Chelsea hammered, Spurs gain ground in evolving top-4 race

Chelsea's top-four chances were dealt a blow in Wednesday's 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth, which saw the Blues vaulted by London rival Arsenal for fourth place in the table. Both clubs now have 47 points, but the Gunners are ahead on goals scored.

Meanwhile, it was a case of contrasting fortunes for the English capital's other big side.

Despite an uninspiring home showing without injured duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli, Tottenham overturned a one-goal deficit to Watford courtesy of late tallies from Heung-min Son (80th minute) and Fernando Llorente (87th), nabbing a stranglehold on third place in the process. Spurs now sit on 54 points, just two adrift of preseason title faves Manchester City. The result also saw Tottenham match Bolton's Premier League record of 28 matches without a draw.

Tottenham and Arsenal - the latter beat Cardiff City 2-1 - were the only sides in England's top six to earn three points, as City slumped to a befuddling 2-1 defeat at Newcastle on Tuesday and Liverpool failed to regain a seven-point lead atop the table with a 1-1 draw against Leicester City.

If Manchester City were the big losers on Tuesday, Chelsea were Wednesday's dud with a dire performance at the Vitality Stadium that witnessed new centerpiece Gonzalo Higuain replaced by Olivier Giroud at the hour mark. It was the first time Chelsea lost a league match by a four-goal margin since 1996.