Arsenal will head into 2026 at the summit of the Premier League after an emphatic 4-1 victory over title-rivals Aston Villa, effectively ending the visitors’ record-breaking 11-match winning streak. On a Tuesday night that reshaped the top half of the table, Manchester United were held to a frustrating draw by bottom-side Wolves, while Chelsea’s defensive woes continued in a four-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge.

The Headline: Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa

The highly anticipated "top-three" clash turned into a second-half clinic by Mikel Arteta’s side. After a tense, goalless first 45 minutes, the floodgates opened. Gabriel Magalhães broke the deadlock in the 48th minute, nodding home a Bukayo Saka corner. New signing Martin Zubimendi doubled the lead shortly after, before Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus added gloss to a dominant performance. Ollie Watkins grabbed a late consolation for Villa, but the damage was done. The win places Arsenal four points clear of Manchester City, who play on New Year’s Day.

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Penalty Chaos in the Capital

  • West Ham 2-2 Brighton: In one of the most erratic games of the season, three first-half penalties defined the contest at the London Stadium. Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring for the Hammers, but Danny Welbeck equalised from the spot. After Welbeck missed a second penalty (hitting the bar), Lucas Paquetá restored the lead with yet another spot-kick. However, a second-half equaliser from Joel Veltman ensured the points were shared, leaving West Ham just four points above the drop zone.
  • Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth: The Blues’ inconsistency under Enzo Maresca continues. Despite goals from Cole Palmer (extending his perfect penalty record) and a stunning Enzo Fernández strike, Chelsea were pegged back twice by David Brooks and Justin Kluivert. Defeats at set pieces and long throws remain a glaring vulnerability for the London side.

Wolves Shock Old Trafford

Manchester United’s transition under Ruben Amorim hit a speed bump as Wolves snapped their record-breaking losing streak. Joshua Zirkzee gave United the lead, but a resolute Wolves side equalised through Ladislav Krejci just before the break. United thought they had won it in stoppage time via Patrick Dorgu, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside, leaving the Red Devils in 6th place.

Impact on the Table

Everton’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest, powered by a masterclass from former Forest loanee James Garner, moves the Toffees into the top half (8th). Meanwhile, Newcastle’s rare away win at Turf Moor lifts Eddie Howe’s men to 10th, piling more pressure on a Burnley side that has now gone 10 games without a victory.