Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
Arsenal scored late to make it 50 points from the first half of their season. Manchester United got themselves ahead through Marcus Rashford. Rashford made a great solo run and his finish was superb. United didn’t lead for too long though as Eddie Nketiah got on the end of a Granit Xhaka cross to make it 1-all at the Emirates. In the second half, Arsenal put themselves in front through Bukayo Saka. I actually think that the goal from Saka might actually have been better than Rashford’s. Six minutes later, it was 2-2! Aaron Ramsdale couldn’t keep hold of the ball after a corner and this allowed Lisandro Martinez to header the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net. Bukayo Saka then hit another great strike, but this time, his effort hit the post and went wide. Eddie Nketiah then had a good chance to put the hosts in front, but his shot was well saved by David De Gea. However, Nketiah and Arsenal weren’t to be denied as, in the 90th minute, Eddie Nketiah got the winner for the Gunners. Overall, this was a great win for Arsenal and it sees them stay top of the league by 5 points (with a game in hand). Their next fixture sees them go to Manchester City for a big FA Cup clash. As for Manchester United, they’ll be disappointed to lose this game. United drop to fourth in the table and they go to the City Ground to battle Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup tonight.
Leicester 2-2 Brighton
Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke had an unbelievable miss where he somehow headed the ball over the ball. It actually looked harder to miss than to score! Brighton were able to take the lead though and they got it through a fantastic strike by Kaoru Mitoma. I could see him playing in London by 2024. 10 minutes later, Leicester were level through Marc Albrighton. Credit to the referee as he decided to let the game carry on despite a clear handball by the Brighton defender. In the second half, Brighton were appealing for a penalty after Danny Welbeck went down. It wasn’t given and I would have to agree with the ref. It then looked certain that the visitors were going to take the lead, but somehow, Solly March completely miss hit the ball and it went flying high and wide. In the 63rd minute, Leicester took the lead through Harvey Barnes. I have to say, van Hecke should have cleared the ball before it got to Barnes. However, the Foxes weren’t able to hold onto the lead as in the 88th minute, Evan Ferguson met Pervis Estupinan’s cross and he headed the ball onto the post and in to give the Seagulls a point at the King Power. In the end, it was a slightly frustrating one for Leicester. They would’ve taken a point before the game, but losing the lead late on will definitely hurt. The Foxes now sit 14th in the table and they go to Walsall for an FA Cup clash next time out. As for Brighton, they’ll be disappointed that they didn’t win this game, but at least they didn’t lose it. The Seagulls now sit 6th in the league and they host Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Manchester City 3-0 Wolves
3 goals from Erling Haaland gave Manchester City a much-needed 3 points. After Jose Sa made a couple of good saves earlier on in the first half, Kevin De Bruyne played a beautiful ball into the box and it was met by Erling Haaland who headed Manchester City in front. Jack Grealish was then brought down by Nathan Collins, but the referee waved off the appeals from the Cityzens. I don’t really get how this wasn’t a penalty. Grealish then struck a shot that beat Jose Sa, but Collins brilliantly headed the ball away. In the second half, Manchester City were awarded a penalty after “a coming together” between Ilkay Gundogan and Ruben Neves. I don’t really get how this was a penalty. Anyway, Haaland stepped up and sent Sa the wrong way to give City a two-goal cushion. Jose Sa then made a horrendous mistake which saw Riyad Mahrez play the ball to Erling Haaland who simply placed the ball into the back of the net to wrap up his hat trick. Ilkay Gundogan really should have made it 4-0 to City, but he headed the ball over the bar. Overall, this was really the result that Manchester City needed and the performance that Erling Haaland needed. City are now 5 points behind league leaders Arsenal (they’ve played a game more) and they host the Gunners in a huge FA Cup clash this Friday. As for Wolves, it’s hard enough to get a result against Man City let alone when you give them a helping hand. Wolves are now sitting 17th in the league table and they host Liverpool in their next league game in 10 days time.
West Ham 2-0 Everton
West Ham picked up a much-needed win to fully sink Frank Lampard’s Everton ship. Everton were claiming for a penalty early on after the ball struck the hand of Angelo Ogbonna. The referee didn’t give Everton a penalty and I would definitely feel hard done by if I was a Toffees fan. In the 34th minute, West Ham took the lead through Jarrod Bowen. He met the second ball quicker than Jordan Pickford and he was able to tap it past the Everton goalkeeper. West Ham were then two-nil up just 7 minutes later through another goal by Jarrod Bowen. James Tarkowski had two attempts at trying to take out Michael Antonio, but both times the forward stayed on his feet before he delivered a great ball across which Bowen happily finished from. Alex Iwobi then had a really good chance to get Everton back into the game, but his shot deflected onto the post and went behind for another corner. In the second half, Emerson nearly ran the whole length of the pitch before his shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Jordan Pickford. In the end, this was exactly the result that West Ham needed. The Hammers now sit 16th in the league and they go to Derby for an FA Cup tie next Monday. As for Everton, it’s yet another defeat for them and it’s seen the end of Frank Lampard as manager. Everton sit 19th in the league and they host Arsenal in their next match.
Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest thought they’d taken the lead through Ryan Yates after 13 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside against Willy Boly. Kieffer Moore then had an excellent chance for Bournemouth, but the Welsh Giant somehow headed the ball over the bar. Bournemouth were able to take the lead though as Dango Ouattara’s cross was met by Jaidon Anthony and the young winger made it 1-0 to the hosts. Bournemouth went on to create lots of solid chances, but they just couldn’t take any of them and this cost them as in the 83rd minute, Brennan Johnson’s low cross was met by Sam Surridge and the 24-year-old striker scored against his old club. In the end, Bournemouth will be really disappointed with this result. They had loads of good chances, but they just didn’t take them and it cost them all 3 points. The Cherries now find themselves in the relegation zone (18th place) and they go to Brighton in their next league fixture. As for Notts Forest, they’ll probably take a point given how this game went. Forest find themselves sitting in 13th place and they host Manchester United tonight in the first leg of the Carabao Cup Semi-Finals.
Fulham 0-1 Tottenham
Harry Kane netted his 266th goal for Tottenham Hotspur as they picked up an important win away to Fulham. Both teams had half chances in the first half, but nothing major until additional time. Heung-Min Son played the ball to Harry Kane and Spurs’ main man brilliantly placed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to send Tottenham into the break ahead. Harry Kane then had a great chance in the second half to break the record for the most goals by a single Tottenham player, but his effort was saved by Bernd Leno. In the end, Fulham will be disappointed with the fact that they didn’t really create any good chances for themselves. Fulham have dropped down to 7th in the table and they host Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday. As for Tottenham, this was a big win for them. It sees them stay in 5th place and they play away to Preston in their next game.
Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa
After Che Adams missed a great chance, Kyle Walker-Peters bundled the ball into the back of the net, but it was ruled out after both men were in an offside position. Aston Villa then had a couple of chances to score which they didn’t take before the game had to be stopped due to a drone! In the second half, James Ward-Prowse's effort deflected over Emiliano Martinez to give Southampton the lead. However, it was then ruled out due to a supposed foul on Jacob Ramsey. I don’t understand where the foul is. In the 77th minute, Ollie Watkins fired Aston Villa ahead with a headed effort. In the end, Southampton will feel pretty hard done by. The loss means they stay bottom of the Premier League and they host Blackpool on Saturday in an FA Cup clash. As for Aston Villa, this was another solid 3 points for them. They stay in 11th place and they host Leicester in their next league game.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Liverpool and Chelsea played out a dull goalless draw at Anfield. After less than 150 seconds, Kai Havertz thought he had put Chelsea ahead, but his goal was ruled out for a silly offside. In the first half, Chelsea created a few good chances, but they just didn’t take any of them. To be fair, Alisson made a pretty good save to deny Benoit Badiashile. In the second half, neither team really created anything of note and the game finished nil-nil. Overall, Liverpool just didn’t show up at all. The Reds stay in 9th place and they face Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday. As for Chelsea, they’ll feel like they could have won this game. The Blues stay 10th and they host Fulham in their next league game.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Newcastle
Newcastle kept yet another clean sheet, but it wasn’t enough for them to get all 3 points. Joelinton had a few attempts in the first half, but he just couldn’t manage to get the ball past Vicente Guaita. In the second half, Jean-Phillipe Mateta came close to putting Palace in front, but his effort was denied by a super stop from Nick Pope. In the end, it’s a solid point for Crystal Palace. The Eagles stay in 12th place and they go to Manchester United in their next game. As for Newcastle, these are the games you need to be winning if you want to end the season in the top 4. Newcastle have moved up to third though and they host Southampton in the second leg of the Carabao Cup in their next game.
Leeds 0-0 Brentford
For the third straight tv game, we saw no goals. Leeds’ new man Maximilian Wober had a great chance to score, however, he poorly struck his freekick well over the bar. Rodrigo created himself a decent chance in the second half, but it was well saved by David Raya. Wilfried Gnonto then had a half-chance, but his effort was also well saved by the Brentford keeper. In the end, Leeds didn’t do much to win this game. They now sit in 15th place and they play away to Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday. As for Brentford, they really didn’t do anything in this game. The Bees currently sit 8th in the table and they host Southampton in their next league game on the 4th of February.
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