Arsenal got their Premier League title challenge back on track with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday as Chelsea moved up to third by beating Leicester 2-1.
Manchester City, on the other hand, suffered a 0-4 home loss to Tottenham Hotspurs, adding to their previous four-game losing streak.
Arsenal were expected to be contenders to take City’s crown after finishing second in each of the past two seasons.
The Gunners had failed to win in their previous four league games to start the weekend nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who travel to bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Sunday.
Martin Odegaard’s return from injury is a major boost to Arsenal’s hopes of a first title in over 20 years and his pass teed up Bukayo Saka to blast home the opener on 15 minutes.
Saka turned provider for another special strike, this time by Thomas Partey, to double the home side’s advantage early in the second period.
Ethan Nwaneri then came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal as the highly-rated 17-year-old slotted in Raheem Sterling’s cross.
Chelsea remain ahead of Arsenal on goals scored despite failing to make their dominance show in manager Enzo Maresca’s return to Leicester.
Nicolas Jackson prodded the visitors into a first-half lead with his seventh goal of the season. Cole Palmer’s goalbound effort was deflected behind by his team-mate Noni Madueke as Chelsea wasted a series of chances for the second goal.
It eventually arrived 15 minutes from time when Enzo Fernandez headed in after Jackson’s header was saved.
Leicester pulled a goal back in stoppage time through Jordan Ayew’s penalty but defeat leaves the Foxes just two points above the relegation zone.
