3 things from Boxing Day's Premier League action: United continue to click vs. Newcastle

As per usual, all 20 Premier League clubs were in action on Boxing Day, providing 10 entertaining fixtures on a day where most people are still in a food coma from the previous evening.

It was also business as usual across the United Kingdom. Manchester United showed just how far they've come this season and earned an impressive win at home to Newcastle. Chelsea maintained their three-point lead at the top of the table with a dominant performance against West Ham. And 10-man Arsenal survived a late onslaught to escape with three points versus Queens Park Rangers.

theScore's Gianluca Nesci and Carlo Campo run down three things from Boxing Day's Premier League action:

Resurgence of Manchester United continues against Newcastle

Carlo Campo: Old Trafford is beginning to look like the fortress it once was.

Taking on a Newcastle side that was likely still recovering from their 90th-minute loss in last weekend's Tyne-Wear derby, Manchester United emerged with a 3-1 win and extended their unbeaten run to eight games.

Playing with a 3-1-4-2 formation that featured Michael Carrick in front of 19-year-old centre-back Paddy McNair, United's attacking qualities were on full display from the opening whistle.

The trio of Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao, and Juan Mata caused endless problems for Newcastle's backline, and it came as little surprise that United's two-goal lead at the interval was the result of phenomenal assist from El Tigre on the first goal and a wonderful through ball from the Spanish attacking midfielder on the second.

The brace took Rooney's season goal tally to eight, and at this point, supporters of Newcastle must be getting tired of seeing the England captain score so consistently against their club.

In the second half, Rooney then registered his fourth assist of the season in the 53rd minute, when he set up Robin van Persie with a precision-perfect cross into the box that the Dutch forward merely needed to head past Jan Alnwick.

Who says Rooney is a shadow of his former self?

It was as solid of a performance as Louis van Gaal's side could have asked for, and the attacking display will go a long way in proving that United can indeed function with a three-man backline.

Oh, and since it's Boxing Day, here's a useless statistic:

Chelsea still perfect at home after dominating West Ham

Gianluca Nesci: Dominating isn't a strong enough word.

Emasculating is probably a more appropriate way to describe the scene at Stamford Bridge today, as Chelsea swatted aside West Ham - who came into the contest sitting fourth in the table - with such blatant disregard.

The 2-0 scoreline, courtesy of goals from John Terry and Diego Costa, flattered the Hammers, especially when you take a quick glance at the final numbers:

• Shots: Chelsea 28, West Ham 6
• Shots on Target: Chelsea 9, West Ham 0
• Possession: Chelsea 62 percent, West Ham 38 percent

The talk all year has been about the Blues, and how they're going to sleepwalk their way to another Premier League title. That may not be entirely accurate thanks to the presence of Manchester City, but one thing has been clear all season: Chelsea are a class above. Multiple classes, when you remove City from the equation.

Friday, West Ham learned that the hard way.

After Terry opened the scoring in the 31st minute, Costa doubled Chelsea's lead in the 62nd minuted, scoring his 13th goal of the season by wiping out three West Ham defenders with one simple move. It was so very indicative of the match as a whole.

(Courtesy: TSN)

That goal almost made up for the Spaniard's wardrobe choice. Almost. Wearing short sleeves with gloves should be a crime punishable by an immediate red card when you step out of the tunnel.

We'll work on getting that into the FIFA rule book. During that time, everyone else in the Premier League can try and concoct a way to slow down the all-conquering juggernaut that is Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.

Good luck.

10-man Arsenal survive late scare versus Queens Park Rangers

Carlo Campo: It's always the hard way when it comes to Arsenal.

Although Arsene Wenger's side overwhelmed Queens Park Rangers for the majority of their 2-1 win, it could have been a far easier victory had Alexis Sanchez not missed an early penalty and had Olivier Giroud not been sent off for a mind-boggling red card in the early stages of the second half.

After being brought down in the box only eight minutes into the fixture, Sanchez stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, but was denied by Robert Green, who is clearly still keen to make people forget about his career-defining howler from the 2010 World Cup.

Of course, Mikel Arteta would surely have taken the penalty were he not sidelined with a calf muscle strain, but the decision to let Sanchez step up to the spot was slightly confusing given his history.

Although the Chilean forward redeemed himself by scoring the opener in the 37th minute, it didn't take long for Arsenal to once again jeopardize their chances of winning.

This time, the trouble came courtesy of Giroud, who inexplicably headbutted Nedum Onuoha in the 53rd minute and received a red card for his bone-headed decision.

Down to 10 men, Arsenal still continued to dictate the tempo of the match, and they were rewarded in the 65th minute when Tomas Rosicky doubled his side's lead with a first-time shot that Sanchez assisted.

Fast forward to closing moments of the game. Revitalized by a 78th-minute converted penalty from Charlie Austin, QPR surged forward and did everything they could in search of a late equalizer.

However, nothing became of the late pressure, and the final whistle marked two impressive milestones for Wenger.