Premier League weekend: 10 things we learned as Arsenal and Tottenham prove title credentials

The Gunners left it late to defeat league leaders Leicester before Spurs then picked up a dramatic 2-1 win at the Etihad

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Arsenal and Tottenham proved their title credentials with dramatic wins on a frantic weekend of Premier League action.
The Gunners left it late to defeat league leaders Leicester as Danny Welbeck returned from a lengthy injury lay-off to head home a stoppage time winner.
Arsenal's north London rivals then delivered a stunning 2-1 win at Manchester City to climb back into second.
Elsewhere, Chelsea and Liverpool ran riot against Newcastle and Villa respectively while Manchester United lost at Sunderland.


Here is what we learned from the weekend's action.

1. Arsenal's title credentials

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Winner: Welbeck heads home

Arsenal faced a huge test of their title credentials and mettle and passed it at the Emirates.
A goal down at half-time and everything going against them, they could easily have accepted this was not going to be their day.
But they kept plugging away and were rewarded by Theo Walcott's equaliser and then Danny Welbeck's winner deep into injury time.
After 12 years without a title the questions will be asked until Arsenal finally end the drought but their second-half response suggests they do have what it takes to do it this year.

2. Hodgson should look at Rose

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Spurs: Rose was excellent at the Etihad

Hodgson must have been impressed by Rose's attacking display from left-back and his cross led to Tottenham's controversial penalty.
Rose isn't on Hodgson's radar, but deserves to be considered if he maintains this form.

3. Sturridge still has the moves

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Dancing king: Sturridge celebrates after scoring

It was over two months since Daniel Sturridge had scored previously after fresh injury problems.
But he took just 16 minutes to get off the mark against his old club, where he was in the academy as a youngster for four years, and it prompted the striker's signature dancing moves.

4. Chelsea stretched ahead of PSG clash

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Concern: Terry limps off against Newcastle

John Terry limped off eight minutes before the end of the first half, after clashing with Aleksandr Mitrovic.
It leaves Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic at centre-half. Not the worst pairing in the world but it gives Guus Hiddink little room to manoeuvre if either is injured or booked.
Or if anything happens to any of his full-backs.

5. Khazri gets Sunderland smiling

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Star man: Khazri celebrates his goal

The Tunisian international has been praised for his up-beat attitude since signing in January. He certainly cheered the Stadium of Light crowd when he scored a specialist set piece after three minutes.
Khazri denied trying to score from corners during his first couple of games, after coming close from sticking one in direct.
His goal this time was from 30 yards out, a curling free kick that Jermain Defoe tried to flick. He missed and the ball flew threw a crowd of players and inside David De Gea's left post.

6. Toffees' keeper woes continue

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Baggies: Rondon bundles Olsson's header over the line

Joel Robles has all the qualities to become a top Premier League goalkeeper, but despite the desperation of the Goodison support to see him in the team ahead of Tim Howard, here we saw why manager Roberto Martinez has been so reluctant to drop his experienced number one.
And that's the key word, experience.
The young Spaniard is athletic, but he is still learning about positioning and dominating his area...all aspects of the game that Howard now knows in his sleep.
The Everton fans have been a little unfair on a true Blue hero, and maybe they'll realise now they should be more generous towards the American.

7. Payet is worth £125,000 a week

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Back in it: Payet celebrates with Andy Carroll

After joining the Premier League's superstar pay ranks by signing a new, shiny, improved contract at Upton Park, the Hammers pied piper was not always quite at his best in the frantic, congested rush hour of Carrow Road.
Payet can still pick a pass, and pick the lock with a cocktail stick, when space is at a premium, but West Ham were often defending too deep for him to be a major influence further upfield.
Another goal and assist showed his huge quality.

8. Forster run shows no sign of ending

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Stopper: Forster has been in sensational form

It is easy to see why Forster and Southampton have put together this impressive run of clean sheets.
The Saints are compact and well-organised and they offered Swansea little in the final third.
The shut-out streak is now over the 500 minute mark and set to keep going a while longer on this evidence.

9. Imbula shows there's value in January

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Strike: Imbula scores the first goal for Stoke

Outstanding in a fine all-round Stoke display it might be worth dwelling a little longer on the 23-year-old, picked from Porto in January.
He has played for France Under-21s but wishes to represent Belgium, where he was born to Congolese parents.
They all need to get busy, it could be an international stampede.

10. Next week can't come quickly enough for Palace

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Bosses: Pardew meets Flores before the game

Yannick Bolasie will be back after two months out with a hip injury.
Palace have badly missed him, and struggled, especially in the first half against Watford, without their no.10.
Their usual threat from wide areas is much easier to contain when opponents only have Wilfried Zaha to worry about. Bolasie should be fit for next week's FA Cup tie against Tottenham.