Roundup of the latest Premier League action on a depleted weekend as the relegation and Europa League qualification battles took centre stage.
With just four matches stripped across three days, this round of Premier League fixtures certainly proved to potentially be season-defining featuring three six-pointer clashes in the battle for survival and a top four finish.
Fulham 1-2 Leeds United
Luke Ayling got Leeds off to a flier with an eighth minute header from Tyler Roberts’ cross, which was however soon chalked off by VAR due to Roberts being slightly offside in the build-up.
Josh Maja then saw his 26th minute effort for Fulham blocked by Illan Meslier after a frantic scramble in the box, only for Patrick Bamford to fire Leeds ahead after picking up Jack Harrison’s left footed volley cross.
That lead however only lasted eight minutes as Joachim Andersen volleyed Fulham level from Ademola Lookman’s corner, with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa missing an opportunity just one minute later as his shot was saved by Meslier.
Leeds however came out fighting in the second half as Harrison and Stuart Dallas shots blocked, either side of Raphinha’s 58th minute winner on counter-attack from Bamford’s pass.
Fulham’s best effort after half-time came from Lookman as his 56th minute shot from Mario Lemina’s pullback was blocked and cleared, with the Cottagers falling to a third defeat in four matches to remain third bottom and two points from safety.
For Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites, this result marks their first away victory in London this season as they stay 11th but now sit two points off a top-ten finish.
Brighton 3-0 Newcastle
Jakub Moder made instant impact on his first Premier League start for Brighton, meeting passes from Neal Maupay and Danny Welbeck in the opening three minutes, only to see his first shot fly over the bar before firing his second effort straight into Martin Dubravka’s arms.
Pascal Gross then saw his header saved just minutes later in a tightly fought first half, as Newcastle failed to produce much other than a missed header from a set-piece.
Leandro Trossard however struck in the third minute of first half injury time as he picked up Joel Veltman’s long ball, turning to cut in from left and curled across into the bottom right corner to put the hosts ahead at the break.
Newcastle soon started the second half better as Ryan Fraser’s shot smacked off the right post to safety, which was their best effort of the half as Welbeck curled in Brighton’s second just minutes later.
Maupay then wrapped up a dominant home victory for the Seagulls as he volleyed Pascal Gross’ cross into the bottom left corner, with Welbeck missing an opportunity to add a late fourth goal when his curled effort was flicked behind by Dubravka.
This win sees Brighton move six points clear of relegation with Newcastle now sat just two points above the drop without a win in their last six matches.
West Ham 3-3 Arsenal
West Ham made a bright start against a sloppy Arsenal defence as Michail Antonio teed up Jesse Lingard for a 15th minute opener, with the latter then setting up Jarrod Bowen’s tight effort just two minutes later to double their lead.
David Moyes’ Hammers then found their third just 15 minutes later when Vladimir Coufal’s cross was headed on goal by Antonio, with Tomas Soucek getting the final touch to claim the goal.
Soucek then triggered a surprise implosion as Callum Chambers’ cross to Alexandre Lacazette was fired in via a deflection from the Czech midfielder.
Lacazette then saw three shots denied either side of half time but Chambers’ 61st minute cross was powerlessly bundled in by Craig Dawson, who scored an own goal for the second consecutive match to offer Arsenal late hope.
Antonio and Lingard each saw two chances to put West Ham back ahead by a two goal margin blocked, which was ultimately punished when Nicholas Pepe’s cross was bullet-headed in by Lacazette to rescue a 3-3 draw in the 82nd minute.
Declan Rice saw a stunning 85th minute solo attack come to nothing when Bernd Leno blocked his shot, as the Hammers were forced to settle for a point which leaves them two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Arsenal meanwhile climbed to ninth by virtue of that point and now sit nine points off a top four finish.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
Aston Villa made the slightly better start in a closely fought first half with Trezeguet going close in the 19th minute with a poked shot saved by Hugo Lloris.
Spurs however claimed the lead in the 29th minute when Emiliano Martinez poorly cleared Sergio Reguilon’s long ball to Lucas Moura, with the Brazilian playing an one-two move up the left with Harry Kane before pulling back for Carlos Vinicius to roll in.
Tanguy Ndombele and Kane saw respective volley and curled shots denied either side of half-time, before Trezeguet and Anwar El Ghazi unsuccessfully went close for Villa.
Kane eventually sealed victory for Spurs after forcing a penalty as he was brought down just inside the box by Matty Cash, moments before the ball rolled out of play with the England captain then converting from his spot-kick from the spot.
Villa however refused to give up as Ross Barkley went close in the closing stages but his shot was blocked, as Tottenham clung on for the win to put them sixth with Villa dropping to tenth.