Chelsea beats Arsenal to stay atop Premier League

• Chelsea defeats Arsenal 2-1 with goals form Fernando Torres and Juan Mata
• John Terry contemplates whether or not to appeal suspension for racial slur
• Arsenal shows its vulnerability defensively

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea came through its sternest test of the season to stay top of the English Premier League, beating Arsenal 2-1 on Saturday to open up a three-point lead after Manchester United lost at home to Tottenham for the first time in 23 years.

Spurs' 3-2 win in a thrilling match at Old Trafford saw United drop to third place and level on points with defending champion Manchester City, which needed a late goal by Edin Dzeko to grab a 2-1 victory at Fulham.

Everton is the nearest challenger to Chelsea following its 3-1 come-from-behind win over Southampton and Liverpool completed a good day for Merseyside by earning its first league triumph of the season, Luis Suarez scoring a hat trick in a 5-2 thrashing of Norwich.

Unbeaten Chelsea's fifth win in six games was secured by goals from Fernando Torres and Juan Mata and a strong rearguard display from a defense featuring John Terry, two days after he received a four-match ban for on-pitch racial abuse.

"It was a big challenge to play against a quality side like Arsenal," Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo said of opponents who were unbeaten heading into the match at Emirates Stadium. "We were excellent. We didn't just come and sit back, we took the initiative."

Terry shrugged off jeers from Arsenal fans to deliver a composed display for Chelsea and received a rapturous welcome from the jubilant traveling support after the match, slapping the badge on his jersey.

The center back was available while he contemplates whether to appeal the suspension for making a racial slur at Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand in a league match last year.

Terry lost Gervinho for Arsenal's equalizer in the 42nd but hardly put a foot wrong otherwise.

"It was the right choice to pick him today," Di Matteo said. "John showed his leadership qualities and what a good defender he is for the team."

The loss ended Arsenal's unbeaten start and saw the team's defensive vulnerability resurface, with center back Laurent Koscielny at fault for both goals from Mata's set pieces.

"Defensively, we were just not at the level you have to be in a game like that, which is where we were punished today," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.