Manchester Metropolis threw down the gauntlet for the second successive weekend and Arsenal proved undaunted as they kicked off their festive fixtures with a slim 2-1 defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion to remain as Premier League leaders on Saturday.
Metropolis gained 2-1 at Nottingham Forest with Rayan Cherki grabbing a purpose and an help to briefly transfer prime of the pile.
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However Arsenal, simply as that they had performed final week by beating Everton after Metropolis’s earlier win over West Ham United, had been unwavering as captain Martin Odegaard scored his first purpose of the season for Mikel Arteta’s facet.
Arsenal additionally wanted an personal purpose and a spectacular save by keeper David Raya to protect their lead because the midway level within the Premier League season looms.
The London facet have 42 factors from 18 video games with Metropolis on 40.
Aston Villa stay within the thick of the title race in third with 39 factors due to Ollie Watkins’ double in a 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea. Villa equalled their all-time membership report of 11 consecutive wins throughout all competitions.
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Leandro Trossard scores Arsenal’s first purpose in a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on Nov. 23.
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Leandro Trossard scores Arsenal’s first purpose in a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on Nov. 23.
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Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez makes a save in opposition to Burnley at Turf Moor in Burnley on Nov. 22. Chelsea gained the match, 2-0.
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Nikola Milenkovic of Nottingham Forest wins a header beneath stress from Jayden Bogle of Leeds United at Metropolis Floor on Nov. 9. Nottingham Forest gained the match, 3-1.
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Michael Keane of Everton scores his crew’s second purpose throughout a 2-0 win over Fulham on the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Nov. 8.
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Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring his crew’s second purpose in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Nov. 1. The victory ended a four-game dropping streak in Premier League video games for the defending champions.
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Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri (proper) and Burnley’s Florentino Luis battle for possession of the ball at Turf Moor. Arsenal gained the Nov. 1 match, 2-0, to remain six factors above Manchester Metropolis atop the Premier League desk.
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Diego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion scores his crew’s second purpose while beneath stress from Lucas Perri of Leeds United at Amex Stadium on Nov. 1. Brighton prevailed, 3-0.
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Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher comes out to clear the ball in opposition to Liverpool on the Gtech Group Stadium in London on Oct. 25. Brentford gained the match, 3-2, sending Liverpool to its fourth consecutive Premier League defeat.
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Wilson Isidor of Sunderland celebrates after scoring his crew’s first purpose in a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 25.
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Harry Maguire of Manchester United celebrates scoring his crew’s second purpose in a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Oct. 19.
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Andre of Wolverhampton Wanderers is challenged by Wilson Isidor of Sunderland throughout Sunderland’s 2-0 win at Stadium of Mild on Oct. 18, 2025 in Sunderland, England.
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Brenden Aaronson of Leeds United is challenged by Floretino Luis of Burnley throughout Burnley’s 2-0 win at Turf Moor on Oct. 18, 2025 in Burnley, England.
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Erling Haaland of Manchester Metropolis competes for a header while beneath stress from Sepp van den Berg and Kristoffer Ajer of Brentford at Gtech Group Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025. Man Metropolis gained the match, 1-0.
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Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea celebrates alongside Marc Cucurella and Jamie Gittens after Estevao Willian scored the profitable purpose in a 2-1 win in opposition to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Oct. 4, 2025.
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Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa and Lyle Foster of Burnley compete for the ball through the Premier League match at Villa Park on Oct. 5, 2025 in Birmingham, England. Aston Villa gained the match, 2-1.
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Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko (16) fouls West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta through the match at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sept. 29, 2025.
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Emiliano Buendia of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his crew’s third purpose in a 3-1 win over Fulham at Villa Park on Sept. 28, 2025.
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Igor Thiago of Brentford scores his crew’s second purpose previous Altay Bayindir of Manchester United throughout a 3-1 win at Brentford Group Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025.
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Crystal Palace’s Eddie Nketiah (9) scores their late winner throughout a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Selhurst Park in south London on Sept. 27, 2025.
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Erling Haaland tries to carry off Manchester United defender Leny Yoro.
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Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi celebrates scoring in opposition to Nottingham Forest.
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Tottenham gamers have a good time a purpose in opposition to West Ham.
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Chelsea gamers have a good time a purpose in opposition to Fulham.
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Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring a penalty in opposition to Burnley.
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Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his crew’s first purpose in opposition to Aston Villa.
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annibal Mejbri of Burnley celebrates the crew’s first purpose in opposition to Sunderland at Turf Moor.
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Chelsea gamers have a good time a purpose in opposition to West Ham.
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Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola reacts throughout a loss to Tottenham.
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Jurrien Timber of Arsenal scores his crew’s fourth purpose in opposition to Leeds.
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Joao Palhinha of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his crew’s second purpose in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
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Diego Gomez of Brighton & Hove Albion reacts through the match in opposition to Fulham.
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Chris Wooden of Nottingham Forest goes round goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher of Brentford.
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Cole Palmer controls the ball in opposition to Crystal Palace.
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Arsenal followers on the Emirates Stadium throughout a win in opposition to Leeds.
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Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo jumps over Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ki-Jana Hoever.
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Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland celebrates scoring in opposition to Wolverhampton.
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Arsenal’s Mikel Merino and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes vie for a header.
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Gamers, match officers and followers participate in a second of silence as a fan mosaic depicting “DJ20” is displayed in reminiscence of late Liverpool star Diogo Jota.
Florian Wirtz scored his first Liverpool purpose as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 on an emotional Anfield afternoon when each units of followers remembered the late Diogo Jota who died in a automobile crash in July.
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Wirtz doubled Liverpool’s lead shortly after Ryan Gravenberch had put them in entrance though Wolves rallied within the second half and Santiago Bueno pulled a purpose again.
Reigning champions Liverpool moved fourth on 32 factors whereas the distress for backside membership Wolves goes on.
They’ve now damaged the Premier League report for winless begins to a season and have two factors from 18 video games and are 16 factors behind fourth-from-bottom Nottingham Forest.
“We’re making an attempt,” Wolves boss Rob Edwards mentioned. “The gamers are giving all the pieces, they’re making an attempt actually arduous. And they’re displaying they don’t seem to be caving in, they don’t seem to be going beneath.”
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Some well timed perspective was supplied although within the form of former Wolves and Liverpool ahead Jota’s younger sons Dinis and Duarte strolling out alongside Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as they acted as mascots.
Burnley keep in nineteenth place after a 0-0 draw with Everton whereas 18th-placed West Ham United’s relegation fears grew as a 1-0 residence defeat by Fulham left them 5 factors from the security zone.
When Odegaard drilled in a 14th-minute opener for Arsenal and Georginio Rutter’s personal purpose from a Declan Rice nook made it 2-0 shortly after the break, it ought to have been a routine three factors for the hosts.
However Diego Gomez’s reply for Brighton modified the complexion of the competition and there was aid on the ultimate whistle as Arsenal cleared one other impediment within the title chase.
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“The knock-on impact of profitable is extremely highly effective,” Arteta mentioned of a victory that ought to have been simpler.
“It ought to by no means be 2-1, however that is the Premier League. What I like is that we have now numerous points, we’re coping with it in an unbelievable method, yesterday we misplaced Jurrien (Timber), as we speak we misplaced (Riccardo) Calafiori within the warm-up, Declan (Rice) has to play as a full-back and also you see the efficiency that he put in, so that is the spirit and that is how a lot our gamers need it.”
Manchester Metropolis go away it late vs. Forest
Metropolis have now gained eight in a row in all competitions though they left it late in opposition to Forest.
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Cherki arrange Tijjani Reijnders to provide them the lead however it lasted solely six minutes as Igor Jesus crossed for Omari Hutchinson to attain previous Gianluigi Donnarumma.
However Cherki made it 2-1 with a half-volley from a Metropolis set-piece within the 83rd minute to provide the guests all three factors.
“Winter time, Nottingham Forest away… I do know the reminiscence is weak, however once we gained one of many six Premier Leagues the sort of sport occurs so much,” Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola mentioned.
“Three factors, however it’s a large three factors, primarily for the standard of the opposition.”
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea had been in whole management when captain Reece James’ Thirty seventh-minute nook swung in direction of a crowded goalmouth and clipped Joao Pedro’s leg earlier than crossing the road to place the house facet 1-0 up.
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Villa soaked up intense Chelsea stress till the 63rd minute when substitute Watkins scored from a rebound off residence goalkeeper Robert Sanchez 4 minutes after he entered the sport. Watkins accomplished the turnaround within the 84th minute, heading residence a Youri Tielemans nook.
“I really feel like groups are fearful about us, even when we might not play the prettiest soccer at instances,” Watkins mentioned. “There’s numerous speak about us and folks asking if we are able to win the title, however it’s a good distance away. We’re simply specializing in the subsequent sport.”
Chelsea stay fifth, stage on 29 factors with sixth-placed Manchester United.
Brentford moved into the highest eight as they beat Bournemouth 4-1 with a hat-trick for Kevin Schade. Struggling Bournemouth’s comfort got here from Manchester Metropolis goal Antoine Semenyo.