Champions Chelsea moved another step closer to retaining their Barclays Premiership title with a gritty 2-1 win at West Brom.
Didier Drogba put Jose Mourinho's side in front at The Hawthorns, and Joe Cole
doubled the lead before Kanu's late consolation made for a nervy final few
minutes.
However, Mourinho's afternoon was spoiled by Arjen Robben's red card for a
careless lunge on an ill-tempered afternoon in the Black Country.
Arsenal produced a thrilling performance at Craven Cottage to beat Fulham 4-0
and move up to fifth thanks to goals by captain Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor
and substitute Cesc Fabregas.
In the 31st minute, Abou Diaby fed Henry who beat Tony Warner coolly to open
the scoring.
Minutes later it was 2-0 thanks to Adebayor, whose clever run was found by
Freddie Ljungberg's pass - and the Togo international converted.
The Gunners were always in control, and Henry added a deserved third in the
77th minute after being played in by Ljungberg before Fabregas' simple
86th-minute strike.
James Beattie was Everton's hero as the Toffees came from behind twice to draw
2-2 at West Ham.
Slick interplay by the hosts brought the first goal 10 minutes in. One-touch
passing between Yossi Benayoun and Dean Ashton allowed Marlon Harewood to turn
and fire a low shot beyond Sander Westerveld.
Leon Osman equalised, but West Ham regained control immediately as Dean Ashton
drove forward before dispatching a shot past Westerveld.
However, Beattie pulled Everton level for the second time 19 minutes from time
to peg the Hammers back.
Mark Viduka gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 lead over relegation battlers Birmingham
after a dour first half at the Riverside.
Emile Heskey wasted the best chance of the early stages when he could only
direct Mario Melchiot's cross wide with his head - and Viduka proved more
clinical as he dribbled into the penalty area in the 45th minute before slotting
past the sprawling Maik Taylor.
Newcastle earned their fourth Premiership win in five matches with a 3-1
victory at home to Bolton.
Nolberto Solano's free-kick left Jussi Jaaskelainen with no chance after 34
minutes to give the home side the lead. Alan Shearer headed home Charles
N'Zogbia's cross as half-time approached to double the lead, and Shola Ameobi
seemed to wrap up the win with a simple goal when Bolton failed to clear their
lines.
Kevin Davies managed to pull one back in the 71st minute, sliding in on the
line after Radhi Jaidi's back-post header. But the visitors wasted further
chances to get back into the game as captain Kevin Nolan saw an effort
controversially disallowed.
Struggling Portsmouth were their own worst enemy as they lost 1-0 to Aston
Villa.
Pompey's dire form was in evidence as Milan Baros gave home side Villa a
deserved lead in the first half.
As James Milner fired in a free-kick from the left, Baros was in yards of
space to convert comfortably - and Harry Redknapp's side could not lift their
performance as Villa collected the points.
