TheCable

Alexis Sanchez and Tomas Rosicky scored either side of half-time to earn Arsenal three-points in a game marred by an Olivier Giroud headbutt.

The Frenchman charged into Nedum Onuoha, with the defender hitting the ground in front of the referee.

Martin Atkinson had no choice but to send the 28-year-old to an early shower.

The visitors came out of their shell with a man advantage but it was Tomas Rosicky who scored to extend the home side’s advantage to 2-0.

Charlie Austin scored from the spot for QPR with 11 minutes remaining, but Arsenal held on for the win.

Goals from John Terry and Diego Costa saw Chelsea maintained their grip on the top spot after dispatching London neighbours West Ham United 2-0 in Friday’s early Boxing Day fixture.

Terry scored his second goal in as many matches, tapping in from close range, to break the deadlock in the 31st minute at Stamford Bridge.

Costa then ensured the three points were in the bag just after the hour mark, going past his markers before finding the back of the net.

Manchester City stayed within three points of the leaders with a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns.

Fernando scored after eight minutes to register his first goal for the club.

Five minutes later, Yaya Toure doubled his side’s lead from the spot after David Silva was fouled inside the penalty area.

Silva then scored his fourth goal in his last six games to leave City three points behind Chelsea.

Brown Ideye scored his first Barclays Premier League goal for West Brom although it was only a late consolation.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United kept in touch with the top two with a 3-1 win over Newcastle United.

Wayne Rooney scored two goals in the first half, and then provided an assist for Robin van Persie shortly after the break.

Papiss Cisse pulled one back from the penalty spot in the closing stages.

Tottenham Hotspur made it three straight wins on the trot as Christian Eriksen sealed a 2-1 win at Leicester City.

Harry Kane opened the scoring in the first minute, tapping in from Nacer Chadli’s assist.

Leonardo Ulloa drew the home team level in the second half but with 19 minutes left on the clock, midfielder Eriksen converted a free kick to clinch a fifth away win of the season for Spurs.

Hull City finally won after 11th time of asking with a 3-1 win against Sunderland.

Adam Johnson scored in the first minute at the Stadium of Light, only for Gaston Ramirez to level for the visitors.

James Chester then gave the Tigers the lead on 51 minutes before Nikica Jelavic sealed the victory deep into stoppage time.

Southampton continued their reversal in form with a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

Saido Mane’s 17th-minute opened the floodgate of goals for a team who had gone four games without a win before last week’s defeat of Everton.

Mane then set up Ryan Bertrand to score shortly after the break. Toby Alderweireld headed home from a corner to open his account for the club.

Palace pulled one back after Scott Dann headed home from Mile Jedinak’s set-piece delivery late on.

Swansea City beat Aston Villa 1-0 and in the process registered back-to-back wins for the first time since August.

Gylfi Sigurdsson’s first half free kick was enough to see Garry Monk’s side stay within four points of the top four.

Liverpool claimed a second consecutive away win in the league after they beat Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor.

Raheem Sterling was on target for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

Former first-choice goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet was called upon to replace Brad Jones after the Australian picked up an injury in the first half.