Leicester stun Man City as Arsenal go top

Arsenal shoved Chelsea off the top of the Premier League, if only for a day and by the slimmest of margins, while Leicester City’s early onslaught helped them thump Manchester City.

With Chelsea hosting West Bromwich Albion today, when third-placed Liverpool also host West Ham, the Gunners had a golden chance to take the lead on goal difference, but they had some nervous moments on the way.

A rash challenge by Granit Xhaka on Joe Allen gave Charlie Adam the chance to put Stoke ahead from the penalty spot, on the Scot’s 31st birthday, after 29 minutes and he dispatched it without fuss.

Goals either side of halftime by Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil, who netted with a rare header, put Arsenal back in front against a side that had never taken a point off them at the Emirates.

Substitute Alex Iwobi then ran through to give Arsenal the twogoal victory they needed to top the table on goals scored, with the London teams tied on 34 points and the same goal difference of 21. Arsenal have scored 36 goals to Chelsea’s 32.

Manchester City, on 30 points, could have moved ahead of Liverpool into third place with a win in the late game at King Power Stadium, but instead it was Jamie Vardy’s hat-trick which saw defending champions Leicester pull off a 4-2 triumph.

Vardy opened the scoring within three minutes, before an Andy King effort two minutes later had City reeling. By the time Vardy had his second after 21 minutes it was a case of damage limitation for City.

Vardy capitalised on a John Stones mistake to complete his hat-trick 12 minutes from time before consolation goals to City’s Aleksandar Kolarov and Nolito.

The win moved Leicester to 14th on 16 points, four points clear of the relegation scrap below them.

In that scrap are West Ham, who dropped into the bottom three without kicking a ball after Swansea City won 3-0 at home to Sunderland in a battle at the bottom.

The defeat ended Sunderland’s run of three wins in four games and sent them back to the basement on 11 points while Swansea clambered clear on 12 and ahead of the Hammers on goal difference.

Hull City, who drew 3-3 at home to Crystal Palace, are second from bottom. That match was Alan Pardew’s 300th as a Premier League manager and the Palace boss could crack a smile at the end with Fraizer Campbell grabbing an 89th-minute equaliser to ease the pressure on him.

Burnley scored twice in the space of three first-half minutes to beat Bournemouth 3-2, ending a run of three defeats in a row for the home side.

Watford beat Everton by the same scoreline.