ARSENAL 2 CHARLTON 1Two goals in the first five minutes saw Arsenal extend their unbeaten run to 27 games and move a massive nine points clear at the top of the Premiership.
Robert Pires hammered the hosts ahead (2) before Thierry Henry finished with aplomb from Patrick Vieira's cross (4).
An over-worked Dean Kiely stopped the rampant Gunners moving out of sight before Claus Jensen's pinpoint free-kick ensured a nervous final half-hour.
MANCHESTER CITY 0 CHELSEA 1
Eidur Gudjohnsen's goal eight minutes from time earned Chelsea an unlikely victory and put the Blues ahead of Manchester United on goal difference.
City dominated the Londoners throughout the game, with Robbie Fowler in particular missing a host of chances.
Chelsea's Hernan Crespo had a first-half header saved but Gudjohnsen broke the deadlock, beating the offside trap and lobbing over David James.
FULHAM 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 1
Luis Boa Morte's equaliser for the Cottagers increased Arsenal's lead over Manchester United to nine points.
Former Fulham favourite Louis Saha gave the visitors a deserved lead with a fine finish from 14 yards after being put through by Cristiano Ronaldo (14).
Sylvain Legwinski clipped the United crossbar with a header after 29 minutes before Boa Morte levelled, turning Wes Brown and firing home (64).
EVERTON 2 ASTON VILLA 0
Everton eased their relegation fears and ended a nine-game winless run with a hard-earned victory over Aston Villa.
The visitors had the better of the early stages and Darius Vassell was twice denied by Nigel Martyn either side of half-time.
But sub Tomasz Radzinski broke the deadlock with a header from a Wayne Rooney cross (78) and Thomas Gravesen sealed the win six minutes later.
