It has been a difficult period for Aubameyang as he has struggled for form and dealt with personal issues — taking time off to care for his mother, who was ill. He had only began to regain his form when he suddenly left to be with his mother for several days.

“It’s been a tough time for me, but now it’s time to get the smile back, win games and score goals,” Aubameyang said as he cradled the match ball in his arm.

Aubameyang’s penalty gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead but there was more to come before the break.

Aubameyang’s penalty gave Arsenal a 2-0 lead but there was more to come before the break.Credit:Getty

Leeds came back into the game in the second half, with manager Marcelo Bielsa making a double substitution. Pascal Struijk scored with a towering header from a corner to beat goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the 58th. The visitors got a second in the 69th when Helder Costa slotted past Leno after being set up by fellow substitute Tyler Roberts.

Arsenal moved up a place into 10th with 34 points, while Leeds dropped down a spot to 11th with 32 points.

United below par in scrappy draw

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United fell short on the road and, having been top just 19 days ago, second-place United now trail Manchester City by seven points. City also have game in hand.

Mbaye Diagne got West Brom off to a dream start after just 80 seconds before United drew level through Bruno Fernandes’ stunning effort.

West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone saves a late Harry Maguire shot on goal for United.

West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone saves a late Harry Maguire shot on goal for United.Credit:Getty Images

Harry Maguire had a last-gasp header superbly turned on to a post by Baggies goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.

Having won all of its previous seven away league matches in which United conceded first, Solskjaer will be frustrated by his side’s poor response in this costly draw at the Hawthorns.

Diagne scored his first goal for the club, his hand in Victor Lindelof’s face overlooked, but Fernandes levelled superbly at the end of the first half.

Premier League table

  1. Manchester City (played 23, goal difference +32) 53 pts
  2. Manchester United (24, +19) 46
  3. Leicester City (24, +15) 46
  4. Liverpool (24, +13) 40
  5. Chelsea (23, +14) 39
  6. West Ham (23, +6) 39
  7. Everton (22, +4) 37
  8. Aston Villa (22, +12) 36
  9. Tottenham (23, +11) 36
  10. Arsenal (24, +6) 34
  11. Leeds United (23, -2) 32
  12. Wolves (24, -7) 30
  13. Southampton (23, -9) 29
  14. Crystal Palace (24, -15) 29
  15. Brighton (24, -5) 26
  16. Burnley (23, -12) 26
  17. Newcastle (23, -13) 25
  18. Fulham (23, -12) 18
  19. West Brom (24, -36) 13
  20. Sheffield United (23, -22) 11

He fired home a stunning equaliser in the 44th minute, meeting Luke Shaw’s cross with a fine hooked effort that flew into the top left-hand corner.

The second half was more open and eventful.

Referee Craig Pawson overturned his decision to award a penalty for Semi Ajayi’s foul on Maguire after reviewing footage on the monitor, but offside would have come into play anyway if he had stuck with his decision.

Johnstone denied Mason Greenwood before Darnell Furlong cleared Scott McTominay’s effort off the line, while at the other end David De Gea prevented Diagne securing a shock win with a superb double save.

Diagne only had himself to blame in the 78th minute as he somehow failed to score. Having shaken off Maguire to go through one-on-one with De Gea, the ball looped up after his initial shot was saved and Diagne looked set to nod into an empty net until the goalkeeper got back superbly to claw away.

Maja double boosts lowly Fulham

Fulham’s Nigerian striker Josh Maja scored his first two goals for the club to secure a 2-0 win at Everton as the visitors ended a 12-game Premier League run without a win and rekindled their hopes of avoiding relegation.

The result left Fulham 18th on 18 points from 23 games, seven behind 17th-placed Newcastle United, while Everton stayed seventh on 37 from 22 after another lacklustre home performance.

Everton’s poor league form continued as they suffered a third home defeat in four games, while Fulham won at Goodison Park for the first time after 22 successive defeats with Maja netting a brace in his first start for the Cottagers.

Maja’s first goals for Fulham gave the London club a valuable victory over Everton.

Maja’s first goals for Fulham gave the London club a valuable victory over Everton.Credit:Reuters

The visitors missed a hatful of first-half chances before former Sunderland striker Maja, who is on loan from French side Girondins Bordeaux, slid in to steer home Ola Aina’s fizzing low cross in the 48th minute.

He made it 2-0 in the 65th with another predator’s finish, popping up in front of goalkeeper Robin Olsen to tap in a rebound from close range after Harrison Reed hit the post with a long-range effort.

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Wolves come back to beat Southampton

At Southampton, Wanderers came from behind to beat Southampton 2-1, inflicting their sixth league defeat in a row.

Danny Ings gave the home side the lead but a Ruben Neves penalty and a superb Pedro Neto goal gave Wolves all three points.

Southampton have won only once in their last 11 league matches and Hasenhuettl was at a loss to explain a result which condemned his club to a sixth consecutive league loss for the first time in their history.

“We know what happened today – it’s hard to explain this defeat,” Hasenhuettl told Amazon Prime.

“Until their penalty they had no chances at goal.”

AP, Reuters

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