Arsenal top of table after win at Chelsea; Villa fell United

London, Nov 6 (EFE).- Arsenal confirmed their status as title contenders with an impressive 1-0 victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday that saw them return to the top of the table.

The visitors dominated a scrappy, tetchy affair, especially in the second half, and took a deserved lead just after the hour mark when Bukayo Saka’s corner somehow bounced past three Chelsea players at the near post for Gabriel Magalhaes to tap in.

Chelsea, who were thumped 4-1 by Brighton last time out, will be disappointed by another poor performance in which they lacked a cutting edge and failed to threaten the Arsenal goal.

The win sees Arsenal leapfrog Manchester City into first place, while Chelsea are in seventh.

In Sunday’s second match, the Unai Emery era at Aston Villa began with an impressive 3-1 win at home to Manchester United, the first time the Birmingham side have beaten United at home since 1995.

Villa dominated the opening exchanges and raced into a 2-0 lead through goals from Leon Bailey and a brilliant free-kick by Lucas Digne, as United were unable to match the hosts’ intensity in front of a boisterous crowd.

United halved the deficit just before half-time when Luke Shaw’s effort from outside the box deflected off a Villa defender to loop past Emiliano Martinez.

But the Villains were back in front within minutes of the restart as Jacob Ramsey struck a rising shot after excellent work from Oli Watkins.

United, led by Cristiano Ronaldo who was named captain in the absence of Bruno Fernandes, failed to mount any sustained pressure to really trouble Villa, who cruised to the win that moves them up to 13th.

Erik Ten Hag’s men, meanwhile, lost for the first time in 10 games, and stay in fifth place in the table. EFE

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