Premier League title race: Arsenal lead City as Villa surge to 11th straight win defeating Chelsea
London: Arsenal maintained its position at the summit of the Premier League as the festive season’s "Matchweek 18" delivered a series of high-stakes results, headlined by a late Manchester City escape and an 11th consecutive victory for the surging Aston Villa.
As 2025 draws to a close, the title race has narrowed to a three-horse sprint, while the battle for European qualification and top-flight survival has reached a fever pitch across the country.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1 | Arsenal | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 42 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 43 | 17 | 26 | 40 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 18 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 19 | 10 | 39 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 32 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 29 |
Check the complete EPL points table here
Arsenal Edge Brighton to Reclaim Top Spot
Arsenal ensured they would head into the New Year as league leaders following a gritty 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium. Skipper Martin Ødegaard reignited the Gunners’ title charge with his first goal of the season, a clinical strike from the edge of the box.
The advantage was doubled shortly after the interval when Georginio Rutter inadvertently deflected a Declan Rice corner into his own net. Although Diego Gomez pulled one back for the Seagulls to set up a nervous finale, Mikel Arteta’s side held firm. The win keeps Arsenal one point clear of Manchester City in a relentless pursuit of the trophy.
Villa’s Historic Run Continues; City Survives Forest Test
Aston Villa produced the comeback of the weekend, overturning a deficit to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro had given the Blues an early lead, but the introduction of Ollie Watkins transformed the contest. Watkins netted twice in the second half—including a towering 84th-minute header—to secure Villa’s 11th consecutive win in all competitions. Unai Emery’s side remains the league's most clinical outfit, sitting just three points off the top.
In Nottingham, Manchester City survived a major scare to defeat Nottingham Forest 2-1. After Forest levelled the score through Omari Hutchinson late in the second half, City’s relentless pressure eventually told. A late strike ensured Pep Guardiola’s men stayed within touching distance of Arsenal, narrowly avoiding a result that would have seen them lose ground in the title race.
Wirtz Hits Milestone in Liverpool Win; United’s Boxing Day Delight
At Anfield, Florian Wirtz notched his first goal in Liverpool colours as the Reds edged Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1. Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring before Wirtz doubled the lead just 89 seconds later. Wolves, who remain winless after a record-breaking 18 matches, fought back through Santiago Bueno but could not prevent Liverpool from climbing into the top four.
On Boxing Day, Manchester United secured a vital 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford. In the absence of the injured Bruno Fernandes, wing-back Patrick Dorgu emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring a spectacular 24th-minute volley. The win marks a tactical triumph for Ruben Amorim, who successfully shifted to a more direct style to navigate a mounting injury list.
Mid-Table Movement and Stalemates
Brentford signed off their 2025 home schedule in style, dismantling Bournemouth 4-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium. The Bees’ high-intensity press overwhelmed the visitors, moving Thomas Frank’s side further away from the mid-table pack. Elsewhere, Fulham secured their third straight victory with a disciplined 1-0 win at West Ham, while Burnley and Everton played out a stalemated 0-0 draw at Turf Moor—a result that does little to ease the relegation fears of either side.