Arteta Demands Higher Standards After Narrow Win
Mikel Arteta chose not to sugarcoat Arsenal’s performance despite their dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolves. When asked if the late winner demonstrated champion-like resilience, Arteta dismissed the idea, instead delivering a stern message to his players. He pointed out their slow start and shaky finish, making it clear they were fortunate to take all three points. With a rare free midweek before facing Everton, Arteta emphasized that Arsenal must raise their standards.
Glasner Praises Palace Despite Defeat
Oliver Glasner believes Crystal Palace delivered their best performance under him in Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City. Although Palace famously beat City in last season’s FA Cup final, they couldn’t repeat the feat at Selhurst Park despite a strong first half. Glasner praised his team’s effort and defensive organization but admitted they lacked the clinical edge needed to overcome a side of City’s quality. He highlighted several big chances created and insisted the scoreline didn’t reflect their competitiveness.
Own Goal Decides Wear-Tyne Derby
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade endured a heartbreaking moment in the Wear-Tyne derby, scoring an own goal that handed Sunderland a 1-0 victory. The accidental header proved decisive in the first top-flight meeting between the rivals since 2016. Woltemade, who has scored seven goals for Newcastle this season, was visibly distraught at full-time. Manager Eddie Howe acknowledged the unfortunate timing of the mistake, though he felt his side had defended well overall.
Ekitiké Shows His Versatility for Liverpool
Hugo Ekitiké demonstrated his value to Liverpool in their match against Brighton, showcasing sharp movement and clinical finishing. Overshadowed by the high-profile signing of Alexander Isak, the £79 million forward operated flexibly across the attack before being substituted due to cramp. His adaptability not only sets him apart from Isak but also suggests the two could complement each other, as seen in a previous match against Inter. Ekitiké’s work rate and quality were on full display, reinforcing his importance to the team.He appeared exhausted, but his strong work ethic complements his natural talent well. — Will Unwin
Match report: Liverpool 2-0 Brighton
Nuno must drive home his message
West Ham were minutes away from beating Brighton last week and led Aston Villa 2-1 at halftime on Sunday. Yet, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are struggling to hold onto winning positions. They dropped deep to draw with Brighton and lost 3-2 to Villa after losing control in the second half. Reflecting on Lucas Paquetá losing possession before Morgan Rogers made it 2-2, Nuno said, “We conceded from a ball that was ours. We conceded three goals that really punished us. We have to fix the mistakes we keep making in our defensive organization. There’s a long way to go, and it’s up to us to take care of that and get out of this situation.” Nuno is a manager who prides himself on defensive discipline, but West Ham—still in the bottom three—haven’t kept a clean sheet since he took over. — Jacob Steinberg
Match report: West Ham 2-3 Aston Villa
Palmer shows glimpses of his best form
It’s been a frustrating few months for Cole Palmer, who made just his fourth league start in Chelsea’s win over Everton on Saturday. After playing 58 minutes at Bournemouth last week, he lasted until the 58th minute again here. While not his best game for the club, operating on the right of a midfield three, Palmer looked briefly dangerous and took his goal with great composure—only his second league strike this season. He’s a player who can create something from nothing, giving Chelsea an edge against deep defenses and the ability to snatch goals even when playing poorly. Palmer faces a battle to regain his England spot given the team’s recent form without him. For Thomas Tuchel, however, having a creative player available at the World Cup who has effectively played only two-thirds of a season might not be the worst thing. — Jonathan Wilson
Match report: Chelsea 2-0 Everton
Wilson leads Silva’s box-office stars
Burnley vs. Fulham isn’t the fixture TV executives dream of when signing multibillion-pound rights deals. Slotted in at 5:30 p.m. on one of the last weekends before Christmas, the viewing figures won’t break records. That’s a shame, because Fulham might currently be the Premier League’s most entertaining team. Their past four games have produced 20 goals, and Harry Wilson is arguably the league’s in-form player, with three goals and three assists in his last four appearances. Now 28, Wilson’s talent has always been clear but never consistently shown at the highest level. This may prove another purple patch, but the Welshman should be nearing his peak and has already started more games this season than last. With five goals in 15 games, a double-digit tally is within reach—exceeding most Fulham fans’ expectations and potentially changing his perception from a nice player to watch to one feared by opponents. — Tom Bassam
Match report: Burnley 2-3 Fulham
Forest buy into Dyche’s philosophy
“Framework and freedom,” Sean Dyche said, revealing the succinct masterplan behind Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 win over Tottenham. As the olés echoed around the City Ground near full time, with a confident Forest pushing for more, it was another performance showcasing their growing comfort under Dyche. In the past five weeks, Forest have scored three goals against Liverpool, Leeds, Malmö, and now Spurs. At times, Ibrahim Sangaré, Elliot Anderson…Callum Hudson-Odoi, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Igor Jesus combined beautifully on the pitch. This fluid, attacking display contrasts sharply with the common perception of their manager as overly cautious, diplomatic, and defensive. Sangaré’s goal, which capped a slick team move, highlighted this stylish, underappreciated side of Dyche’s approach. “I prefer the boring one-nils, you know that. It’s far too exciting when they start passing it around and knocking goals in like that—a fantastic finish,” Dyche joked afterward.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s move to Leeds initially seemed like a marriage of convenience when the former Everton striker joined on a free transfer in mid-August. At 28, with five goals in 13 Premier League matches for his new club, he carries the label of a former England striker—his last international appearance was in England’s 4-0 win over Ukraine at Euro 2020. In West Yorkshire, there is great appreciation for his classic centre-forward qualities. At Everton, where injuries too often disrupted his progress, he was seen as having all the attributes for his position except for the ruthless finishing expected of a number nine. At Leeds, he is redefining himself by finding the net. “Harry Kane is playing in the Bundesliga, but he’s one of the best English strikers in the Premier League,” said his admiring manager, Daniel Farke.
A note of recognition to whoever included Fabian Hürzeler’s poor December record in the stats ahead of Brighton’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield. After this latest loss, the Brighton manager’s Premier League record in December now stands at nine matches: zero wins, four losses, and five draws. This is now beyond an anomaly. Losing at Anfield to Liverpool is no cause for alarm, even if Brighton were wasteful in front of goal. More concerning are the home draw against West Ham and the 4-3 defeat to Aston Villa after leading 2-0. Next weekend at the Amex Stadium presents an opportunity against a Sunderland side missing several key players due to the Africa Cup of Nations. The return of Kaoru Mitoma from injury should boost Brighton’s chances of changing the narrative and finally giving home fans some festive cheer.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|—–|————–|—-|—-|—–|
| 1 | Arsenal | 16 | 20 | 36 |
| 2 | Man City | 16 | 22 | 34 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 16 | 8 | 33 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 16 | 12 | 28 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 16 | 5 | 26 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 16 | 2 | 26 |
| 7 | Sunderland | 16 | 2 | 26 |
| 8 | Man Utd | 15 | 4 | 25 |
| 9 | Everton | 16 | -1 | 24 |
| 10 | Brighton | 16 | 2 | 23 |Tottenham Hotspur: 11th place, 16 points, 4 goal difference, 22 matches played.
Newcastle: 12th place, 16 points, 1 goal difference, 22 matches played.
Fulham: 13th place, 16 points, -3 goal difference, 20 matches played.
Brentford: 14th place, 16 points, -3 goal difference, 20 matches played.
AFC Bournemouth: 15th place, 15 points, -3 goal difference, 20 matches played.
Nottingham Forest: 16th place, 16 points, -8 goal difference, 18 matches played.
Leeds: 17th place, 16 points, -10 goal difference, 16 matches played.
West Ham: 18th place, 16 points, -13 goal difference, 13 matches played.
Burnley: 19th place, 16 points, -15 goal difference, 10 matches played.
Wolverhampton: 20th place, 16 points, -26 goal difference, 2 matches played.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Premier League Key Takeaways
Beginner General Questions
1 Who won the biggest match of the weekend
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2 Which team had the most surprising result
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3 Who was the standout player
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4 How did the results affect the top of the table
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5 How did the results affect the relegation battle
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Advanced Tactical Questions
6 What was the key tactical takeaway from the big match
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7 Which teams performance raised more questions than answers
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8 Is there a newly emerging weakness in a top team
