Arsenal vs Tottenham and more Halloween horror shows from the Premier League era

Getting in the spirit: Premier League fans look spook-tacular ahead of kick-off
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Tom Dutton31 October 2016

The introduction of Olivier Giroud proved just the trick as Arsenal fans were treated to victory over Sunderland during the Halloween weekend.

The 30-year-old's double ensured the Gunners kept pace with pace-setters Manchester City and Liverpool while heaping more misery on the Black Cats, for whom the Stadium of Gloom might be more apt given current form.

Romelu Lukaku continued to cast a spell over West Ham as Everton won at Goodison Park and Tottenham could be forgiven for going as white as their shirts after failing to score from open play for a fourth straight game.

To celebrate the time of year, Standard Sport takes a look back at some of the Premier League's most hair-raising spectacles from Halloweens gone by.

Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham (2009)

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Spurs failed to end a haunting winless run against their arch-rivals as Arsenal cruised past Harry Redknapp's side at Emirates Stadium, extending their unbeaten sequence against Tottenham to 20 games. A double from Robin van Persie either side of Cesc Fabregas's strike proved just the trick as Arsene Wenger smashed through 1000 Premier League points. Tottenham exacted revenge with a win at the Lane later that season and snuck into the top four ahead of City.

Newcastle 5 - 1 Sunderland (2010)

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Black Cats are synonymous with Halloween but Steve Bruce's side failed to thrive as Newcastle spooked their bitter rivals at St. James' Park. Kevin Nolan ghosted between the visiting defenders to complete a hat-trick, while Shola Ameobi hit a double as the Toony Army cast a spell over Wearside. However, Bruce's men had the last cackle as they finished above Newcastle in the Premier League.

Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool (2009)

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Liverpool were knocked nine points off the Premier League title pace and finished with nine men as Fulham recorded their first league win over the Reds in over three years. It seemed there might have been a halloween curse on Rafael Benitez's squad as they went into the game without first teamers Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio.

QPR 2 - 1 Liverpool (1994)

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QPR boss Gerry Francis delivered one last shock before departing Loftus Road for Tottenham in November 1994, steering Rangers to victory over the Reds to haul them clear of the drop zone and inflict defeat on Liverpool for just the second time in 10 games. Les Ferdinand's wicked winner on All Hallows' Evening seemed to lift QPR's spirits as they charged towards an eighth-place finish.

Manchester United 0 Wimbledon 1 (1992)

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Manchester United went on to be champions, but not before a wobble in autumn threatened to become a crisis as Lawrie Sanchez's Old Trafford Wimbledon winner saw United end a run of five successive draws with defeat. Try as they did to snatch a sixth straight point, Sir Alex Ferguson's men suffered a nightmare defeat, but there was no hocus pocus from Ferguson as the Scot led his team to the first ever Premier League crown the following May.

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