EPL: Ramsey to the party again as Arsenal rocket to top

Arsenal moved top of the Premier League with a 3-1 defeat of StokeCity with in-form midfielder Aaron Ramsey again providing the spark on Sunday.

Ramsey fired Arsenal ahead after five minutes and although Stoke equalised through American Geoff Cameron, goals from Per Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna sealed a seventh consecutive win in all competitions for Arsene Wenger's side.

Welshman Ramsey has scored seven goals in eight matches this season and his early goal helped nullify the loss of Theo Walcott who was injured in the warm-up.

SwanseaCity followed up a notable 3-0 Europa League win in Valencia in midweek with a 2-0 victory at CrystalPalace that moved Michael Laudrup's side into mid-table.

After losing on the opening day of the season at home to Aston Villa, Arsenal have won four successive league games and lead the table with 12 points, two ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool and three more than Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham can match their total later with victory at CardiffCity.

Image: Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Stoke City at Emirates Stadium in London on Sunday

Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty Images