Arsenal 8 points clear, commanding Premier League title race

Eight points clear in the Premier League, playing the most free-flowing soccer in England, and now humbling its fiercest rivals in front of their own fans.

For Arsenal, this season can hardly get any better.

A 2-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday left no doubt over which club is the dominant force in north London.

And it's becoming increasingly hard to dispute that Arsenal is the best team in the country, having claimed 47 points from a possible 54 and surged into the best position the club has been in all season in its bid for a first league title since the unbeaten "Invincibles" of 2003-2004.

Arsenal had an eight-point lead for a couple of days at the start of the month but second-place Manchester City had a game in hand then. Now they've both played the same number of matches — 18 of a possible 38 — and City is struggling to keep pace with the leaders.

The first-half display of Mikel Arteta's team was irrepressible, with Bukayo Saka running amok down the right and playing a part in both of the goals.

It was a deflected cross from the England winger that was bundled into his own net by Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris at the near post in the 14th minute. Then Saka led a break forward in the 36th and slipped a ball inside to captain Martin Odegaard, who lashed home a low shot from 25 meters.

British bookmakers are now making Arsenal odds-on favorites for the title, which brings its own pressure heading into the second half of the season.

City is likely to improve and has previously gone on long, unbeaten runs down the stretch. Third-place Newcastle, which beat Fulham 1-0 on Sunday, and fourth-place Manchester United, whose derby win over City on Saturday extended its winning run to nine games, are both nine points off Arsenal.

So the candidates are lined up behind Arsenal. It just needs the leaders to falter.

There is no sign of that just yet.

"We have to stay humble," Odegaard said. "We know we can improve."

Fan attack

A spectator climbed onto an advertising board and appeared to kick Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale after the game.

The incident took place as Ramsdale retrieved his water bottle from behind one of the goals.

The spectator leaped over the railing, mounted the hoarding and aimed a kick at Ramsdale's back before getting back into the crowd in the South Stand. Ramsdale didn't seem hurt and was dragged away from the area by teammates before celebrating in front of Arsenal's supporters at the other end of the stadium.

"It's a shame because it's only a game of football at the end of the day," Ramsdale said.

Relief for Potter

Graham Potter hasn't had this good a day for some time at Chelsea.

Chelsea held on to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 and win in the league for just the second time since October, with Hakim Ziyech crossing for Kai Havertz to head home in the 64th minute.

Chelsea stayed in 10th place but trimmed the gap to fifth-place Tottenham to five points.

There was a clean sheet for another January signing, France defender Benoit Badiashile, on his first start for Chelsea and a string of impressive saves from Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has been at fault for crucial goals in recent weeks.

"You have to understand the context of the situation we are in," Potter said, "so it isn't going to be sensational football all the time."

Agencies Via Xinhua