LONDON: Arsenal's hopes of opening a 10-point lead in the Premier League title race were dashed by Newcastle United in a 0-0 draw at The Emirates but Manchester United's fine form continued as they eased to a 3-0 home win over Bournemouth on Tuesday.
The clash between first and third in London did not live up to its billing as Arsenal were frustrated by a Newcastle side who collected a 10th league clean sheet of the season.
Manchester United cemented their top-four place, moving level on points with Newcastle as goals by Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford sealed a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford.
Arsenal, who failed to score for the first time this season in all competitions, have 44 points from 17 games with champions Manchester City on 36 after playing 16.
Newcastle have 35 from 18 matches, ahead of United on goal difference although they have played a game more.
After Everton held Manchester City away on Saturday to snap a three-match losing run in the league, they crashed back to earth as they were hammered 4-1 at home by Brighton & Hove Albion.
Kaoru Mitoma gave Brighton the lead and Everton collapsed after the break as Evan Ferguson, Solly March and Pascal Gross scored in a five-minute burst that left the Goodison Park faithful stunned and heading for the exits.
Defeat left Everton just one point above the relegation zone and with huge pressure mounting on manager Frank Lampard.
"Individual mistakes and collective defending issues. It is what it is," Lampard, whose side could fall into the bottom three on Wednesday, said. "It is not a question of anger. We are disappointed. We want to win games."
In the night's other match, Fulham won 1-0 at Leicester City to move into seventh place in the table.
PERFECT RECORD
Arsenal had a 100% home league record this season but failed to penetrate the tightest defence in the division as Newcastle ground out a deserved point to remain unbeaten since August.
Eddie Nketiah had Arsenal's best chance in the 87th minute but his low shot was superbly saved by Nick Pope.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's frustration boiled over in stoppage time when he reacted furiously to his side being denied a penalty for handball when a Granit Xhaka cross hit the arm of Jacob Murphy, although it would have been extremely harsh.
"We had some chances and there were two scandalous penalties that weren't given," Arteta said.
Manchester United are now five points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur after a fourth successive league win.
Brazil midfielder Casemiro volleyed them ahead from close range in the 23rd minute and they never looked like dropping points once Shaw made it 2-0 early in the second half.
"We scored great goals and I think we should have scored even more but we could have conceded one or two and I am not happy with that because David (de Gea) had to make good saves," United manager Erik ten Hag said.
"I'm happy with the result. Today it was not our best game. We have to be honest, we didn't play that smart as a team."
United are back in action on Friday when they host Everton in the FA Cup third round.
Reuters
Wed Jan 04 2023
Manchester United's Luke Shaw scores their second goal, Premier League - Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - January 3, 2023. - REUTERS
PM Anwar tiba di Riyadh untuk hadiri Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia
Perdana Menteri Anwar tiba di Riyadh dalam rangka lawatan tiga hari bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (WEF).
Jemputan peribadi ke Mesyuarat Khas WEF bukti keakraban Putera Mahkota Mohammed, PM
Ini merupakan lawatan keempat Anwar ke Arab Saudi sejak dilantik sebagai Perdana Menteri.
Kerajaan Pusat peruntuk RM1.59 bilion untuk pembangunan fizikal di Terengganu
Peruntukan tersebut melibatkan 99 projek baharu dan 296 projek sambungan di bawah Rolling Plan 4 (RP4) Rancangan Malaysia ke-12 (RMK12).
Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di setiap daerah
Kerajaan Pahang rancang wujudkan zon perindustrian di kesemua 11 daerah di negeri ini bagi menggalakkan kemasukan lebih banyak pelaburan asing khususnya dari China.
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Chegubard ditahan polis berkaitan hantaran mengenai kasino di Forest City
Chegubard ditahan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City pada Sabtu.
Zahid minta pihak dalam BN buka "buku baharu"
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan senario politik tanah air sudah berubah dan terdapat banyak video lama dari parti lawan yang meminta pengundi menyokong DAP.
EPL: Ten Hag anggap reaksi ke atas kemenangan MU umpama 'penghinaan'
Kemenangan yang diraih MU bukan sesautu yang memalukan, reaksi sesetengah pihak berlebihan, bidas Ten Hag.
Perkara mungkin berbeza di Man Utd andai Mourinho terima sokongan seperti Ten Hag
Jose Mourinho percaya kerjayanya di Manchester United mungkin lebih berjaya sekiranya dia diberi kepercayaan yang sama seperti Erik ten Hag.
Piala FA Inggeris: Manchester United pilih skrip mendebarkan ke final
Conventry City mencetuskan cemas buat anak buah Erik ten Hag menerusi kebangkitan luar biasa bagi mengheret perlawanan ke masa tambahan.
Zidane berminat jadi jurulatih Manchester United
Legenda bola sepak Perancis itu dikatakan memantau dengan teliti situasi Erik ten Hag di United walaupun telah mencapai persetujuan dengan Bayern.
Liverpool buat Man United kini berpaling sokong Man City - John Aldridge
Aldridge memberikan tamparan hebat buat penyokong Manchester United yang tampak gembira atas kekalahan Liverpool di tangan Crystal Palace.
EPL: Manchester United hanya mampu seri lagi
Manchester United jatuh ke tangga ketujuh liga sambil berkongsi mata dengan Newcastle United di tangga ke keenam.
Erik ten Hag alu-alukan penyerang berbisa baru di Man Utd
United mempunyai jumlah catatan gol terendah dalam kalangan 10 kelab teratas menerusi 45 jaringan.
Mayat ditemui di sekitar pusat latihan akademi Manchester United
Pusat latihan akademi Manchester United ditutup sementara waktu berikutan penemuan satu mayat manusia berhampiran tempat latihan itu.
EPL: Manchester United musnahkan harapan Liverpool untuk cabar gelaran juara liga
Mohamed Salah selamatkan maruah The Reds dengan keputusan seri 2-2 dalam lawatan mereka ke Stadium Old Trafford.
Pemain Akademi Manchester United nafi ada pertalian keluarga Malaysia
Pemain Akademi Manchester United Ethan Wheatley menafikan dakwaan mengatakan bahawa beliau mempunyai pertalian kekeluargaan dengan Malaysia.