The Premier League landscape has rarely looked as unpredictable as it does this festive season, with Aston Villa surging into the spotlight and Arsenal surviving a dramatic Carabao Cup quarter-final. As the holiday fixtures pile up, new contenders emerge and old favorites face unexpected challenges—making for a footballing winter as thrilling as any in recent memory.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, few would have dared to pencil Aston Villa into the title conversation. Pundits and fans alike had their eyes fixed on the familiar giants: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea. But as Christmas 2025 dawns, Villa sit third in the Premier League table after 17 rounds, riding a wave of form that has left even the most seasoned analysts scrambling for explanations.
Under the guidance of manager Unai Emery—a man with a proven track record of silverware—Villa have defied expectations at every turn. Their recent form is nothing short of sensational: ten wins from their last eleven games, including a nine-game winning streak across all competitions. Perhaps even more telling, the Villains have dispatched both Arsenal and Manchester City in recent weeks, announcing themselves as genuine threats in a title race that once seemed destined for North London or Manchester.
As Villa prepare to face Chelsea this coming Sunday, the stakes could hardly be higher. The Blues, languishing ten points behind the top three, are desperate for a statement win to reassert themselves in the race. For Villa, a victory would not only tighten the three-horse race but also silence any remaining doubters about their credentials.
Australian football legend Mark Bosnich, speaking on Stan Sport's "Added Time," underscored the magnitude of the upcoming fixtures for Villa. "The next game against Chelsea and then the game after against Arsenal will tell us a lot about their title credentials," Bosnich said. "Chelsea beat Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge 3-0 last season, quite convincingly. I still maintain from the start of the season that Chelsea are a dark horse, and they remain that. But (Villa) can turn around and say that they have beaten Arsenal, Manchester City. You've got a manager in Unai Emery who has won titles. Regardless of what anyone says in terms of being a Cup manager, he has won a title. I think they genuinely are title contenders."
Bosnich did, however, raise a note of caution regarding Villa's packed schedule. With the club still active in the Europa League, fixture congestion could prove their undoing—a challenge shared by rivals Arsenal and Manchester City. His advice? Prioritize the Premier League, even if it means deploying a second-string side in Europe until the latter stages.
Not everyone is convinced that Villa's charge is built to last. Craig Foster, a former Australian captain, believes the title race is still a two-horse affair. "The reason why I think it's not real (for Villa to win) is that I think it is still just a two-horse race, generally speaking," Foster commented. "I'd love to see Villa go and take the title. Nothing would please me more this season. It would be unbelievable, fantastic. But if you looked at percentages, you'd probably say they are 30 per cent (chance of winning), no more. The other two are just too strong. Guardiola's got them back, and Man City are firing. They are under the radar a little bit, but they are just firing every week. He's got them functioning perfectly. Liverpool are coming back, and Chelsea are still up and down."
Robbie Slater, Australia's first-ever Premier League champion, echoed Foster's sentiments but left the door ajar for Liverpool to make a late charge. "I think Liverpool are equal fourth with Chelsea now, they are back in it," Slater noted. "If they can have a good January transfer window, I don't think they are dead. Then again, I still think it is between Arsenal and City. They are the favourites at the moment. The Christmas period can be fatal for some clubs; you're playing so much. Chelsea is still a good side. A month ago, I thought, 'Ok, this is it', and then they've just been very inconsistent. This is a massive game for them."
While Villa chase glory in the league, Arsenal have their own battles to fight on multiple fronts. Just one day before Christmas, the Gunners endured a nerve-shredding Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium. The match was a testament to the unpredictable nature of knockout football, with drama unfolding at every turn.
Crystal Palace, already underdogs, suffered a major setback when Chris Richards was stretchered off midway through the second half after landing awkwardly on his ankle. The sight of blood on his boot and sock was a grim reminder of the physical toll of the game, and his absence is a significant blow not only for Palace but also for the US national team, already missing Tyler Adams due to an MCL tear earlier this month.
Despite the setback, Palace showed remarkable resilience. The first goal of the match came in unfortunate fashion, as Maxence Lacroix inadvertently turned a Bukayo Saka corner into his own net. "They have put plenty of balls into the Crystal Palace area and somehow they've stabbed it home," Palace great Glenn Murray remarked on BBC radio. "It's not pretty. It's extremely scruffy, but it's extremely valuable."
Palace refused to bow out quietly, clawing back in additional time through Marc Guehi to force a penalty shootout. In the end, it was Arsenal's Kepa Arrizabalaga who emerged as the hero, saving Lacroix's spot-kick to seal an 8-7 victory for the hosts. "It is always the case that in penalty shootouts one kick is the difference. Today we missed it but there is nobody to blame," Palace manager Oliver Glasner told ITV. "In the first half we had a bad performance but then coming back like we did in the second half was much better. In a penalty shootout anything is possible. We already won two this year but today Arsenal were the lucky ones. They took them so well. I've seen many penalty shootouts but I can't remember one where every single one was taken so well."
With the holiday fixture list in full swing, Arsenal's victory keeps their hopes alive on multiple fronts, even as injuries and fatigue threaten to take their toll. Meanwhile, the Premier League title race has rarely felt so open, with Villa's ascent adding a dash of unpredictability that fans everywhere can savor.
As the year draws to a close, all eyes will be on Villa's clash with Chelsea and Arsenal's continued pursuit of silverware. Whether the Villains can sustain their charge or the traditional giants will reassert their dominance remains to be seen—but one thing's for sure: this Premier League season is shaping up to be a classic.
