Arsenal return to top with narrow win; West Ham, Tottenham win big

Sunday April 26, 2026

Arsenal surged back to the summit of the Premier League on Saturday, but only after surviving a tense finish in a 1-0 home victory over Newcastle United.

The breakthrough arrived inside nine minutes, when Eberechi Eze produced a brilliant effort, curling a powerful strike into the top corner and giving the hosts an early advantage.

Perhaps affected by recent performances, Arsenal was content to try and manage its lead, a strategy also shaped by injuries to both Kai Havertz and Eze, who went off with knocks that cast doubt over their availability for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg away to Atletico Madrid.

That result leaves Arsenal three points clear of Manchester City, who earlier on Saturday booked their place in the FA Cup final after rallying from behind to edge second-tier Southampton.

West Ham United also had a dramatic afternoon, with Callum Wilson striking in the 92nd minute to seal a 2-1 home win over Everton and keep the London club above the bottom three. Tomas Soucek had put West Ham in front in the 51st minute, only for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to level in the 89th and briefly spark alarm around the stadium.

The late twist came at a critical moment, with Tottenham Hotspur having just moved ahead away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the parallel fixture. Dewsbury-Hall’s equaliser momentarily dragged West Ham into the relegation zone, before Wilson’s stoppage-time winner restored their advantage over Spurs.

Tottenham, though, did enough to claim their first win under Roberto De Zerbi, with Joao Palhinha scoring in the 82nd minute in a tight contest against already-relegated Wolves.

Nottingham Forest made a major move toward safety on Friday night, running riot in a 5-0 away win over Sunderland. The visitors were four up before the interval, with Trai Hume’s own goal opening the door before Chris Wood, Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus piled on three more in a six-minute burst. Elliot Anderson completed the rout with a fifth goal in the 95th minute, although Forest still cannot relax given the victories for West Ham and Tottenham.

Fulham recorded a narrow 1-0 home win against Aston Villa thanks to Ryan Sessegnon’s goal in the 43rd minute, a result that did little to shake Villa’s overall position in the chase for Champions League qualification next season.

Liverpool boosted its own hopes of a return to the Champions League with a 3-1 home victory over Crystal Palace, as fit-again Alexander Isak, Andy Robertson and Florian Wirtz, with an injury time finish, provided the goals.