MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Arsenal and Tottenham slumped to 2-1 losses in the Premier League as their weaknesses were ruthlessly exposed today, while Newcastle’s resurgence continued with a fourth straight win.
After squandering a three-goal cushion midweek in the Champions League, Arsenal again failed to hold onto a lead by conceding twice in less than three minutes at Swansea to drop out of the top four.
Arsenal are 12 points behind leaders Chelsea and have yet to register a win against a side outside the bottom seven.
Chile forward Alexis Sanchez scored for the fourth straight league game to give Arsenal a 63rd-minute lead, only for Gylfi Sigurdsson to equalise with a stunning free kick and Bafetimbi Gomis to grab the winner barely 90 seconds after coming on as a substitute.
Spurs suffered another hangover after their Europa League commitments, losing at home to Stoke to fall to 12th in the standings and increase the scrutiny on new manager Mauricio Pochettino.
“We need to improve quickly because you never have a long time in football,” Pochettino said. “My challenge in the next few weeks is to change the mentality.”
That is something Alan Pardew has managed at Newcastle, which was without a win until October 18 but has surged up to eighth in the table.
Young Spanish striker Ayoze Perez scored for a third straight game to set Newcastle on its way to a 2-0 win at West Brom. Argentine defender Fabricio Coloccino headed in the second goal.
Everton drew 1-1 at Sunderland and are in tenth place, tied on 14 points with Merseyside rival Liverpool and Tottenham, to demonstrate the competitive nature of this season’s Premier League.
Southampton, West Ham and Swansea are three of the top five after 11 rounds. Chelsea hold a four-point lead and are unbeaten.