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Embattled Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal remains on the brink after his struggling side were held to a 0-0 draw by Chelsea, while Arsenal surged to the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Monday.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal rebounded from their 4-0 hammering at Southampton on Saturday with a convincing display that reaffirmed their title credentials and secured a fourth win in their last five league games.
The Gunners are one point clear of second placed Leicester, who can regain pole position if Claudio Ranieri’s surprise title contenders defeat fourth placed Manchester City on Tuesday.
Arsene Wenger’s men were in front when Mesut Ozil’s cross was guided high into the corner of the net by Brazilian defender Gabriel in the 27th minute for his first goal for Arsenal.
It was Ozil’s league leading 16th assist of the season and the German midfielder almost had another before the interval when Gabriel struck a post from his set-piece.
Ozil took matters into his own hands again in the 63rd minute as the former Real Madrid star side-footed home from Olivier Giroud’s pass.
There was also a significant milestone for Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, who set a new Premier League record of 170 clean sheets, with 162 of those coming in his time at Chelsea.
– Battling back –
West Ham are up to seventh after battling back to defeat Southampton 2-1 at Upton Park.
Ronald Koeman’s side went ahead when Dusan Tadic pressured Hammers defender Carl Jenkinson into a 13th minute goal.
But West Ham winger Michail Antonio equalised in bizarre circumstances in the 69th minute when an attempted Southampton clearance hit him on the head and looped over Saints goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Andy Carroll won it in the 79th minute when he drove in the rebound after an Antonio header hit the bar.
Son Heung-Min’s 89th-minute strike sent Tottenham third as the South Korea forward sealed a 2-1 win at 10-man Watford.
Tottenham took a 17th-minute lead when Erik Lamela stabbed home following a defensive mix-up, before Odion Ighalo stabbed home his 14th goal of the season to equalise for Watford four minutes before half-time.
But Watford lost Nathan Ake to a red card for a waist-high foul on Lamela in the 63rd minute and Son struck at the death, gathering Kieran Trippier’s half-volleyed pass and beating Heurelho Gomes.

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