Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, out for five months with a knee injury, scored twice to lead his team to a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday and back to the top of the Premier League.
They might only stay there until tonight when Manchester City, who they knocked off the summit, play third-placed Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium, but the 20-year-old Oxlade-Chamerlain’s return to fitness should be a huge boost for the Gunners in the title run-in.
Arsenal have 55 points from 24 games, followed by City on 53 from 23 and Chelsea on 50 from 23.
Liverpool, who were held to a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion yesterday, are fourth with 47 points.
“I’ve been off the pitch for a while and it’s great to come back with two goals and help the team to a win,” he said.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was injured in the opening match of the season against Aston Villa, has made three substitute appearances in the league as well as starting in the FA Cup against Coventry before yesterday’s return to league action.
Manager Arsene Wenger decided to play him in the centre of midfield rather than his usual wide position and was rewarded for his decision.
Arsenal needed to be patient to break down a well-organised Palace side who have improved since Tony Pulis became manager at the end of November.
Although they rarely threatened, they defended well until the second minute of the second half when Oxlade-Chamberlain found space at the far post to score with a delicate lob from a Santi Cazorla cross.
Palace went close to an equaliser when Cameron Jerome headed straight at Wojciech Szczesny, but the game was all but over when Oxlade-Chamberlain scored again to make it 2-0 after a neat one-two with Olivier Giroud on 73 minutes.
Earlier, a howler by defender Kolo Toure cost Liverpool victory when he gifted West Brom the equaliser in the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.
His mistake came after 67 minutes when, under no pressure, he played a loose ball straight across his own 18-metre line to substitute Victor Anichebe who fired past Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool took the lead in the 24th minute after Luis Suarez crossed to the far post where Daniel Sturridge tapped home.
Summaries
Arsenal 2
Oxl.-Chamberlain 47, 73;
Crystal Palace 0
HT: 0-0; Att.: 60,005.
West Brom 1
Anichebe 67;
Liverpool 1
Sturridge 24;
HT: 0-1; Att.: 26,132.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Arsenal | 24 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 47 | 21 | 55 |
| Man. City | 23 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 68 | 26 | 53 |
| Chelsea | 23 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 43 | 20 | 50 |
| Liverpool | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 29 | 47 |
| Everton | 24 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 37 | 25 | 45 |
| Tottenham | 24 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 31 | 32 | 44 |
| Man. United | 24 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 39 | 29 | 40 |
| Newcastle | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 32 | 31 | 37 |
| Southampton | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 34 | 27 | 35 |
| Aston Villa | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 34 | 27 |
| Stoke City | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 38 | 25 |
| Swansea | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 29 | 35 | 24 |
| Hull City | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 23 | 30 | 24 |
| Sunderland | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 36 | 24 |
| Norwich City | 24 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 19 | 37 | 24 |
| West Brom | 24 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 28 | 34 | 23 |
| Crystal Palace | 24 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 15 | 33 | 23 |
| West Ham | 24 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 24 | 33 | 22 |
| Cardiff City | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 41 | 21 |
| Fulham | 24 | 6 | 1 | 17 | 22 | 53 | 19 |
Today
Man. City vs Chelsea - 21.00
The Championship
N. Forest vs Yeovil - 3-1
Watford vs Brighton - 2-0