Premier League: Arsenal top for Christmas after narrow win, Haaland keeps pressure on

London, Dec 21 (IANS) Arsenal will be top of the Premier League at Christmas thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Everton on Saturday.

Viktor Gyokeres thumping 27th-minute penalty, awarded after a handball by Jake OBrien, separated the two sides and ensured Arsenal stayed ahead after Manchester City had put Mikel Arteta team under intense pressure earlier in the day, reports Xinhua.

Erling Haaland was on target twice as Manchester City breezed past West Ham United 3-0. The Norwegian opened the scoring in the fifth minute, set up Tijjani Reijnders to double the lead before halftime, and then netted his second in the 69th minute.

Newcastle United will be frustrated to have taken only a point at home to Chelsea after Nick Woltemade gave them a 2-0 lead after just 20 minutes. The big striker smashed home a rebound after four minutes and then got a touch on Anthony Gordon ball in the six-yard box as Newcastle took control.

Chelsea had to improve after the break and did so, with Reece James scoring a free kick before Joao Pedro leveled after knocking on a long ball from the back and then racing through to score.

Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike both scored as Liverpool won 2-1 away to Tottenham, who was reduced to 10 men after a 33rd-minute red card for Xavi Simons.

Richarlison pulled a goal back for Spurs in the 83rd minute, but the hosts finished with nine men after Cristian Romero was sent off in injury time.

The bad news for Liverpool was an injury to Isak, which will probably rule him out over Christmas, with Mohamed Salah already away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Sunderland survived the loss of five players to the Africa Cup of Nations with a 0-0 draw away to Brighton, while Bournemouth was held to a 1-1 home draw against Burnley, who ended a seven-game losing streak thanks to Armando Broja 90th-minute header.

Leeds United crushed Crystal Palace 4-1 to climb away from the bottom three with two goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, along with strikes from Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach.

Bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered another defeat, going down 2-0 at home to Brentford, with two goals from Keane Lewis-Potter after 63 and 83 minutes improving his side previously poor away record.

--IANS

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