Brighton 2-4 Arsenal
Arsenal managed to extend their lead at the top of the table after a great win at the AMEX. Arsenal got off to the perfect start as Bukayo Saka put them in front after just over a minute. Things got better for the Gunners as Martin Odegaard made it two-nil five minutes before the break. Arsenal started the second half just as well as the first half as Eddie Nketiah made it 3-0 to Arsenal. Brighton managed to get one back through Kaoru Mitoma; this was a really nice worked goal. However, Arsenal restored their 3-goal lead just 6 minutes later through Gabriel Martinelli. Once again, the goalkeeper really should have done better. After some poor defending from William Saliba, 18-year-old Evan Ferguson scored his first-ever Premier League goal to make it 4-2. Mitoma thought he’d got a second goal to really put Arsenal under some pressure, but VAR ruled it out for offside. Brighton just weren’t able to cope with Arsenal’s attacking ability. The Seagulls have dropped down to 9th place and they go to Everton for their first match in 2023. As for Arsenal, this was another good win for them and they now have a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. They host Newcastle in a massive matchup on Tuesday.
Liverpool 2-1 Leicester
Liverpool needed a big helping hand to get over the line against Leicester City. Leicester got off to a great start as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made it 1-0 to the Foxes inside 4 minutes. I’ve got to say, the defending from Liverpool was absolutely shocking. Mohamed Salah came close to leveling the game for his side, but his effort went just wide of the post and in the 38th minute, the Reds were level through a ridiculous own goal by Wout Faes. It was partly bad defending from Faes as he should have left the ball for his goalkeeper, but at the same time, he was very unlucky to see the ball land in the back of the net. Right before half time, Darwin Nunez was in one-on-one with the goalkeeper and even though his effort hit the post, Liverpool went ahead through another Wout Faes own goal! The first one I felt bad for him, the second one was absolutely appalling. You’d think he’s a Liverpool fan! In the second half, both Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez had great chances to extend Liverpool’s lead, but they just couldn’t take them. It didn’t matter though as Liverpool picked up the victory that sees them sit in 6th place. They go to Brentford tomorrow. As for Leicester, they won’t be happy with this result. It’s a loss that sees them stay in 13th and they host Fulham next time out.
Fulham 2-1 Southampton
Fulham left it late but they managed to take all 3 points against Southampton. Willian and Che Adams had decent chances for their teams, but the first goal came from James Ward-Prowse. When I say he got the first goal, Andreas Pereira’s shot deflected off of JWP and flew into the back of the Southampton net. In the second half, James Ward-Prowse got his revenge by scoring directly from a free-kick to level the game for the Saints. Is he the best set-piece taker in the world? And then, in the 88th minute, Kenny Tete flicked the ball on from Andreas Pereira’s corner and the ball fell perfectly for Joao Palhinha to score the winner. In additional time, Aleksandar Mitrovic stepped up from the penalty spot and saw his penalty saved by Gavin Bazunu. In the end, it was an important win for Fulham and it sees them move into the top 7. They battle Leicester in their next fixture. As for Southampton, that late goal could be a killer for them come the end of the season. The Saints still sit bottom of the Premier League and they host Nottingham Forest next time out in a must-win game.
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Brentford inflicted West Ham’s fifth league defeat in a row in both teams' last games in 2022. Early on in the game, Declan Rice struck the ball from a long way out and his effort hit the post and went wide. Great effort from the Hammers captain. Craig Dawson then had a great chance to make it 1-0 to the Hammers, but his header went just wide of the post. West Ham then wanted a penalty after it looked like Craig Dawson was fouled, but nothing was given. For me, it should have been a penalty. Ivan Toney then punished West Ham’s weak defending by putting the ball into the back of the net to put Brentford ahead. More shocking defending from West Ham (this time Aaron Creswell) allowed Joshua Dasilva in on goal and he calmly placed the ball into the bottom corner to send Brentford into the break 2 goals in front. In the second half, West Ham were awarded a penalty after Ben Mee brought down Jarrod Bowen. However, this was rightly overturned by VAR as the contact happened outside the box. Both teams continued to have good chances, but the match finished 2-0 to the Bees. Another loss for West Ham sees them sit in 17th place. They go to Leeds next time out. As for Brentford, this was another good win for them but unfortunately, Ivan Toney was stretched off and that could massively hurt them. They currently sit 10th in the table and they host Liverpool tomorrow evening.
Bournemouth 0-2 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace got back to winning ways with a comfortable performance at Bournemouth. Jordan Ayew put the visitors in front after 19 minutes with a header from a corner. Who teaches Bournemouth how to defend from corners? Guess what, Crystal Palace went 2-0 up through another corner kick. To be fair, it was cleverly done by the Eagles and Eberechi Eze finished it well. However, why was nobody marking someone as dangerous as him? In the second half, Crystal Palace created a few decent chances, but they just couldn’t extend their lead. In the end, this wasn’t a good performance from Bournemouth. The Cherries were outplayed and they currently sit in 15th place. They go to Manchester United next time out. As for Crystal Palace, this was an important win for them and it sees them stay in 11th place. They host London rivals Tottenham on the 4th of January.
Tottenham 0-2 Aston Villa
The first Premier League game of 2022 saw Aston Villa stun Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Kane had a decent chance in the first half, but his effort was cleared well by Ashley Young. 5 minutes into the second half, Douglas Luiz struck the ball from a long way out and it went straight at Hugo Lloris. The reason I’m bringing this up is Lloris spilt the ball out to Watkins who went around the keeper before he played the ball back to Emiliano Buendia who calmly placed the ball into the back of the Tottenham net to give Villa the lead. Ivan Perisic created himself a decent chance to level the game up at 1-all, but he blasted his effort over the bar. In the 73rd minute, Villa were 2-0 in front through Douglas Luiz. Tottenham made this far too easy for Aston Villa and Douglas Luiz wasn’t going to miss his opportunity to get onto the scoresheet. This was not the start of the year that Tottenham had planned. It was a poor performance from them and they have now dropped out of the top 4 (currently 5th). Spurs go to London rivals Crystal Palace next time out. As for Aston Villa, this was the perfect way to start their year. Villa currently sit 12th in the table and they host west midlands rivals Wolves on Wednesday.
Manchester City 1-1 Everton
Manchester City fell further behind league leaders Arsenal after they failed to beat Everton. In the 24th minute, Manchester City took the lead through Erling Haaland. Riyad Mahrez’s involvement in this goal was excellent. Right before halftime, John Stones had a great chance to make it two-nil, but his header could only hit the post. Straight after this, Erling Haaland completely took out Vitalii Mykolenko. Midway through the second half, Rodri poorly gave the ball away and the Manchester City defenders didn’t really put any effort into getting the ball back and this allowed Demarai Gray to smash the ball into the top right-hand corner. Even though the defending was awful, Gray couldn’t have struck his shot any better. At one point, City must have had at least 4 shots in the space of about 10 seconds, but they just couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net. And then, in the 102nd minute, Rodri had a brilliant chance to win it for Manchester City, but he guided his header wide. This definitely feels like two dropped points for Man City. They now find themselves sitting 7 points behind leaders Arsenal (still in second) and they go to Chelsea in a massive clash later on in the week. As for Everton, this was a big point for them. They now sit 16th in the table and they host Brighton and Hove Albion in their first match of 2023.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest picked up a great point against an underperforming Chelsea side. Brennan Johnson had a half chance early on, but his effort was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga and in the 16th minute, Chelsea took the lead through Raheem Sterling. The ball hit Kai Havertz and looped onto the crossbar before Raheem Sterling was able to simply tap it into the back of the net. In the second half, Forest were in two-on-one, but Brennan Johnson just couldn’t take the opportunity and about 5 minutes, Morgan Gibbs-White smashed the ball onto the crossbar. However, Forest were able to get their equalizer from none other than Serge Aurier. The former Tottenham man took the ball down on his chest before he volleyed it through Kepa’s legs to level the game up at 1 all. With less than 10 minutes to go in normal time, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang couldn’t quite get enough contact on the ball to guide it into the back of the net meaning the game finished 1-1. This is a really big point for Nottingham Forest and it sees them move up into 18th place. They go to Southampton next time out in a game that already feels crucial in the relegation battle. As for Chelsea, there’s something just not quite right with this team at the moment. They currently sit in 8th place and they host Manchester City in a big contest on Thursday.
Wolves 0-1 Manchester United
Manchester United picked up another good win away from home against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Shocking defending from Nelson Semedo allowed Alejandro Garnacho the opportunity to put United in front, but Jose Sa saved well. Both Anthony Martial and Antony had a great chance to put United in front, but both guys couldn’t get enough contact on the ball to guide it past Jose Sa. In the second half, Ruben Neves took an excellent freekick, but United keeper David De Gea was able to save it. And then, in the 75th minute, Marcus Rashford puzzled the Wolves defenders all by himself before he put the ball past Jose Sa to give Manchester United the lead. Marcus Rashford then thought he’d made it two-nil, but his goal was disallowed due to the ball ricocheting off of his arm. In the 93rd minute, Raul Jimenez attacked a Wolves corner, but he saw his header get saved by De Gea. In the end, Julen Lopetegui suffered his first defeat as Wolves manager and they have now dropped down to 19th place. They play rivals Aston Villa next time out. As for Man U, this was another good win that sees them move into the top 4 for the first time all season. United currently sit in 4th place and they host Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Newcastle 0-0 Leeds
Newcastle dropped two points at home to Leeds United yesterday. Newcastle created a few good chances from set pieces in the first half, but they just weren’t able to take any of them. Fabian Schar was then claiming for a penalty after he came together with Tyler Adams. I honestly can’t tell if it was a penalty or not. In the second half, Newcastle created more chances from set pieces, but they still weren’t able to put the ball into the back of the net. Rodrigo created Leeds’ best opportunity, but Nick Pope saved well. Fabian Schar then had a great chance to put the Magpies in front, but his header (from a corner) was expertly stopped by Illan Meslier. In the end, this was a frustrating way to end the year for Newcastle. However, they still sit in third place and they face a massive top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal on Tuesday. As for Leeds, this was a solid point for them. It’s a point that sees them move up to 14th and they host West Ham in their next fixture.
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