Arsenal and centurions City fire on all cylinders

Arsenal FC remain at the Premier League summit after a 2-0 victory over struggling Fulham FC, with Manchester City FC still one point shy of the Gunners following their 4-2 home win against Cardiff City FC.

The visit of relegation-threatened Fulham proved trickier than the Arsenal fans expected, but after a goalless first half, Santi Cazorla produced two smart finishes either side of the hour mark to hand his team a fifth consecutive success.

Manuel Pellegrini's City, meanwhile, extended their own winning streak to seven matches at home against Cardiff and chalked up a century of goals in all competitions this season. Edin Džeko's opener was surprisingly cancelled out when Craig Noone cut inside and finished well, but it proved a false dawn. Jesús Navas pounced on a loose ball to restore the lead before half-time, and second-half goals from a marauding Yaya Touré and substitute Sergio Agüero made moot Frazer Campbell's last-minute effort.

In the pick of results elsewhere, Liverpool FC were held at home by Aston Villa FC and there was joy for managers facing their former clubs. Tony Pulis' Crystal Palace FC moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win against Stoke City FC, while Alan Pardew's Newcastle United FC came away from Upton Park with all three points as Yohan Cabaye's superb double helped the Magpies beat West Ham United FC 3-1.