Game week 18 Matchday Digest

Premier League Title Race Turns Three-Way as Top Trio Win Heading into New Year

The Premier League title race may have just become a three-way battle after the top three sides all secured victories heading into the new year. With the margins at the summit razor-thin, momentum, squad depth, and consistency are set to define the months ahead in one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

Relentless City march into the New Year hot on the heels of leaders Arsenal after claiming a sixth consecutive league victory.

Nottingham Forest 1 - 2 Manchester City

Second-half goals from Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, either side of an Omari Hutchinson strike, secured a hard-fought 2–1 win over Nottingham Forest, briefly sending the Citizens back to the top of the table for the second weekend running.
A well-balanced and goalless first half saw Forest spurn the clearest chance of the opening period. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi both failed to connect with an inviting cross from wide man Callum Hudson-Odoi that sailed across the City six-yard box.
Sean Dyche’s men looked every bit of the Forest of last season during the opening 45 minutes. Centre-backs Murillo and Milenković restricted Erling Haaland and company to very little, while Forest repeatedly broke forward using the pace and dynamism of winger Omari Hutchinson.
City eventually broke the deadlock shortly after the restart when Reijnders finished calmly following sustained pressure, but Forest responded well and levelled through Hutchinson, after a well worked team move involving Gibbs-White and Jesus.
As the match entered the 80th minute locked at 1–1, fans of Arsenal and Aston Villa alike were hoping Forest could hold out for a valuable point or even snatch a winner to halt Manchester City’s latest title charge, their sixth winning streak of the season. Those hopes were firmly dashed in the 83rd minute.
Rayan Cherki, the 22-year-old French magician, followed up his earlier assist with a decisive goal of his own, sparking celebrations among his manager, teammates, and the travelling support. Once again, he proved to be the difference maker.
Since returning to the City squad in early October after a goal-scoring Premier League debut against Wolves and a month on the side lines in September with a thigh injury Cherki has been in scintillating form. While his strike at the City Ground was only his second goal for the Blues, his 52nd-minute assist was his seventh of the season, the joint most with Manchester United's Bruno Fernandez by any Premier League player so far this campaign.
His pace, dribbling ability, vision, and passing have left City faithful, opposition fans, and neutrals alike watching in awe. Signed for just £34 million, Cherki is emerging as a strong contender for signing of the season, particularly when compared to rivals who have spent far larger sums on attacking midfielders yet to reach similar heights:
• Arsenal – Eze (£67.5m)
• Liverpool – Wirtz (£116.5m)
• Chelsea – Gittens (£51.5m)
• Manchester United – Mbeumo (£71m)
• Tottenham – Simons (£51m)
City’s charge continues and with Cherki pulling the strings, it shows no sign of slowing down.

We're Gunner be fight till the end

Arsenal 2 - 1 Brighton

Arsenal will end the year top of the table after a dominant but nervy ending 2–1 victory over Brighton at the Emirates Stadium. The league leaders went into the match knowing that anything less than three points would leave them in second place, after Manchester City had earlier moved to the summit with a win of their own.
Arsenal’s starting XI had an unfamiliar look after a late setback before kick-off. Left-back Riccardo Calafiori was forced off with an injury during the warm-up and was replaced by teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly. With neither Jurrien Timber nor Ben White available at right-back, midfielder Declan Rice was deployed in the position.
The hosts made a bright start and created an early opening when Viktor Gyökeres was played through on goal, but his effort was tame and easily gathered by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Much of Arsenal’s attacking threat in the first half came down the flanks, as captain Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka combined to good effect. Their sharp passing and movement carved out two early chances for Saka, but the winger was unable to convert.
Moments later, Saka turned provider, laying the ball back for Ødegaard to open the scoring with his first goal of the season — a trademark low, powerful left-footed strike from outside the box. Arsenal continued to apply pressure and could have extended their lead, only to be denied by last-ditch defending from Brighton’s back line and an outstretched save from Verbruggen. The goalkeeper was arguably fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for a rash challenge on Gyökeres well outside his penalty area, close to the touchline.
Just as in the first half Arsenal began the second half on the front foot, applying early pressure to the Brighton defence and earning a corner after Martin Ødegaard’s shot was blocked. The resulting delivery from Declan Rice was swung in with pace and inadvertently headed into his own net by Brighton defender Georgino Rutter, the fourth own goal Arsenal have benefited from in their last six matches.
Despite Arsenal’s control for much of the game, Brighton improved following the half-time introductions of Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer, who provided greater threat down the right flank. That pressure told in the 64th minute when good work out wide on the right led to the ball being pulled back to Yasin Ayari. His low strike hit the post, and Diego Gomez reacted quickest to score from close range.
The goal unsettled Arsenal, who began to drop deeper as Brighton pushed for an equaliser.
We may have witnessed one of the saves of the season when in the 76th minute David Raya produced a brilliant save, tipping Minteh’s powerful effort over the crossbar with a full stretched palm to preserve Arsenal’s lead.
Arsenal had a chance to settle the match late on when substitute Gabriel Martinelli fired over from inside the area after more positive play from Bukayo Saka. However, the hosts held firm to see out the victory.
With Manchester City and Aston Villa close behind in the title race, Arsenal’s ability to secure wins despite injuries and a demanding schedule underlined their resilience as the season heads into the new year.

Super sub Watkins Fires Villa to 11th Straight Victory

Chelsea 1 - 2 Aston Villa
We score first we win. You score first, we'll comeback and win. That appears to be the message loud and clear from Aston Villa as they once again showed their ability to recover from in game setbacks as they came from behind to defeat Chelsea 2–1 at Stamford Bridge, with substitute Ollie Watkins scoring both goals. Despite a quiet first-half performance, Villa improved after the break and turned the match in their favour.
Unai Emery’s squad management was evident in his decision to rest Watkins, who had started recent games, and instead select Donyell Malen. Prior to the match, Malen had scored more league goals in fewer minutes, averaging a goal every 168 minutes compared to Watkins’ 317. Watkins’ impact from the bench saw him score twice, leaving both forwards level on nine league goals.

Elsewhere in the Premier League...

Dorgu fires United past the toon.

Manchester United 1 - Newcastle United 0

Perfect day for hat trick hero Schade

Brentford 4 - 1 Bournemouth

Blank draw at The Moor

Burnley 0 - 0 Everton

Liverpool Wirtz past relegation wandering Wolves

Liverpool 2 - 1 Wolves

Jimenez getting back to his heading best

West ham 0 - 1 Fulham

Goal from Archie Gray keeps Palace at bay

Crystal Palace 0 - 1 Tottenham

Score draw on the shore

Sunderland 1 - 1 Leeds