Manchester City and Liverpool sent warnings to rest of the Premier League with commanding victories on the weekend.
On Saturday, City tore league leaders Arsenal apart with a 6-3 triumph at the Etihad Stadium to extend their unbeaten run to five matches and push their goal difference to a remarkable plus 29 after 16 matches.
Sergio Aguero netted his 13th league goal of the campaign in the 14th minute when he brilliantly volleyed home Martin Demichelis' flick-on from a corner at the back post before Theo Walcott levelled for the Gunners just after the half-hour mark.
Soon enough, however, City were back in the lead when Alvaro Negredo neatly finished Pablo Zabaleta's low cross from close range before Fernandinho netted his first goal for the club when curling superbly past Wojciech Szcesny from the edge of the area.
Arsenal were reeling at 3-1 down but again stayed in touch through Walcott who produced a sublime lofted effort from inside the box in the 63rd minute but City again restored their two-goal lead when David Silva expertly flicked home Jesus Navas' cross with the outside of his left foot three minutes later.
Fernandinho doubled his City tally with two minutes of regular time remaining before Per Mertesacker grabbed Arsenal's third with a powerful close range header prior to Yaya Toure slotting home deep into injury-time from the penalty spot for City's sixth.
The win kept Manuel Pellegrini's side fourth but allowed them to go within three points of Arsenal who are now only two points clear at the summit after second-placed Liverpool hammered Tottenham 5-0 on Sunday.
Luis Suarez netted a double - either side of the break - while Jordan Henderson, Jon Flanagan and Raheem Sterling also got in on the act as the Reds scored their biggest win at White Hart Lane over a lacklustre Spurs side who lost Paulinho to a red card just after the hour-mark.
Reigning champions Manchester United ended a two-game losing streak by beating Aston Villa 3-0 at Villa Park thanks to a double from Danny Welbeck which lifted them to eighth on the table.
Elsewhere, Cardiff City edged West Bromwich Albion 1-0 which essentially cost Steve Clarke his job as manager of the Baggies, Chelsea scored a 2-1 home win over Crystal Palace to stay third on the table while West Ham United and Sunderland, as well as Hull City and Stoke City played out 0-0 draws.
Newcastle United were held to a 1-1 home draw by Southampton in a fiery clash while Gary Hooper produced a stunning 25-yard effort as Norwich City drew 1-1 with Swansea City at Carrow Road.
And Everton continued their brilliant early-season form by beating Fulham 4-1 at Goodison Park to put them within four points of top spot.
2013/14 Barclays Premier League season scores
Manchester City: 6 (Sergio Aguero 14', Alvaro Negredo 39', Fernandinho 50'/88', David Silva 66', Yaya Toure (p) 90+6') Arsenal: 3 (Theo Walcott 31'/63', Per Mertesacker 90+4') Etihad Stadium, Manchester - 47,229
Cardiff City: 1 (Peter Whittingham 65') West Bromwich Albion: 0 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff - 26,632
Chelsea: 2 (Fernando Torres 16', Ramires 35') Crystal Palace: 1 (Marouane Chamakh 29') Stamford Bridge, London - 41,608
Everton: 4 (Leon Osman 18', Seamus Coleman 73', Gareth Barry 84', Kevin Mirallas 90+1') Fulham: 1 (Dimitar Berbatov (p) 67') Goodison Park, Liverpool - 33,796
Newcastle United: 1 (Yoan Gouffran 27') Southampton: 1 (Jay Rodriguez 65') St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 49,164
West Ham United: 0 Sunderland: 0 Upton Park, London - 31,843
Hull City: 0 Stoke City: 0 KC Stadium, Kingston-upon-Hull - 23,324
Aston Villa: 0 Manchester United: 3 (Danny Welbeck 15'/18', Tom Cleverley 52') Villa Park, Birmingham - 42,682
Norwich City: 1 (Gary Hooper 45+4') Swansea City: 1 (Nathan Dyer 12') Carrow Road, Norwich - 26,876
Tottenham: 0 (red card: Paulinho 63') Liverpool: 5 (Luis Suarez 18'/84', Jordan Henderson 40', Jon Flanagan 75', Raheem Sterling 89') White Hart Lane, London - 36,069
