ARSENAL restored their five-point gap at the top of the Premier League table over Manchester City with a comfortable 3-0 win against Fulham at Craven Cottage today.
Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard scored for the Gunners in a dominant first half as they continued their relentless march towards the title.
Brazil centre-back Gabriel handed Mikel Arteta’s side the opening goal in the 21st minute and his compatriot Martinelli headed home the second from close range five minutes later.
Odegaard skipped past two defenders in the Fulham box before netting the third goal in first-half added time as Arsenal eased to their fifth straight win in the league.
With the victory, Arsenal became the first team in English Football League history to win five away London derbies in a row without conceding a single goal.
In that sequence, they beat Crystal Palace 2-0, Brentford 3-0, Chelsea 1-0, Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 and Fulham 3-0 today.
While Arsenal put clear daylight between themselves and second-placed Manchester City, ambitious Fulham remain in eighth, passing up the opportunity to go level on points with fifth-placed Liverpool.
At Old Trafford also today, Manchester United played with 10 men for about an hour but still held Southampton to a 0-0 draw in an end-to-end contest that produced several chances.
Casemiro was sent off for the hosts in the 34th minute for dangerous play after a VAR review and Erik ten Hag’s side had to hang on at times against the desperate Saints.
Brazil midfielder Casemiro is the first player to receive two red cards in a single Premier League season for Manchester United since Nemanja Vidic in 2013-14, according to Opta statistics.
Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu was brought on for Southampton with five minutes of normal time left, while his Nigeria international teammate Joe Aribo was not in the matchday squad.
United are clinging on to third spot, two points ahead of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur having played one fewer game, while Southampton remain bottom but just two points from safety.
In the third Premier League fixture today, West Ham and Aston Villa drew 1-1 at the London City Stadium.
Ollie Watkins shot visitors Villa into the lead in the 17th minute but Algeria forward Said Benrahma brought West Ham level from the penalty spot nine minutes later.
