Premier League: Arsenal rip Aston Villa to stay five clear; Chelsea held; United stalled by rock-bottom Wolves
Arsenal hit four past Aston Villa to extend its Premier League lead to five points on Tuesday, a ruthless second-half surge that set the tone for a night of twists across the table. Chelsea were pegged back at home by Bournemouth, Manchester United dropped points against last-place Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the relegation fight tightened after Newcastle’s win at Burnley and Everton’s away triumph at Nottingham Forest.
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Arsenal vs. Aston Villa was the headline act, and it delivered. After a chessboard first half, the leaders exploded after the break: Emiliano Martinez spilled Bukayo Saka’s 48th-minute corner and the ball ricocheted in off Gabriel Magalhaes. Four minutes later, Martin Odegaard’s slide-rule pass slipped Martin Zubimendi through to slot a second. Leandro Trossard drilled in a third on 69 minutes following an error from Lucas Digne, and Gabriel Jesus capped the night to signal his full return to fitness. Ollie Watkins’ 94th-minute consolation couldn’t dent the authority of a 4-1 win that keeps Arsenal five clear of Manchester City.
Beyond the scoreline, the manner of Arsenal’s surge mattered. Mikel Arteta’s side controlled tempo early, then struck with precision when space finally opened, punishing Villa’s mistakes and turning set-piece pressure into points. The tempo shift after halftime was stark—one corner, one incision, and one Villa lapse later, the game had disappeared from the visitors’ grasp.
Premier League results at a glance
- Arsenal 4, Aston Villa 1 — Gabriel Magalhaes (48’), Martin Zubimendi (52’), Leandro Trossard (69’), Gabriel Jesus; Ollie Watkins (90+4’)
- Chelsea 2, Bournemouth 2 — David Brooks; Cole Palmer (pen), Enzo Fernandez; Justin Kluivert
- Manchester United 1, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 — Joshua Zirkzee (27’); Ladislav Krejci (45’)
- West Ham 2, Brighton 2 — Jarrod Bowen; Danny Welbeck (pen), Lucas Paqueta (pen, 45’); Joel Veltman (61’)
- Nottingham Forest 0, Everton 2 — James Garner; Thierno Barry
- Burnley 1, Newcastle 3 — Joelinton, Yoane Wissa; Josh Laurent (23’); Bruno Guimaraes (90+3’)
Chelsea’s missed opportunity
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea slipped further behind in the title race in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth that the visitors will feel they could have won. David Brooks put Bournemouth in front, but Cole Palmer’s penalty and Enzo Fernandez’s 23rd-minute finish flipped the game before Justin Kluivert struck just four minutes later to level. The second half was frantic—Chelsea forced a string of corners without reward while Bournemouth carved the clearer chances. On balance, a point each felt fair, but it left Chelsea counting the cost of another home stalemate.
United denied, Wolves dig in
Old Trafford produced late drama and a setback for Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim. Joshua Zirkzee put United ahead on 27 minutes, only for Ladislav Krejci to stun the hosts right before halftime. A late United effort was chalked off by VAR, and Wolves—rock bottom—escaped with just their third point of the season. For United, who had pressed without much incision after the break, the draw represented a missed chance to build momentum.
End-to-end at London Stadium
West Ham and Brighton traded blows in a 2-2 draw that twice saw the Hammers edge in front. Jarrod Bowen gave West Ham the lead, Danny Welbeck equalized from the spot on 32 minutes, and Lucas Paqueta restored the advantage with a penalty right on halftime. Joel Veltman’s 61st-minute strike locked it at two, and from there Brighton pressed hardest for a winner. West Ham dug in late, grateful for a point as the visitors surged forward.
Everton quiet Forest; Dyche frustrated
At the City Ground, Nottingham Forest’s relegation worries deepened in a 2-0 defeat to Everton. James Garner scored in the first half, and Thierno Barry finished the job after the break, frustrating home coach Sean Dyche against the club that sacked him at the start of the year. Forest offered spells of pressure without the craft to crack Everton’s discipline.
Newcastle too streetwise for Burnley
Turf Moor saw Newcastle start fast and finish strong in a 3-1 win that kept Burnley second from bottom with just 12 points from 19 matches. Early goals from Joelinton and Yoane Wissa had the visitors in command before Josh Laurent’s 23rd-minute reply raised hopes. Scott Parker’s side couldn’t find an equalizer, and Bruno Guimaraes sealed it in the 93rd minute to leave Burnley with more questions than answers.
The table picture
Arsenal’s second-half authority over Aston Villa gives the leaders breathing room—five points clear with the season now past the midway churn of the festive period. Chelsea’s draw puts more daylight between the London club and the summit, while United’s slip against bottom-placed Wolves underscored the perils of this congestion-heavy run. Down the ladder, Everton’s road win and Newcastle’s control at Burnley applied pressure on those below the dotted line, turning the battle at the bottom into a churn where every set piece, every VAR call and every late goal could define a season.
On a cold Tuesday night, the Premier League offered its usual blend: one title statement, a few missed opportunities and a reminder that nothing is secure, not even at home, when the margins are this thin.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
