Between defeat at Chelsea in their first away game under Emery and mid-December, Arsenal took 14 of a possible 18 points on the road, but face trips to Brighton and Liverpool having been haunted by the ghost of seasons past against Southampton at St Mary’s.

Scott Hogan has seen enough clean slates to roof a housing estate but the Aston Villa striker is hopeful of a few more as he looks to kickstart a career that has been starved of momentum at club level and with the Republic of Ireland.

West Ham still without a win.

Brighton 1 Manchester United 0: If ever there was ever any confusion as to why Manchester United have not been able to challenge their noisy neighbours for the title this season it was cleared up and summed up in a tepid defeat against Chris Hughton’s excellent Brighton & Hove Albion.

Arsene Wenger complained that Arsenal's busy fixture schedule was causing their slump as criticism of the Frenchman intensified.

When Arsenal lost 3-0 at home to the best team in England, four days after losing in the Carabao Cup final, there were some onlookers who described it as rock bottom. Now that statement is looking both over-ambitious and lacking in foresight.

You wait 130 years for video technology in football and then,with pundits poised and the world watching, nobody could decide if it had been used or not!

Burnley defender James Tarkowski has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association over an incident involving Glenn Murray in Saturday’s draw at Brighton.

Antonio Conte says time is running out in the title pursuit, even if Manchester City slip up, and said the clear leaders had been lucky with late goals.

There was a time when owning three high-priced forwards seemed like the only the way to go in Fantasy Premier League.

Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace picked up their first away point of the season with a goalless draw at bitter rivals Brighton.

If you were merely bored during the international break, you were one of the lucky ones.

Glenn Murray's third goal in two games earned Brighton a point from their south-coast showdown with Southampton.

Slaven Bilic suffered surely the worst defeat of his spell as West Ham boss as they were thrashed at home to Brighton.

It was a list that should have embarrassed Stoke City’s manager: West Ham, Stevenage, Sunderland, Hull, Swansea, Watford, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, and Southampton.

Brighton reclaimed their place at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 3-1 win over Birmingham.

Championship

Newcastle came from behind to stun Brighton with two late goals to reclaim top spot in the Championship.

Brighton stormed back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table with a 4-1 victory over struggling Burton.

And we still have Southampton v Arsenal to come….

Newcastle made it six straight wins in the Sky Bet Championship with a narrow 2-1 victory at Preston which maintained their cushion at the top of the table.

Bournemouth 2 Man Utd 1: Michael Carrick held his tongue but it was impossible for the midfielder to disguise his frustration after Manchester United’s bad week turned a lot worse.

For a manager again in danger of losing his job if he loses his next game, Jose Mourinho didn’t give away any signs of pressure in his demeanour ahead of Chelsea’s decisive Champions League match with FC Porto.

Jose Mourinho accepted responsibility for Chelsea’s miserable title defence and appeared to write off the prospect of a top-four finish following the Barclays Premier League loss to Bournemouth.

Chelsea were plunged into crisis once more as Bournemouth claimed the biggest scalp of their Barclays Premier League campaign with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

Crystal Palace 2 Aston Villa 1: Bakary Sako gave Palace fans hope Alan Pardew’s side can flourish without Yannick Bolasie with a dramatic late winner against disappointing Villa.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Departing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s final appearance at Anfield ended in disappointment as his side could not give him the send-off the occasion demanded.

Crystal Palace 1 Man United 2: Ashley Young’s popular – or more correctly unpopular – image is that of a player who dives to ground rather than rising to a challenge, but there is no denying the determination of a man who has transformed his own and Manchester United’s fortunes over the past year.

Manchester United’s victory at Crystal Palace may have been unconvincing, but Louis van Gaal’s men will not mind after edging closer to a Champions League return.

Manager Louis van Gaal brought in Phil Jones and Luke Shaw as Manchester United looked to halt their losing streak in the late Barclays Premier League kick-off at Crystal Palace.

Christian Benteke scored his eighth goal in six games to hand Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood a winning return to Tottenham.

Manuel Pellegrini’s job is not under any immediate threat, despite Manchester City’s faltering form.

Manuel Pellegrini insists he is not concerned about speculation surrounding his future as Manchester City boss.

Crystal Palace 2 Man City 1: Manchester City’s title defence is all but over after a defeat that leaves Manuel Pellegrini’s side languishing in fourth place, nine points adrift of the leaders Chelsea.

QPR's Premier League status is looking more precarious than ever after Crystal Palace ran amok in the first half at Selhurst Park today.

West Ham 1, Crystal Palace 3:

Alan Pardew returned to Upton Park and saw his Crystal Palace side put West Ham to the sword to increase the pressure on Sam Allardyce.

Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2: Add some silky skills to a solid base of willpower and resolute resilience before topping with a dollop of good luck, and you have yourself the makings of a successful football team.

Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2

Crystal Palace 2 Tottenham 1: Alan Pardew could have no complaints about a homecoming that went exactly to plan.