Aubameyang nets hat-trick in Arsenal win, United held by West Brom

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang marked his return to Arsenal’s starting line-up with his first ever Premier League hat-trick in his side’s 4-2 victory over Leeds United on Sunday.

The Gabon forward, who had not started any of his side’s last five games for personal reasons, fired Arsenal ahead in the 13th minute then doubled his side’s lead from the penalty spot before Hector Bellerin made it 3-0 on the stroke of halftime.

Aubameyang’s completed his hat-trick with a header two minutes into the second half but Leeds hit back. Pascal Struijk’s header in the 58th minute revived Leeds and when Helder Costa struck again for the visitors with around 20 minutes remaining there were some wobbles in the home ranks.

Aubameyang was denied a fourth by the woodwork as Arsenal got back to winning ways after two successive league defeats.

Arsenal moved back above Leeds into 10th spot with 34 points from 24 games with Leeds 11th with 32 having played a game less.

Man United held to 1-1 draw at lowly West Brom
Manchester United could only draw 1-1 at struggling West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, leaving them second in the Premier League but seven points adrift of Manchester City.

West Brom, who need a remarkable turnaround to avoid relegation, stunned their visitors with a second-minute goal from on-loan Senegalese striker Mbaye Diagne who beat defender Victor Lindelof to head home.

United looked out-of-sorts for the rest of the half, but their inspirational Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes stepped up yet again in the 44th minute with a spectacular volley from near the penalty spot.

In an exciting second half, the Manchester club had a penalty appeal turned down after captain Harry Maguire – trying to driving the team forward – was manhandled in the box.

West Brom survived waves of attacks including a Maguire header on to the post in the last minute. But the hosts also caused scares on the break, Diagne twice going close with only David de Gea to beat in the United goal.

The result left West Brom second bottom of the table, 12 points from safety, with manager Sam Allardyce so far failing to ignite their season despite his reputation for great escapes.

League leaders Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 on Saturday to reach 53 points and have a game in hand over Manchester United and third-placed Leicester, both on 46.

Maja double gives lowly Fulham 2-0 win at Everton
– Fulham’s Nigerian striker Josh Maja scored his first two goals for the club to secure a 2-0 win at Everton on Sunday as the visitors ended a 12-game Premier League run without a win and rekindled their hopes of avoiding relegation.

The result left Fulham 18th on 18 points from 23 games, seven behind 17th-placed Newcastle United, while Everton stayed seventh on 37 from 22 after another lacklustre home performance.

Everton’s poor league form continued as they suffered a third home defeat in four games, while Fulham won at Goodison Park for the first time after 22 successive defeats with Maja netting a brace in his first start for the Cottagers.

The visitors missed a hatful of first-half chances before former Sunderland striker Maja, who is on loan from French side Girondins Bordeaux, slid in to steer home Ola Aina’s fizzing low cross in the 48th minute.

He made it 2-0 in the 65th with another predator’s finish, popping up in front of goalkeeper Robin Olsen to tap in a rebound from close range after Harrison Reed hit the post with a long-range effort.

Everton striker Josh King had a goal disallowed for offside in the closing stages which summed up the Toffees’ miserable evening as they failed to create anything meaningful up front.