Fulham FC host Manchester City FC in Sunday's other fixture.

Eidur Gudjohnsen's first league goal since November 2008 set Tottenham Hotspur FC on their way to a 2-1 success at ten-man Stoke City FC which consolidates fourth place. Niko Kranjčar (77) struck the winner after the hosts had equalised through Matthew Etherington's penalty. Stoke had midfielder Dean Whitehead (48) dismissed.

Five points behind Tottenham in seventh, Aston Villa FC required an 82nd-minute strike from John Carew – his second of the match – to draw 2-2 with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Elsewhere, Everton beat Bolton Wanderers FC − who had Grétar Steinsson sent off with the score goalless − 2-0, while two early strikes from Darren Bent – his 19th and 20th in the league this term – helped Sunderland AFC to a 3-1 win against Birmingham City FC.

At the bottom, Hugo Rodallega's added-time header condemned Burnley FC to a 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic FC. Burnley are level with second-bottom Hull City AFC, whose first match under new manager Iain Dowie ended in a 3-2 loss at Portsmouth FC.