Shkodran Mustafi is quietly emerging as Arsenal’s key defender, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic has proved he will be crucial to Manchester United's title charge — 10 THINGS WE LEARNED

• e-mail

There was plenty of action across the Premier League this weekend, as Arsenal and Manchester United squeezed past Burnley and Brighton respectively, while Everton's poor fortunes continued.

Here, Sportsmail's RALPH ELLIS takes a look at what we can take away from the top flight happenings, as well as delivering a few pointers and what went on the Football League.  

1) German defender Shkodran Mustafi is quietly emerging as Arsenal’s key defender after another excellent performance in the 1-0 win at Burnley.

The 25-year-old, who cost £35m from Valencia, has taken time to settle in the Premier League but this season has been outstanding.

Arsenal have not conceded a Premier League goal in the six games Mustafi has started since the 1-0 defeat at Stoke in August. In six games without him they have let in 15.

German defender Shkodran Mustafi put in another excellent display for Arsenal at Burnley

2) Zlatan Ibrahimovic is going to have a huge part to play if Manchester United are to overhaul the eight-point gap to neighbours City in the title race.

The veteran striker has a mesmerising effect on opponents that creates space for others.

He wasn’t involved in the goal that brought United a 1-0 win over Brighton but it was surely no coincidence that it came just four minutes after he was brought on as a substitute.

United went ahead against Brighton within four minutes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's arrival

3) Everton’s next manager can start with a simple message — make sure you win your individual battles.

The Toffees were second best too often at Southampton as they slumped to a 4-1 defeat, winning just 44 duels between them.

Only Liverpool against Chelsea (42) won fewer duels among Premier League teams this weekend.

Everton players won just 44 duels while going down to a 4-1 defeat at Southampton

4) Daniel Sturridge has some big decisions to make in January on how he revives his career if he wants to get into England’s World Cup plans.

The 28-year-old failed to take a rare chance to start a big game when Jurgen Klopp picked him against Chelsea, failing to register a single shot on or off target before he was hooked after 66 minutes.

Sturridge’s finishing can be exceptional, but in 12 Premier League games he’s started since the beginning of last season he has scored only twice.

Daniel Sturridge started against Chelsea at Anfield but failed to take his chance up top 

5) Credit to Claude Puel for finding a way to fit the creative talents of wingers Demarai Gray, Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton into the same side.

The three of them took turns between wide positions and a No 10 role in the 1-1 draw at West Ham, the second game in a row in which all had started.

Last season there were only three occasion in 54 games in all competitions when Gray, Mahrez and Albrighton were all named to play together.

Marc Albrighton grabbed Leicester's goal as they drew 1-1 with West Ham on Friday night

6) Manchester United’s plan that teenage Dutch defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah would gain valuable Premier League experience at Crystal Palace has been scuppered since Roy Hodgson took over.

The 19-year-old was back on the bench again for Palace’s 2-1 win over Stoke with Joel Ward preferred at full back and James Tomkins alongside Mamadou Sakho in the centre of defence.

Fosu Mensah has started only once since Hodgson took over, having been a regular under Frank de Boer.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah has made just one start for Crystal Palace since Roy Hodgson took over

7) Dutch defender Mike van der Hoorn could give Paul Clement a difficult decision to make when Federico Fernandez returns to the club.

The 6ft 3in Dutch defender added extra aggression to Swansea’s defence and his attitude spread through the team in the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth.

It would be tough on Fernandez to leave him out after allowing him to fly home to Argentina following the death of his father, but if Van der Hoorn does well again at Chelsea on Wednesday he would feel he’d earned the right to partner Alfie Mawson.

Mike van der Hoorn's inclusion for Swansea gave them extra aggression against Bournemouth

8) Chris Coleman’s arrival at Sunderland looks like good news for 18-year-old winger Joel Asoro who has been brought off the bench in both of his games in charge.

The Swedish youngster, who has been in the Black Cats academy since 2015, provided a brilliant cross for George Honeyman’s goal in the 2-0 win at Burton.

Coleman loves attacking players and Asoro, who has hardly figured since being given his debut by David Moyes last season, looks like being one the former Wales boss has picked out.

Swedish youngster Joel Asoro provided the assist for Sunderland's second goal against Burton

9) Rochdale manager Keith Hill’s relationship with his chairman Chris Dunphy must be the envy of most lower-league managers.

Hill took charge of his 500th game for the club in two spells in the 2-0 win over Peterborough, and has never been under pressure this season despite only one win in the previous nine games.

Keith Hill took charge of his 500th Rochdale game on Saturday — a 2-0 win over Peterborough

10) Michael Flynn pulled off something of a miracle when he kept Newport in League Two last season and he might just be ready for another one by steering the Welsh club to promotion.

Remarkably the 37-year-old has had some criticism from fans with short memories of how he masterminded a great escape with seven wins from the final 12 games.

Their 1-0 success at Swindon – the first time Newport had won at the County Ground in 62 years – has moved them to within two points of the play-offs.

Michael Flynn has Newport County within two points of the play-off places in League Two