Arsenal and Chelsea roll to wins in PL

LONDON - Arsenal and Chelsea showed more great form ahead of Champions League matches with thrashings of Norwich and Cardiff that left the London clubs first and second, respectively, in the Premier League on Saturday. Now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, Arsenal dismantled Norwich, 4-1, at home while Samuel Eto’o scored his first Chelsea goal and was involved in a controversial equalizer to spark a 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal has not lost a game since its opening Premier League 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa in August that angered the Gunners’ fans and might have played a role in German playmaker Mesut Ozil’s transfer to the club from Real Madrid. Ozil scored a brace against Norwich and has been key to Arsenal’s resurgence.

The Gunners are two points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool after the Reds had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw against 10-man Newcastle.

Ahead of its Champions League trip to Schalke, Chelsea extended its unbeaten Premier League run at home to 13 matches after recovering from a goal down and equalizing with a controversial goal which should have been disallowed.

Also on Saturday, Everton beat Hull, 2-1, and Stoke was held to a 0-0 draw by West Brom.

AP