Soccer

Ramsey’s double puts Gunners on top of the table

Sigurdsson grabs two for Spurs as they also move to nine points

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey scores his second goal during the Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey scores his second goal during the Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Sat Sept 14 2013 - 17:20

Premier League round-up: Aaron Ramsey's second-half double snatched the points for Arsenal at the Stadium Light but the game hinged on a controversial disallowed effort from Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore.

Altidore thought he had equalised for the Black Cats when he bundled the ball over the line in the 70th minute, only for referee Martin Atkinson to haul back the action and give the home side a free-kick for an earlier foul by Bacary Sagna.

Three minutes later Ramsey was sent through by Olivier Giroud at the other end to wrap up a 3-1 win for the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger's men dominated the first half but only had Giroud's 11th-minute opener to show for it after the Sunderland defence was carved open by impressive €50 million debutant Mesut Ozil.

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Craig Gardner brought the hosts level from the penalty spot after a foul by Laurent Koscielny on Adam Johnson two minutes into the second half, then Steven Fletcher had an effort ruled out for offside.

Ramsey put Arsenal back in front with a superb volley in the 67th minute, before Atkinson’s controversial intervention sealed Sunderland’s fate.

Tottenham new boy Christian Eriksen inspired his side a comfortable 2-0 win over Norwich at White Hart Lane.

Eriksen combined with Roberto Soldado to set up the opener for Gylfi Sigurdsson in the 26th minute, and the Iceland international made it 2-0 from close range four minutes into the second half after a Paulinho cross.

But sluggish Manchester City failed to break the deadlock on a frustrating afternoon against Stoke and had to settle for a goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium.

The hosts had the best chances with Jon Walters heading a simple chance wide from a Geoff Cameron cross, then Kenwyne Jones forced a save out of Joe Hart after a mistake by Samir Nasri.

Jones headed just over early in the second half as Mark Hughes’s men continued to look more likely to break the deadlock against his former club.

Newcastle substitute Yoan Gouffran came off the bench to claim a 2-1 win for Newcastle against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Hatem Ben Arfa had given Alan Pardew’s men an 18th-minute lead but Christian Benteke’s powerful 67th-minute header drew Villa level and left the home side looking the most likely winners.

But Gouffran, a 62nd-minute replacement for Loic Remy, pounced in the 73rd minute to stab home the loose ball after Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan spilled an initial effort from Ben Arfa.

Gareth McAuley's injury-time header snatched a dramatic point for West Brom at Fulham and lifted the Baggies off the bottom of the table.

Steve Sidwell put Fulham ahead in the 22nd minute and the home side had three more efforts disallowed by Dimitar Berbatov – twice –and Hugo Rodallega before McAuley rose highest to head home Chris Brunt’s corner.

Peter Whittingham converted a Ben Turner cross in the 59th minute to earn a 1-1 draw for Cardiff at Hull, who had led through a 40th-minute header from Curtis Davies.