Manchester City emerged from a European hangover to maintain their unbeaten Premier League record with a 1-0 win over Swansea at the Etihad Stadium.
Second-best for 45 minutes as a subdued home support took stock of their side's Champions League troubles, City improved after half-time and took the points thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal in the 61st minute.
The striker's first in nine games delivered just a second win in five home games, and the impression remains that Roberto Mancini's champions are some way from hitting last season's stride despite sitting just a point off top spot.
There was further discomfort for the manager when Micah Richards followed Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm in departing on a stretcher with what appeared a serious injury.
Premier League
Man City 1 - 0 Swansea
Reading 3 - 3 Fulham
Stoke City 0 - 0 Sunderland
Arsenal 1 - 0 QPR
Wigan 2 - 1 West Ham
A Villa 1 - 1 Norwich
Premier League Results
Arsenal finally broke the resistance of stubborn 10-man QPR with six minutes remaining to avoid going a third straight match without a goal and claim a much-needed 1-0 win.
Mikel Arteta poked the ball home following a desperate goalmouth scramble to earn the Gunners a 1-0 victory at a relieved Emirates Stadium.
Bottom side Rangers shot themselves in the foot when Stephane Mbia was sent off in the 80th minute for inexplicably kicking out at Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsene Wenger's side eventually made them pay, despite being frustrated for most of the game by a succession of missed chances and some fantastic saves from Julio Cesar.
QPR could have equalised in a thrilling finish only for Esteban Granero and Jamie Mackie to see openings go begging.
Jack Wilshere returned to the Gunners' starting line-up following more than a year out and he was the brightest spark before being withdrawn midway through the second half.
Winless Reading led 1-0 and then came from behind twice in the final six minutes to snatch a 3-3 draw at home to Fulham.
Mikele Leigertwood rifled into the top corner from just outside the area in the 26th minute to give the Royals the lead, but Bryan Ruiz levelled with an equally well-struck shot just after the half-hour mark and Chris Baird's 77th-minute header completed the turnaround.
Garath McCleary made it 2-2 in the 85th minute, only for Dimitar Berbatov to appear to win it for the Cottagers three minutes later.
But there was more drama to come as substitute Hal Robson-Kanu struck the equaliser in the final minute.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert failed to get one over on his old side as Norwich were more than worth a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Lambert, who left the Canaries in the summer, saw his new side go ahead in the 27th minute when Christian Benteke took advantage of poor defending to finish well.
But the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Joe Bennett received a second booking.
Norwich got an equaliser their domination deserved thanks to Michael Turner's 79th-minute glancing header and they would have gone on to win it had they not wasted a clutch of chances.
Premier League
1 Chelsea 22
2 Man City 21
3 Man Utd 18
4 Arsenal 15
5 Everton 15
6 Fulham 14
7 Tottenham 14
8 West Brom 14
9 West Ham 14
10 Swansea 11
11 Newcastle 10
12 Stoke City 9
13 Liverpool 9
14 Sunderland 9
15 Wigan 8
16 Norwich 7
17 A Villa 6
18 Reading 4
19 Southamptn 4
20 QPR 3
last updated 27/10 19:34
Wigan picked up their first win in seven league matches with a 2-0 success at home to West Ham, who missed the chance to move into a European spot.
Ivan Ramis volleyed powerfully home in the eighth minute and James McArthur's well-controlled finish two minutes after the break doubled the lead.
James Tomkins headed a stoppage-time consolation, but the Latics were already home and dry.
The match between Stoke and Sunderland finished goalless.
In a game lacking in real quality and featuring some feisty tackling, Potters wideman Michael Kightly saw a shot cleared away by the head of Carlos Cuellar in the first half.
Charlie Adam was unable to finish for the hosts from Geoff Cameron's tee-up after the break and Black Cats striker Steven Fletcher's penalty claims went unheeded after his shot looked to have hit Robert Huth's arm.
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet then did well to deny Huth from close range and Kightly struck wide in stoppage time.
Second-best for 45 minutes as a subdued home support took stock of their side's Champions League troubles, City improved after half-time and took the points thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal in the 61st minute.
The striker's first in nine games delivered just a second win in five home games, and the impression remains that Roberto Mancini's champions are some way from hitting last season's stride despite sitting just a point off top spot.
There was further discomfort for the manager when Micah Richards followed Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm in departing on a stretcher with what appeared a serious injury.
Premier League
Man City 1 - 0 Swansea
Reading 3 - 3 Fulham
Stoke City 0 - 0 Sunderland
Arsenal 1 - 0 QPR
Wigan 2 - 1 West Ham
A Villa 1 - 1 Norwich
Premier League Results
Arsenal finally broke the resistance of stubborn 10-man QPR with six minutes remaining to avoid going a third straight match without a goal and claim a much-needed 1-0 win.
Mikel Arteta poked the ball home following a desperate goalmouth scramble to earn the Gunners a 1-0 victory at a relieved Emirates Stadium.
Bottom side Rangers shot themselves in the foot when Stephane Mbia was sent off in the 80th minute for inexplicably kicking out at Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsene Wenger's side eventually made them pay, despite being frustrated for most of the game by a succession of missed chances and some fantastic saves from Julio Cesar.
QPR could have equalised in a thrilling finish only for Esteban Granero and Jamie Mackie to see openings go begging.
Jack Wilshere returned to the Gunners' starting line-up following more than a year out and he was the brightest spark before being withdrawn midway through the second half.
Winless Reading led 1-0 and then came from behind twice in the final six minutes to snatch a 3-3 draw at home to Fulham.
Mikele Leigertwood rifled into the top corner from just outside the area in the 26th minute to give the Royals the lead, but Bryan Ruiz levelled with an equally well-struck shot just after the half-hour mark and Chris Baird's 77th-minute header completed the turnaround.
Garath McCleary made it 2-2 in the 85th minute, only for Dimitar Berbatov to appear to win it for the Cottagers three minutes later.
But there was more drama to come as substitute Hal Robson-Kanu struck the equaliser in the final minute.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert failed to get one over on his old side as Norwich were more than worth a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.
Lambert, who left the Canaries in the summer, saw his new side go ahead in the 27th minute when Christian Benteke took advantage of poor defending to finish well.
But the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when Joe Bennett received a second booking.
Norwich got an equaliser their domination deserved thanks to Michael Turner's 79th-minute glancing header and they would have gone on to win it had they not wasted a clutch of chances.
Premier League
1 Chelsea 22
2 Man City 21
3 Man Utd 18
4 Arsenal 15
5 Everton 15
6 Fulham 14
7 Tottenham 14
8 West Brom 14
9 West Ham 14
10 Swansea 11
11 Newcastle 10
12 Stoke City 9
13 Liverpool 9
14 Sunderland 9
15 Wigan 8
16 Norwich 7
17 A Villa 6
18 Reading 4
19 Southamptn 4
20 QPR 3
last updated 27/10 19:34
Wigan picked up their first win in seven league matches with a 2-0 success at home to West Ham, who missed the chance to move into a European spot.
Ivan Ramis volleyed powerfully home in the eighth minute and James McArthur's well-controlled finish two minutes after the break doubled the lead.
James Tomkins headed a stoppage-time consolation, but the Latics were already home and dry.
The match between Stoke and Sunderland finished goalless.
In a game lacking in real quality and featuring some feisty tackling, Potters wideman Michael Kightly saw a shot cleared away by the head of Carlos Cuellar in the first half.
Charlie Adam was unable to finish for the hosts from Geoff Cameron's tee-up after the break and Black Cats striker Steven Fletcher's penalty claims went unheeded after his shot looked to have hit Robert Huth's arm.
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet then did well to deny Huth from close range and Kightly struck wide in stoppage time.