Arsenal open seven-point lead

AP:

Arsenal and Liverpool rediscovered that winning feeling in the Premier League yesterday.

Arsenal powered seven points clear at the top of the standings after beating Leeds 4-0. Mikel Arteta’s team ended a three-game winless run in style at Elland Road and strengthened their title charge.

Defending champions Liverpool finally secured their first league win of 2026 getting by Newcastle 4-1. Hugo Ekitike scored two and Florian Wirtz was on target again as two of Liverpool’s big summer signings delivered at Anfield. Ibrahima Konate, playing his first game since the recent death of his father, sealed the win.

Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus were all on target for Arsenal and Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow added an own goal.

“We really wanted to show how much we wanted it,” Arteta said.

Manchester City and Aston Villa can trim Arsenal’s lead back to four points today.

Chelsea came back from two goals down at home to beat West Ham 3-2 and climb to fourth, with Enzo Fernandez hitting the winner in the second minute of added time.

Everton left it even later to draw at Brighton 1-1, Beto scoring in the 97th.

Last-placed Wolverhampton lost for the 18th time this season, 2-0 at home to Bournemouth.

Having beaten Leeds 5-0 in August, Arsenal enjoyed another romp against Daniel Farke’s team.

Six points and nine goals could go a long way to helping Arsenal’s title bid, which was wobbling in recent weeks.

“It’s very difficult to (win 4-0 at Leeds), let’s see who is the next team that does it, but we did it in a moment when we needed it,” Arteta said.

Against an in-form Leeds that had lost just one of their last 11 in all competitions, the trip to Elland Road was a potential banana skin for the league leaders. Especially when forward Bukayo Saka was injured in the warmup and had to be withdrawn shortly before kickoff.

But in his absence, Arsenal totally dominated with Zubimendi heading the visitor in front after 27 minutes and Darlow punching Noni Madueke’s corner into his own net before halftime.

Gyokeres scored for the fourth time in six games in the second half and substitute Gabriel Jesus spun and fired low into the bottom corner late on.

Konate was in tears on the field after scoring in added time.

The France defender was overcome with emotion on his return to action after the death of his father. The Anfield crowd roared as he wheeled away in celebration and the entire Liverpool team, including goalkeeper Alisson, ran to congratulate him.

“I don’t have words to describe what I feel right now because it was a very difficult moment for me and my family the last two weeks,” Konate told TNT Sports.

It was the centre back’s first game since January 17, but with Liverpool short on defensive options due to injuries he said he had to make himself available even though coach Arne Slot told him not to rush back.

“It was important for me to come back and to help the team,” Konate said.

Newcastle led through Anthony Gordon, but Ekitike scored twice in two minutes to give Liverpool a halftime lead. The France striker has 15 goals in his debut season in the Premier League.

Wirtz scored his sixth goal in 10 games after the break before Konate’s late strike.

Yesterday’s Results

Leeds 0-4 Arsenal

Wolves 0-2 Bournemouth

Brighton 1-1 Everton

Chelsea 3-2 West Ham

Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle