LONDON, Oct 19: Arsenal, temporarily knocked off top spot after Liverpool had played earlier in the day, returned to the summit of the Premier League when they beat Norwich City 4-1 on Saturday.

Jack Wilshere's opener after 16 minutes at the Emirates Stadium capped a brilliant flowing move for the Gunners who lead the table with 19 points from eight matches.

Mesut Ozil scored his first league goal for the club with a header from an Olivier Giroud cross in the 58th minute and although Norwich midfielder Jonathan Howson replied for the visitors, Aaron Ramsey came off the bench to make sure of victory before Ozil added a fourth as Arsenal went two ahead of Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Cardiff City 4-1 and move above Liverpool on goal difference.

Liverpool slipped to third after a 2-2 draw at Newcastle United with skipper Steven Gerrard scoring his 100th league goal from a penalty.

Newcastle played for the whole of the second half with 10 men after French defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off shortly before halftime. Although they trailed twice, Liverpool dominated the depleted home side and deserved more than a point.

“It's never easy when you're playing against 10 men, but I thought some of our play was outstanding today. We had to show character twice, coming from behind,” said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

“But give Newcastle credit as well. A point at St James Park won't be the worst result you can get.”

Chelsea, who started the day in third place, fell behind to Cardiff City after some woeful defending by David Luiz who allowed Jordan Mutch to score after 10 minutes.Eden Hazard equalised in the 33rd minute after Samuel Eto'o nipped in to steal the ball from goalkeeper David Marshall as he was bouncing it up and down. Eto'o, Oscar and Hazard put the issue beyond doubt with goals in the second-half.

Champions Manchester United slipped up at Old Trafford, held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton.

Robin van Persie scored for United in the 26th minute before Dejan Lovren equalised for the Saints a minute from the end of normal time.

The point kept Mauricio Pochettino's Southampton in the top four, while United were left in eighth place, eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Gus Poyet's tenure as Sunderland's new manager got off to a terrible start when his bottom-of-the-table side were crushed 4-0 at Swansea City.

All the goals came in the last 33 minutes, with Jonathan De Guzman, Wilfried Bony, from the penalty spot, and Chico Flores netting after recalled Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley opened the floodgates by putting through his own goal.

Steven Pienaar scored within seconds of coming on to earn Everton a 2-1 victory at home to Hull City, while West Bromwich Albion were held to a 0-0 draw at Stoke City.

Results:

Arsenal 4 Norwich City 1

Chelsea 4 Cardiff City 1

Everton 2 Hull City 1

Manchester United 1 Southampton 1

Newcastle United 2 Liverpool 2

Stoke City 0 West Bromwich Albion 0

Swansea City 4 Sunderland 0 —Agencies