The Premier League title race is heating up as the festive period brings both drama and high stakes at the top and bottom of the table. Arsenal reclaimed pole position after a narrow 1-0 victory over Everton, while Manchester City continued their relentless pursuit with a commanding 3-0 win over West Ham United. As Christmas approaches, both teams are separated by just two points, setting up a tantalizing second half of the season that promises twists, turns, and perhaps a little history in the making.
Arsenal’s win at Goodison Park was not just another three points—it was a statement. Viktor Gyokeres coolly slotted home a penalty midway through the first half after Jake O’Brien’s handball at a corner, and the Gunners held firm to secure their place at the summit. That result moved them to 39 points, two ahead of Manchester City, who had earlier leapfrogged them with their own emphatic display.
For Arsenal fans, the situation is both exciting and nerve-wracking. History shows that the team leading the Premier League on Christmas Day has gone on to win the title in 17 out of the previous 33 seasons. However, Arsenal’s own record is less encouraging—they have been top at Christmas four times before but never managed to lift the trophy from that position. All three of their Premier League titles came when chasing the leaders at this stage, with memorable comebacks in 1997-98, 2001-02, and their famous unbeaten campaign of 2003-04.
“We’re back on top of the table but we’re not watching City too much, or the other teams,” said Bukayo Saka after the win at Everton. “We’re in control now. We know if we win every week we’ll stay there.” The confidence is palpable, but so is the caution. Arsenal’s slender two-point lead is the smallest held by a Christmas leader in the last twelve seasons, except for themselves two years ago. Yet, five of the previous seven teams to hold a two-point advantage at Christmas have gone on to clinch the title—including the last four.
Manager Mikel Arteta echoed his player’s sentiments, emphasizing focus and consistency: “The only thing we can control is our own performance and results and we know how long it’s going to be and how tough is this league. That’s it.” Arteta, still searching for his first league title as a manager, will be hoping that the lessons of recent near-misses can finally propel Arsenal over the line.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are doing what they do best—piling on the pressure with a string of dominant performances. Their 3-0 triumph over West Ham was their seventh consecutive win in all competitions, a streak that is beginning to look ominous for their rivals. Erling Haaland was once again the star, bagging a brace and assisting Tijjani Reijnders for the second goal. Haaland’s first came after Alphonse Areola parried his initial effort, only for the Norwegian to pounce on the rebound. He then turned provider for Reijnders in the 38th minute before sealing the win with a simple tap-in in the 69th minute.
Haaland’s exploits continue to astound. With his double against West Ham, he reached 104 Premier League goals in just 114 games, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of 103 goals in 236 appearances. “(Reaching top in the table) is a good job from us and we have to keep going,” Reijnders told Sky Sports. “We will keep the pressure on them (Arsenal).”
Pep Guardiola’s men are now unbeaten in 48 games against teams starting the day in the relegation zone—a run stretching back to 2008. Their dominance over West Ham is particularly notable, with City now undefeated in their last 20 league encounters against the Hammers. Guardiola, who has six Premier League titles to his name, is no stranger to orchestrating late-season surges. “We will be there. If they follow me we will be there, but we have to improve,” the City boss remarked. “I know the level in Europe, in the Premier League, I know Arsenal and the other teams and how tough they are. It is not enough. The spirit is there. Last season we did not have the spirit or aggression or hunger—all the attributes they need. It is not about the highlights and how good the actions are, there is something that comes from inside where we will recover from the Club World Cup.”
City’s attacking prowess is unmatched—they’ve scored 10 more goals than Arsenal so far this season, though they’ve also conceded six more. The title race could very well hinge on whether City’s firepower can outshine Arsenal’s defensive solidity. While Arsenal have only Gabriel Jesus in their ranks with Premier League winner’s medals (earned during his time at City), Guardiola’s squad is packed with seasoned champions who know exactly what it takes to get over the line.
Elsewhere, the relegation battle is shaping up to be equally compelling. Wolves find themselves rooted to the bottom with just two points and a record 16-point gap from safety after a 2-0 home defeat to Brentford—their 10th successive league loss and a winless run from the opening 17 games that matches the record set by Sheffield United in 2020-21. Burnley, after ending a seven-match losing streak with a dramatic late equalizer at Bournemouth, and West Ham, who are 18th, are also fighting for survival. Historical trends suggest that only one of West Ham, Burnley, or Wolves is likely to avoid the drop, with all three bottom teams at Christmas never surviving together in Premier League history.
Liverpool, too, have their own storylines. The Reds climbed to fifth with a 2-1 win over nine-man Tottenham Hotspur, though the victory was marred by an injury to Alexander Isak, their British-record signing. Newcastle United let a two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea, while Leeds United thumped Crystal Palace 4-1 to ease their own relegation fears.
As the league heads into the thick of the holiday schedule, the stage is set for a classic duel between Arsenal and Manchester City. Will Arsenal finally break their Christmas curse, or will City’s experience and firepower prove decisive once again? For now, the only certainty is that the race is far from over and every point will count as the season unfolds.
With both teams showing their credentials and the pack behind them eager to capitalize on any slip, the Premier League title chase promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats well into the new year.
