London: Arsenal scored two late goals to finally break down Cardiff's resistance and stay top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory on Wednesday.
The Gunners dominated the entire game but wasted the few clear-cut chances they created until substitute Nicklas Bendtner thumped home a rebound in the 88th minute. Theo Walcott then made sure of the victory with a chip over goalkeeper David Marshall.
Bendtner was injured in the process of scoring and was immediately substituted.
With the win, Arsenal remained a point above Manchester City atop the standings.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watched the match sitting next to Cardiff owner Vincent Tan, increasing speculation that the Norwegian is set to be hired as the team's new manager.
Leighton Baines converted an injury-time penalty to earn Everton a 1-1 draw at Stoke on Wednesday as his side dropped out of the top four of the Premier League.
Everton enjoyed plenty of possession and hit the woodwork twice in the first half before Oussama Assaidi gave Stoke a 49th minute lead against the run of play.
The visitors were rewarded for all their pressure at the very end, though, when Jermaine Pennant fouled Leon Osman and Baines made no mistake with the spot kick.
Everton slipped to fifth in the standings, a point behind Merseyside rival Liverpool - which moved up after beating Hull 2-0.
Also, goals from Steve Sidwell and Dimitar Berbatov helped Fulham secure a 2-1 win over 10-man West Ham on Wednesday that lifted the London club out of the relegation zone.
The Hammers had opened the scoring through Mohamed Diame's first-half goal before Sidwell put the teams level from a corner.
West Ham captain Kevin Nolan was sent off just before the interval after kicking Fernando Amorebieta, and Berbatov scored the winner in the 66th with a shot into the corner from Scott Parker's assist.
Aston Villa ended their five-match winless run by beating Sunderland 1-0 through Gabriel Agbonlahor's early goal to keep the home side bottom of the Premier League.
Agbonlahor pounced on Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole's mistake to collect the ball, round goalkeeper Vito Mannone and slot home in the 15th minute.
Sunderland's best chance for an equaliser came in the 52nd minute when Fabio Borini scored what appeared a legitimate goal that was ruled out for offside.
Emanuele Giaccherini and Steven Fletcher squandered other decent opportunities for Sunderland, which are stuck at the foot of the standings - a point behind West Ham and four adrift of safety.
The win pushed Villa up to mid-table.
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