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Manchesterwkunitedkkingdomkx Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 to dispel doubts over their Premier League title credentials and go top of the table on Sunday as Manchester United were blown away 3-1 by an inspired Aston Villa on Unai Emery’s bow as boss.
United are now three points off the top four after Newcastle continued their fine form with a 4-1 win at Southampton to go third.
Gabriel Magalhaes bundled in Bukayo Saka’s corner for the only goal at Stamford Bridge, but the slender margin of victory was the very least Arsenal deserved.
Chelsea offered barely anything going forward as they slipped to back-to-back Premier League defeats for the first time in two years.
“For such a young team, the maturity, the composure they showed, the resilience and courage to play how we wanted to play was phenomenal to do it against these kind of players,” said a proud Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
“Winning in this stadium is an extra thing, another step for this team to keep believing they can do it under pressure and against big opponents.”
Victory takes Arsenal back two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.
Crucially for Arteta’s men after six seasons outside the Champions League, their lead over fifth-place now stands at 11 points.
Chelsea remain in seventh, behind Brighton, who Graham Potter left in September to take
charge of the Blues.
Emery’s dream start
United were unbeaten in nine games as the Red Devils appeared to be taking shape under Erik ten Hag. But despite the lavish amounts spent to assemble the United squad, a lack of strength in depth was exposed with Antony, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane missing due to injury and Bruno Fernandes suspended.
Emery could not have asked for a better start to his time in charge of Villa as Leon Bailey smashed across David de Gea and Lucas Digne’s free-kick found the top corner inside 11 minutes.
Luke Shaw’s strike that deflected off Jacob Ramsey into his own net gave the visitors hope just before half-time.
Villa, though, quickly restored their two-goal lead when Ramsey side-footed into the top corner on 49 minutes.
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