Manchester United did what they do best, which is pickup all three points despite not being at their best, while a brace from Santi Cazorla rescued Arsenal from yet another headline-grabbing disappointing result.
An absolute belter from Rafael, which will be right up there for goal of the season, and a strike from the evergreen Ryan Giggs gave United a 2-0 win over bottom club Queens Park Rangers, with the win taking them a massive 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who face a tricky tie against Chelsea Sunday.
At Loftus Road, it was all about the best team in the country against the club that is playing for their Premier League lives. While the balance of play might not have exactly been as dominating for United as one might have expected, the result was never really in doubt.
United never really needed to get out of second gear, as QPR just looked like a unit bereft of ideas and one might even say desire to get out of the relegation mire that they find themselves in.
Harry Redknapp has just not been able to weave his magic on this side, and it will take something bigger than a miracle for QPR to survive.
United's opening goal came via rightback Rafael in the 23rd minute, and the Brazilian might not score a better goal than this one in his entire career.
The ball fell back to Rafael just on the edge of the box, after Julio Cesar had saved an initial strike from Robin Van Persie, and the fullback absolutely belted the ball on the half volley into the top corner with Cesar barely even having a chance to move.
QPR tried their best to get back into the game, and January signing Christopher Samba nearly equalized, but his header off a corner was cleared off the line by Rafael.
The United defender was clearly the man of the moment, and he nearly turned creator for United immediately after, curling a pinpoint cross towards Van Persie, whose left-footed volley was well saved by Cesar.
QPR just did not have enough quality to find that equalizer, as United looked fairly comfortable, with Loic Remy coming close in the second period, forcing a good save of David De Gea.
Ten minutes from time, the game was put to bed by Giggs, who scored with a typical left-footed strike in his 999th senior appearance.
Manchester City now have to win against Chelsea at the Etihad, to hold the slimmest of hopes of staying alive in the title race.
At the Emirates, it seemed like it would be a walk in the park for Arsenal when Cazorla struck with just five minutes on the clock.
The Spanish playmaker saw his cross deflect back to him, before driving a strike hard and low, which Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan just could not keep out.
However, the second goal just did not come along for the home side, as Villa themselves looked extremely dangerous on the counter-attack, with Andreas Weimann in particular causing all sorts of problems for the almost non-existent Arsenal defense.
The Gunners created several chances, and should have really finished off the game by halftime, but as their habit is nowadays they just made things harder for themselves. The longer it took for that elusive second goal to come by, the more nervous it made the crowd at the Emirates, which had plenty of empty seats.
Villa, almost expectedly, struck the equalizer in the 68th minute off a classic counter-attack, catching the home side cold, with Weimann driving forward before firing a strike from 22 yards which Wojciech Szczesny could only palm into the back of the net - the Arsenal goalkeeper should have really kept the ball out and questions will again be asked about the competence of the Polish international.
It looked like it might turn out to be yet another miserable night for the Gunners, before Cazorla found the winner five minutes from time. Jack Wilshere played a delightful ball over the top to the onrushing Nacho Monreal, who crossed the ball perfectly onto the path of Cazorla to strike into the bottom corner.
Relief was palpable in Arsene Wenger's face as well as in every single Arsenal fan, as referee Martin Atkinson blew the final whistle with the scores reading 2-1 in favor of the home side, a result which took them to within one point of their North London rivals Tottenham, who currently occupy that all-important final Champions League place.
Results: Fulham 1-0 Stoke; West Brom 2-1 Sunderland; QPR 0-2 Manchester United; Norwich 2-1 Everton; Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa; Reading 0-3 Wigan.
