Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah grabbed early goals in each half for Arsenal as they won 4-2 away to Brighton & Hove Albion in the final Premier League game of 2022 to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Arsenal players celebrate Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Arsenal top the standings on 43 points with second-placed Manchester City, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Everton earlier in the day, on 36 and Newcastle United, who drew 0-0 with Leeds, two points further back in third.
Saka scored after two minutes and Martin Odegaard added another before the break, before an Eddie Nketiah strike just after halftime looked to have wrapped up all three points for the Gunners.
However, a Kaoru Mitoma goal in the 65th minute threw Brighton a lifeline and though Gabriel Martinelli netted a fourth for Arsenal, Evan Ferguson made it 4-2 to set up a grandstand finish.
Mitoma thought he had made it 4-3 in the 89th minute but the goal was chalked off after a VAR review found that he had come from an offside position, as the Gunners held on to close out the year with a win.
Meanwhile Erling Haaland made a positive start for Manchester City when he latched on to Riyad Mahrez's pass to tap home his 21st league goal of the season.
After a number of stoppages early in the second half, with one taking over six minutes as the assistant referee's communications headset was repaired, Demarai Gray levelled for the visitors.
The result left second-placed City four points behind Arsenal having played a game more, while Everton are 16th with 15 points.
Newcastle United were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Leeds United.
Looking for their seventh successive league win against Leeds, Newcastle struggled to create clear openings in the first half, New Zealand striker Chris Wood going closest for the hosts.
Wood was again presented with a golden chance early in the second half, but was thwarted by a fine save from Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
Newcastle stay third, two points behind City and two ahead of Manchester United.
In-form Marcus Rashford stepped off the bench to earn Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Ten Hag left the club's top goalscorer on the bench from the start due to an "internal disciplinary issue". Rashford was late for a team meeting.
Rashford came on for the second half to give United more cutting edge in attack, showing great strength and composure to hold off his marker and fire the winner 14 minutes from time.
Wolves are 19th.
Elsewhere Fulham are up to ninth after beating Southampton 2-1 and Crystal Palace beat Bournemouth 2-0.
Arsenal play Brighton later today.
-Reuters
