Arsenal's Six-Point Cushion and the Weekend's Winners and Losers Across the Premier League

The festive calendar has been cleared and we're now well into 2026 with a full slate of New Year matches behind us. Arsenal have made the most of it, while Wolves have turned a corner that seemed impossible just weeks ago. Elsewhere, the usual suspects continue their familiar patterns—and yes, there's already been managerial upheaval before January is through.

THE STANDOUT PERFORMERS

Arsenal's Title Credentials Strengthened

Two points clear of Manchester City felt uncomfortable from the start. It never quite matched what we'd witnessed across five months of football. That gap always looked artificially tight, and the Gunners' supporters had every right to feel anxious when the champions began circling.

This Arsenal side, though, feels different. Since the Villa defeat, results have been immaculate even if performances haven't always been flawless. That consistency is what separates genuine champions from the also-rans. The gap is now back to six points—a figure that more accurately reflects the gulf in quality on display. For the first time since the Invincibles era, Arsenal genuinely feel like a team destined to win the league. It's theirs to lose.

Declan Rice deserves particular mention after his brace in the Bournemouth comeback, doubling his season tally with two crucial second-half strikes. With the Gunners' recognised forwards struggling for consistency, Rice's return to form is precisely what they need to maintain the pressure.

Gabriel Magalhaes has also provided an unexpected boost, netting twice in his first two starts after six weeks sidelined. That's the kind of contribution from defensive positions that can prove decisive in a title race.

Wolves Find Their Feet

An actual Premier League victory. Yes, it came against West Ham, but let's not diminish what Wolves achieved here. In the opening period especially, they were genuinely impressive—the kind of performance that suggests their system has finally gelled rather than just capitalising on inferior opposition.

The context matters too. Narrow defeats at Arsenal and Liverpool, followed by a draw at Old Trafford, suggested they were at least moving in the right direction before this win. Burnley, Forest, and West Ham all look decidedly ordinary themselves right now.

Everton visit next—they've lost four of their last six at home—before an FA Cup interlude and a Newcastle side that's been inconsistent away from home. Survival remains a long shot, but Wolves can at least make the other strugglers nervous now.

Aston Villa Bounce Back

Getting straight back to winning ways after the Emirates disappointment was essential. The title may have slipped away, but there's still a significant prize within reach—one that exceeded pre-season expectations. The Champions League awaits regardless of domestic outcomes.

John McGinn's brace was only his second in 311 appearances for Villa, with the first coming against Nottingham Forest in the Championship back in 2019. That rarity makes this contribution all the more valuable in a crucial fixture.

Brentford's Continued Excellence

A 4-2 demolition of Everton represents a welcome return to form after their midweek embarrassment. Back-to-back away wins for a side whose season has been built primarily on home strength is encouraging indeed.

They're currently jostling for position in that crowded middle ground between seventh and 14th, and they're doing so with style.

Igor Thiago's hat-trick continues an extraordinary campaign. While Erling Haaland leads the goalscoring charts with 19, Thiago sits closer to that tally than anyone else in the division. This represents his second-best league season and, without question, his most impressive. Even if he doesn't score again, he's already had a remarkable year.

Brighton Return to Winning Ways

The most mid-table of mid-table teams got back to business in January after a barren December. They're back in tenth and the world feels right again.

Newcastle Seeking Momentum

Back-to-back Premier League wins for only the second time this season. Eddie Howe and his side must now avoid the familiar pattern of one victory followed by five games without success.

Late Drama in North London

Brian Brobbey has become a man who scores only when it matters most—and that's earned him respect. Three Premier League goals might sound meagre, but two are late equalisers against Tottenham and one turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory against Bournemouth.

Chelsea's Caretaker Moment

Calum McFarlane's unbeaten record as Chelsea manager began and, for now, ended with a stoppage-time equaliser against Manchester City. Enzo Fernandez provided the rescue act with a gloriously untidy finish—sometimes the scruffiest finishes are the most satisfying.

Leeds Making Progress

For the promoted sides, this season feels different. When a draw against Manchester United looks like a missed opportunity and you can identify at least four teams definitely worse than you, that counts as progress.

Tottenham's Longevity

Ben Davies scored his eighth goal of 2026 on his 244th Premier League appearance for Spurs. He's now inside the club's top ten appearance makers, positioned between Sol Campbell and Ian Walker. He was also playing when Spurs last faced Sunderland in the league nine years ago this month, alongside Victor Janssen and Michel Vorm.

There's speculation he might be in line to become the next caretaker manager when required. That might arrive sooner than expected.

THE STRUGGLES

West Ham's Capitulation

It's difficult to construct an argument against this being the worst Premier League performance of the season—statistically, emotionally, tactically, and in every other measurable way. A team doubling their season's points tally in one afternoon. West Ham have endured low moments, but few defeats have been this embarrassing for an established Premier League side. The relegation feels inevitable now.

Nuno's Position Untenable

Since the November international break, when West Ham sat on the back of morale-boosting home wins over Newcastle and Burnley, they've managed just four points from nine games—all draws. Nuno's position looks increasingly precarious. Both manager and club appear destined for further upheaval before the season concludes. It's a difficult existence for both.

Rubén Amorim's Exit

A year of largely poor football, illusory improvements, blind alleys, humiliating defeats, and 16th place finishes? Apparently acceptable. Mildly questioning Jason Wilcox's judgment? That's the sackable offence. Modern football in its purest form. Somehow, the sheer absurdity of his dismissal has allowed Manchester United's worst manager in recent memory to depart with his reputation relatively intact.

Manchester City's Missed Opportunity

City had momentum and history on their side when they cut Arsenal's lead to two points. Two uninspiring draws later, the gap is back to six and Arsenal's confidence fully restored. City have exhausted one of their trademark runs without making any real dent in Arsenal's advantage. It may now be a one-horse race.

Haaland's Rare Drought

Three games without a goal is barely worth mentioning for most players. For Haaland, it's a chasm. This is a player who failed to score in only two of his first 20 games this season. When these spells arrive, he can look like a drain on the team rather than its focal point, particularly when the compulsion to seek him out overrides better alternatives.

Ange Postecoglou's Continued Struggles

Another frustrating result against an inferior side in Sunderland—a 1-0 that hardly suggested Spurs were convincingly the better team. Postecoglou's teams continue to frustrate supporters with inconsistent performances and uninspiring football.

Nottingham Forest's Collapse

Four straight defeats since that brilliant 3-0 win over Tottenham, which had suggested Sean Dyche would soon ease relegation concerns. Forest face West Ham next, followed by Arsenal and Brentford—a run that looks treacherous. An FA Cup tie at Wrexham and an owner not known for patience complete a difficult picture.

Everton's Home Woes

Four defeats in six at their new stadium, with three of those losses particularly uncomfortable: 3-0 to Tottenham, 4-1 to Newcastle, and 4-2 to Brentford. The 1-0 loss to Arsenal almost looks respectable by comparison.

Crystal Palace's Quiet Crisis

Oliver Glasner's seven-match winless run has barely registered with the wider football world—something that wouldn't be tolerated at Chelsea, Manchester United, or Tottenham. Palace were second best at Newcastle and couldn't extract anything from their appointment with Spurs over Christmas. Villa, Sunderland, and Chelsea loom next.

Bournemouth's Barren Spell

Eleven matches without a win following their earlier run of five victories in eight. It's spectacularly Andoni Iraola and thoroughly Bournemouth. They played well against Arsenal and could have taken a point, at least offering some consolation before tougher fixtures arrive.

Liverpool's Inconsistency

The 2-2 draw at Fulham adds weight to the theory that Liverpool have maintained a consistent level throughout the season, with misleading results creating the illusion of volatility. Cody Gakpo's late "winner" followed by an even later equaliser simply reinforced that frustration.

Burnley's Invisibility

They're at the stage where they're almost forgotten about. There are worse positions to be in, but not many.