MANCHESTER, England -- Arsenal and Manchester City showed no sign of slowing up in the race for the Premier League title by grabbing routine home wins on Saturday to stay 1-2 in the standings. Spain playmaker Santi Cazorla scored second-half goals in a five-minute span for Arsenal in a 2-0 victory over lowly Fulham that keeps the Gunners in the lead by a point. "We have played 22 games and have 51 points. If you compare that to any other season you will see that it is one of the best, if not the best ever," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said after his sides fifth straight league win. "So lets just continue." City put on another attacking clinic to breeze past Cardiff 4-2 and pass the 100-goal mark this season in all competitions -- after just 34 matches. Edin Dzeko, Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero netted for City, which has now scored four or more goals in a game on 12 occasions this campaign. "Its not easy to score 103 goals by the middle of the season," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "It reflects how we think this team must play. We are always an attractive team." The Chelsea side of last season had been the previous fastest to reach a century of goals in the Premier League era, after 42 games, but Pellegrinis entertainers have set a high bar. The defeat dumped Cardiff into last place and ensured a miserable return to Manchester for its coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who spent 11 successful years across the city at United. Third-place Chelsea will look to stay a point behind City by beating Manchester United at home on Sunday in the standout game of the weekend. Liverpool lost ground in fourth by drawing 2-2 at home to Aston Villa, which raced into a two-goal lead after 36 minutes thanks to strikes by Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke. Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard -- from the penalty spot -- salvaged a draw for Liverpool, which is now eight points behind Arsenal after spending Christmas Day on top of the table. The scrap for survival is even tighter than the battle for first place, with three teams now locked on 18 points in the relegation zone. Crystal Palace started the day in last place but Jason Puncheon made up for his awful penalty miss against Tottenham last week by converting from the spot against Stoke, sealing a 1-0 win. Sunderland remains second from bottom after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Southampton and West Ham makes up the bottom three following a 3-1 loss to Newcastle, for whom France midfielder Yohan Cabaye scored twice while compatriot Loic Remy netted the other. Norwich climbed five points clear of the drop zone thanks to a 1-0 win over Hull, secured by Ryan Bennetts 87th-minute goal. Although Arsenal is maintaining the remarkable consistency it enjoyed in 2013, it will be difficult to stop City on current form. Solskjaer was part of a string of wonderfully attacking teams during his time at Old Trafford, but none of them were as rampant as Citys class of 2013-14. Edin Dzeko brought up Citys century of goals with a scruffy opener that dribbled just over the line in the 14th minute at Etihad Stadium, with the validity of the strike confirmed by the Goal Decision System on the giant screens in the corner of the ground. Craig Noone equalized for Cardiff in the 29th minute but Jesus Navas restored Citys lead three minutes later and second-half goals by Yaya Toure and substitute Sergio Aguero kept up the teams 100 per cent home record in the league. "We are playing fantastic football at the moment," Pellegrini said. "We play with fantastic intensity and that is how we must continue. The best way to play is the way we are playing now." With Theo Walcott out for the rest of the season with a knee problem and Aaron Ramsey still not fully recovered from injury, it was Cazorlas turn to chip in with goals from midfield to ease the burden on chief striker Olivier Giroud. Cazorla delivered instinctive finishes in the 57th and 62nd minutes, the first to complete a flowing move and the second after latching onto a clearance to break down the stubborn resistance of a Fulham side that arrived at Emirates Stadium with the leagues leakiest defence. "He is one of the players who can create something special, either through his pass or through his finishing," Wenger said of Cazorla. OAKLAND, Calif. - In a game where offence was an afterthought, the scoreless stalemate ended in fitting fashion: a walk-off error. Melky Cabrera couldnt corral Nick Puntos double with one out in the 12th inning, sending the Oakland Athletics to a 1-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday in front of an announced crowd of 22,322 at the Coliseum. "Im sure they were ready to go home and get the barbecues started," Punto said. Derek Norris led off the rally with a walk by Chad Jenkins (0-1), who tossed two innings of relief. After Jed Lowrie lined out, Punto poked a slicing double down the line in left. Cabrera moved to his right to cut off the ball, which squirted by his glove for an error. Norris, who runs well for a catcher, hustled from first for an odd ending to a game highlighted by stellar pitching performances by Oaklands Tommy Milone, Torontos Marcus Stroman and both bullpens. "Thats the definition of a pitching duel," Milone said. "Its exciting. Its fun to watch. But it was about that time." Dan Otero (7-1), the fifth Oakland reliever to toss a scoreless inning, earned the win. Cabrera never surfaced in the clubhouse during the time reporters were allowed in after the game. "Thats not the game," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Cabreras misplay. "It was great pitching on both sides." Stroman gave up seven hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked three. Milone allowed four hits in six innings, striking out six and walking one intentionally. The left-hander is 6-0 in his last 11 starts and hasnt lost since May 3 at Boston. The pitchers quickly erased the few chances both offences had. Jose Reyes singled on the games first pitch, but Milone didnt allow another hit until Steve Tolleson doubled on a pop fly leading off the fifth that landed between three players battling the bright sky, which caused problems all day. Tolleson advanced to third on the second of two groundouts before Milone struck out Reyes. Lowries fiielding error at shortstop extended the sixth for Toronto.dddddddddddd But Milone rebounded the way he had all afternoon, striking out Brad Glenn to strand two. "It the same thing hes been doing all season. He changes speed and locates so well," said Blue Jays centre fielder Darin Mastroianni, who singled with one out in the 12th for his only hit. Stroman kept the As off-balance and out of sync in similar fashion. He got some help from his defence, too, including Cabrera. With two on and two outs in the third, Cabrera made a diving catch on Yoenis Cespedes liner to left. Cabrera grabbed his midsection and jogged gingerly backed to the dugout afterward. Josh Donaldson started a double play by fielding Edwin Encarnacions grounder at third and threw from his backside to Punto, whose relay from second to first ended Torontos eighth. Toronto caught its own defensive break when Brandon Moss sprained his left ankle coming out of the box, and the Blue Jays easily turned a double play to end the bottom of the inning. Moss said the ankle is sore but hopes to play Saturday, though As manager Bob Melvin said Moss will likely get a day off. Oaklands Ryan Cook, Fernando Abad, Sean Doolittle, Eric OFlaherty and Luke Gregerson all pitched a scoreless inning. Jenkins, Brett Cecil, Dustin McGowan and Aaron Loup combined to throw four scoreless innings before the As broke through in the 12th. "The pitching today was fantastic across the board," Melvin said. "They came in, did their job for the inning and passed the baton to the next guy." NOTES: Blue Jays hitting coach Kevin Seitzer was ejected by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza in the sixth inning for apparently arguing balls and strikes from the dugout. ... Melvin said an MRI revealed that 1B Kyle Blanks has a slight tear in his left calf and is not expected back anytime soon. ... Scott Kazmir (9-3, 2.61 ERA) starts for Oakland opposite Torontos Mark Buehrle (10-5, 2.50 ERA) on Saturday. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
