Aaron Ramsey returned to Cardiff with two fine goals as Arsenal won in the Welsh capital to move seven points clear at the Premier League summit.
Ramsey teed up Jack Wilshere to hit the bar, before nodding the opener against his old club from Mesut Ozil’s cross.
Fraizer Campbell almost equalised for Cardiff with a header that Wojciech Szczesny kept out with a crucial save.
Arsenal made it two when Ozil set up Mathieu Flamini to slam home and Ramsey drilled a third after a slick attack.
And West Ham easily saw off Fulham to increase the pressure on Cottagers boss Martin Jol, whose side have now lost five Premier League games in a row.
The Hammers hit the post through Modibo Maiga in a one-sided first half, before Mohamed Diame’s deflected shot put them ahead straight after the break.
Fulham created little before Carlton Cole slid in to make it 2-0 and Joe Cole curled home a third late on.
The Cottagers’ only serious effort saw Pajtim Kasami fire a low shot wide.
At Goodison Park, Everton moved into the Premier League’s top four after Gerard Deulofeu masterminded a thumping victory over Stoke on his first league start, reports the BBC.
The Spanish teenager had already threatened before he fired in at the near post following a neat interchange.
Deulofeu crossed for Seamus Coleman to make it 2-0 after 49 minutes.
Bryan Oviedo then scored from 20 yards following a corner, with Stoke’s Peter Crouch drawing a save from Tim Howard, before Romelu Lukaku tucked in.
It was the Belgian striker’s eighth Premier League goal in nine games but there was no doubt that Deulofeu was the game’s driving force.
The 19-year-old former Barcelona player earned his chance in place of Kevin Mirallas on the right side of Everton’s midfield and Stoke could not cope with his strong dribbling and accomplished passing.
EPL RESULTS
Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland
Cardiff 0- 3 Arsenal
Everton 4 – 0 Stoke
Norwich 1 – 0 Crystal Palace
West Ham 3- 0 Fulham
