Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are the Christmas Number One thanks to a hard fought victory away to Everton on Saturday.
A first-half penalty, smashed home by Viktor Gyokores, was enough to maintain Arsenal’s two points lead at the top of the Premier League while Manchester City kept up the pressure with a 3-0 victory over West Ham United. It was the Swedish striker’s first goal since the Gunners won at Burnley in early November and he scored his spot kick with plenty of confidence.
There was little doubt surrounding Arsenal’ penalty after Everton defender Jake O ‘Brien clumsily handled but there was VAR controversy in the second half when the Toffees were denied what looked to be a clear penalty. William Saliba kicked Thierno Barry’s leg as he tried to clear the ball, an unlucky penalty but the type of which we see often, and the home fans appealed. For reasons best known to himself the on-field referee didn’t award the spot kick and, after a painfully long VAR review, he waved play on.
Arsenal survived to stay top while Everton manager David Moyes was diplomatic as he made his point, saying: “I think they’re saying it was insignificant contact and it might have been. They come up with new words for every decision don’t they?”
His opposite number Arteta said after the game that he and his players aren’t watching Manchester City; but the Premier League 2025 betting odds certainly are after Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues swept aside West Ham with impressive ease. City briefly displaced Arsenal at the top of the table before the Gunners won in the late fixture as Erling Haaland scored another brace to make it 19 for the campaign. The Norwegian goal machine is top of the list of Premier League scorers by eight clear goals ahead of Brentford’s Igor Thiago and I reckon we may as well hand him the Golden Boot right now, particularly as Mo Salah is not a happy boy at Liverpool.
Haaland’s first goal was teed up by Phil Foden, who is back to his best form, before Tijjani Reijdners rounded off a swift move for the second to finish off the game before the break. Haaland is thriving right now, benefiting from the space created by the likes of Foden, Reijdners and Rayan Cherki, and his second of the game made it 38 goals for club and country in 28 outings so far, a sensational return and one which will send shivers down the spines of defenders throughout Europe.
Meanwhile, a tenth defeat of the campaign left the Nuno’s Hammers in the relegation zone at Christmas for the fifth time in their top flight history and, while they have survived their last two scares, their fans at the London Stadium are already feeling jittery.
Chelsea fight-back to stay fourth
In other Premier League 2025 news Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea launched an impressive comeback in their testing clash away to Newcastle United after Nick Woltemade had given the Magpies a half time 2-0 lead. It was the German striker’s first double for Newcastle but it ended up earning just a single point as Reece James inspired the Blues to a stirring recovery. His 30-yard free kick flew in off the inside of the post to make it 2-1 and, despite Newcastle having a strong shout for a penalty when Trevor Chalobah wiped out Anthony Gordon, the Chelsea comeback was on.
The Blues got their deserved equaliser when keeper Robert Sanchez found Joao Pedro with a long clearance and the Brazilian striker did the rest, leaving the Newcastle defence in his wake before sliding the ball home. While Chelsea hold on to their Champions League slot Eddie Howe’s Newcastle will spend the festive period in 11th.
Tottenham Hotpsur and Liverpool are two clubs in need of points; much like the Magpies, Thomas Frank’s Whites are trying to get into the right half of the table while Arne Slot’s Liverpool have, so far, made a shambolic defence of their 2025 title. And the clash at the Tottenham Hotpsur Stadium was chaotic as the Reds ran out 2-1 winners while their hosts finished the game with nine men. After Xavi Simons had been sent off on 33 minutes, Alexander Isak scored from Florian Wirtz’s first assist of the campaign and Hugo Ekitike added a second before Richarlison halved the deficit late on. And there was still time for Spurs skipper Christian Romero to collect his red card in injury time.
Liverpool went fifth while Spurs dropped to 13th after Brentford won 2-0 away to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
And elsewhere, Burnley ended a run of seven consecutive losses with a 1-1 draw away to Bournemouth…to give this SBOTOP writer some long awaited Christmas cheer ☺
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