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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's double helped Arsenal back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The England midfielder broke the deadlock shortly after half-time on his return to the side at Emirates Stadium, before he wrapped the game up on 72 minutes finishing a flowing move.
Arsene Wenger's men were made to work hard against a typically resolute Palace, but victory sees returns them to the summit, although Manchester City can reclaim top spot if they beat Chelsea on Monday.
After a first half lacking in many clear-cut chances, Oxlade-Chamberlain brought the game to life by guiding an effort past Julian Speroni from a superb chip over the top by by Santi Cazorla two minutes after the break. The 20-year-old confirmed the win with a driven strike, as Arsenal made it 10 matches without defeat in all competitions.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was recalled in place of the suspended Mathieu Flamini in midfield. Marouane Chamakh started against his former club for Palace.
Arsenal controlled possession in the opening exchanges and their early dominance resulted in the first opening on seven minutes when Nacho Monreal received Mesut Ozil's switch of play, and th left-back forced goalkeeper Speroni into action from a tight angle.
Tony Pulis's side settled into the game, however, with Chamakh looking particularly threatening, but a lack of composure in the final third meant they created few chances.
The visitors needed Speroni to be on his guard shortly after the half-hour when Ozil's crossed free-kick deceived everybody in the penalty area and forced a smart save. That proved to be the closest Arsenal went in the first half, with a resolute Palace defence frustrating the home side.
It took Arsenal just two minutes to break Palace's resistance in the second half. Cazorla picked out Oxlade-Chamberlain with a wonderfully clipped pass over the Palace defence and the midfielder controlled well before lofting his effort over the advancing Speroni.
Palace missed a gilt-edged opportunity to level the scores shortly after. Dwight Gayle's cross deflected to Yannick Bolasie, who nodded the ball into the path of the unmarked Cameron Jerome, but his far-post header was kept out by a fine stop from Wojciech Szczesny.
That miss proved costly for the visitors. Oxlade-Chamberlain played a swift one-two with Olivier Giroud before driving into the box and drilling his shot past Speroni.
Arsenal rarely looked troubled in the closing stages as the visitors fell to a 15th league defeat of the season to remain just outside the relegation zone.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “We needed to get three points and it was difficult because Crystal Palace are a united team, very well-organised with a big physical quality and impact in every challenge. I must say that did that in a fair way but it was very difficult to create space. On our side we needed to be patient, intelligent and use our opportunities that most of the time come in the second half. That's what we did.
“I always believed that he could play wide and central, I said that many times that his future will be central. He has proven me right today, by scoring the goals but also by the quality of his performance. It took him a while to get back.”
Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis: "We were disappointed to lose a poor goal after half-time. Then our big moment came 90 seconds later and we did not take it. That was the difference.
"We kept going; we showed good determination and resilience. We have played at Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur since I have been here and we have been a threat in those games with our wide men playing really well. It was not the case today; they did not carry that threat, but they kept going.
"We need to score more goals and we're hoping our signings will do that. Tom Ince has goals from wide; we're convinced he will score goals. Joe Ledley has a good scoring record, so we're adding goals. Added to the fact that Glenn [Murray] is nearing a return - he will play another game tomorrow [Monday] - we're feeling positive."
Liverpool missed the chance to cement their grip on fourth place in the Barclays Premier League as an error from Kolo Toure allowed West Bromwich Albion to claim a 1-1 draw.
Brendan Rodgers' side could have gone four points clear in fourth with a win over a West Brom side still looking for a first win under new head coach Pepe Mel. The visitors appeared to be on course for a 15th league victory of the campaign when Daniel Sturridge put them ahead with a close-range finish midway through the first half.
Liverpool dominated for long periods, but after the break were left to rue an ill-advised pass across his area from Toure, which allowed substitute Victor Anichebe to level matters with only his second goal since joining West Brom from Everton. Mel's men could not complete the turnaround, though, with both sides forced to settle for a draw that moves Liverpool two points in front of fifth-placed Everton and West Brom only one ahead of the relegation zone.
Liverpool were unchanged from the 4-0 midweek victory over Everton, but the visitors struggled to break down West Brom in a subdued start to the contest. They scored with the first real chance of the game after 24 minutes, Sturridge tapping in his 50th Barclays Premier League goal from Luis Suarez's magnificent far-post cross after the Uruguayan had linked up well with Raheem Sterling.
Suarez curled narrowly wide from a free-kick as Liverpool looked to press home their superiority. Rodgers' side continued to dictate, Philippe Coutinho going close from long range, and West Brom's cause was not helped by an injury to defender Jonas Olsson, who limped off five minutes before the interval to be replaced by Diego Lugano. It took the hosts 42 minutes to fashion a goalscoring opportunity, but midfielder Zoltan Gera’s drive from distance flew well off target.
West Brom made a better start to the second half and would have levelled through Gareth McAuley's close-range header had it not been for a stunning save from Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The hosts remained fallible at the back, with only the fine reflexes of Ben Foster preventing Suarez from doubling Liverpool's lead just before the hour.
That save proved crucial as West Brom profited from Toure's error. The Ivory Coast defender attempted to play a pass across the face of the box, but instead it landed straight at the feet of Anichebe, who steadied himself before firing past Mignolet and into the bottom corner with 67 minutes gone.
West Brom perhaps shaded the close stages but did not fashion a clear-cut chance to snatch a win as they claimed a valuable point.
West Brom head coach Pepe Mel: "I'm very happy for the players and fans. In the first half we didn't press [Steven] Gerrard and [Jordan] Henderson enough and they caused us problems. We pressed much better in the second half and Anichebe's goal came from [Matej] Vydra and [Zoltan] Gera pressing. Victor took his goal very well.
"Foster also did good work. He is a very, very good goalkeeper. The last game [a 4-3 defeat by Aston Villa on Wednesday] was not good for us but the players are happier now."
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers: “Defensively, we were very, very good. I'll never criticise players for trying to play football but Kolo probably shouldn't have received the ball under pressure and his pass was misplaced.
"It's the bravest place on the field as we look to build our play from behind. That has won us many games this season. We like to build the game and construct play from behind and sometimes it will cost you and today was unfortunately one of those days. Kolo Toure has been brilliant since he's been here. He's been a real leader, an outstanding professional and, unfortunately, it was a mistake."
"Until the mistake we made we were in control of the game. Maybe we should have been 2-0 up but they pulled it back to 1-1. So it gives them a little bit of momentum and the game is in the balance. But it's a good point. We played some terrific stuff and created some good chances. Overall, I'm disappointed now that we haven't taken all three points but it's another point further for us in terms of where we're wanting to go."
