Surprise package Southampton was brought back down to earth by Arsenal as the Gunners provisionally extended their Premier League lead to four points with a 2-0 win over the Saints and Liverpool was held to a 3-3 draw at Everton in a pulsating Merseyside derby on Saturday.
Arsene Wenger’s team bounced back from defeat against defending champion Manchester United with a dominant display, capped by two goals from Olivier Giroud — the first after Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc bizarrely lost the ball to the France striker in the box.
At Goodison Park, substitute Daniel Sturridge salvaged a deserved draw for the Reds and last-place Crystal Palace reacted to the hiring of Tony Pulis as manager by beating Hull 1-0 to climb off the bottom.
Also, Fulham lost 2-1 at home against Swansea and dropped into the bottom three, Newcastle beat Norwich 2-1 and Stoke won 2-0 against Sunderland, which replaced Crystal Palace at the foot of the standings.
