Diego Costa marked his return to the Chelsea side with a goal-scoring performance in a 2-0 win against Hull as the EPL leaders extended their advantage to eight points.
The Spain striker was left out last weekend amid reports of a bust-up with manager Antonio Conte and interest from China - the official line was a back injury.
There were certainly no signs of discomfort against Hull for Costa, who was acclaimed by the home fans after putting Chelsea ahead during nine minutes of first-half stoppage time following a worrying injury to Ryan Mason.
Gary Cahill added a second late on to earn the Blues a 2-0 victory and put them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Back in action: Diego Costa scored despite rumours of a potential move to China circulating.Credit: Getty Images
Champions Leicester City's alarming slump continued with a 3-0 Premier League defeat at Southampton that left them just five points off the drop zone and firmly embroiled in a relegation fight.
First-half goals for James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez plus a late penalty by Dusan Tadic led the Saints to a comfortable win that came at the cost of an injury to key defender Virgil van Dyke, who hobbled off in the second half.
Ward-Prowse opened the scoring after 26 minutes following good approach play from Cedric Soares, before Rodriguez doubled the lead in the 39th after reacting quickest to a bouncing ball in the box to fire a left-foot shot past the keeper.
After the break, Wes Morgan was fortunate when his own goal was ruled out for offside but Leicester's captain then held back Shane Long for a penalty that Tadic thumped home as Southampton emphatically ended a run of four successive league defeats.
All is not well: Claudio Ranieri looks on as Leicester lost 3-0.Credit: PA
Arsenal snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Burnley to keep their title hopes on track after the referee Jon Moss awarded penalties to both sides and sent off home manager Arsene Wenger in injury time.
Jon Moss first pointed to the spot on 93 minutes when Francis Coquelin fouled Ashley Barnes and boyhood Arsenal fan Andre Gray converted for Burnley's equaliser.
Late show: Alexis Sanchez celebrates his late winner from the penalty spot.Credit: Mike Egerton
Yet Arsenal, who had taken the lead through Shkodran Mustafi but then had Granit Xhaka sent off for a wild challenge on 65 minutes, won a spot kick of their own.
Ben Mee raised his foot to Laurent Koscielny as the Frenchman tried to get on the end of a cross and Alexis Sanchez coolly converted in the eighth minute of added time for the win that takes Arsenal to second in the table.
Yet Wenger could find himself in trouble with the FA for clashing with the fourth official on the touchline after being sent off during the frantic finale.
Reuters