We look back on a thrilling weekend, including Arsenal’s big north London derby win
With a comprehensive derby-day victory over neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table to give Spurs’ new boss Igor Tudor a baptism of fire.
Manchester City kept pace by seeing off Newcastle United, but Aston Villa and Chelsea could only pick up draws against Leeds United and Burnley respectively.
Liverpool were fortunate to beat Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion ended a poor run with victory at Brentford, and Crystal Palace just about saw off Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Here is all you need to know about Matchweek 27.
Since the start of December, Leeds have lost just two of their 14 Premier League games. So perhaps it should come as little surprise that they came so close to inflicting defeat on high-flying Villa here.
Daniel Farke’s side were good value for their long-held lead, gained courtesy of Anton Stach’s wonderful free-kick, whipped into the top corner from 35 yards.
Watch: Stach’s stunning free-kick
Stach’s three direct free-kick goals are the joint-most in the Premier League this season, alongside Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
However, Villa dominated after the break, and the visitors could not prevent a late equaliser through Tammy Abraham, who scored his first league goal since rejoining the club last month.
“It’s crazy that you travel away as a promoted side here, from one of the title contenders, one of the best teams in this country and also in Europe, and you are slightly disappointed with just one point,” said Farke.
Villa’s slim title hopes appear to be fading, with Unai Emery’s side winning just three of their last nine league games.
“It’s a good point,” said Emery. “We are setting our standards high, and sometimes we can become frustrated, because we are not achieving the same results with the same process, like today.
But overall, our consistency is still there, and our demand is still there. And if we are third, it’s because we are being consistent and we are being demanding.”
James Milner tasted victory on his record-breaking 654th Premier League appearance.
Now into his 23rd top-flight season and representing his sixth different club, the 40-year-old was handed a first start in eight games to take him past Gareth Barry as the leading appearance maker in Premier League history.
Watch: Milner’s milestone appearances
Brighton had won just one of their previous 13 top-flight games since the start of December, but eased to victory courtesy of first-half goals from Danny Welbeck and Diego Gomez – the club’s two highest scorers across all competitions this season.
“It’s difficult to sum him up with one sentence,” said Fabian Hurzeler, of Milner. “I think he’s a great leader on the pitch, a great communicator, he understands the game quite well and, on top of that, he’s still super fit. The main thing is really being a great leader, being there to manage the key moments and being there as a communicator – and that’s what he did today.”
Having seen his side collect more points in their prior 10 Premier League games than any other team in the division, Brentford boss Keith Andrews rued a poor first half that cost his men.
“We have been the best team in this league for the last 10 games and 45 minutes of football won’t define what we have done or what we will do going forward,” he said.
A lack of discipline cost Chelsea again as they dropped points at home to 19th-placed Burnley.
Liam Rosenior’s side took an early the lead through Joao Pedro’s early opener and were under minimal pressure until they were pegged back in familiar fashion.
Wesley Fofana’s second yellow card in the 72nd minute was Chelsea’s sixth sending-off this Premier League season – their joint-most in a single campaign.
It changed the flow of the match entirely, with Burnley rewarded for their late pressure when the unmarked Zian Flemming nodded in a James Ward-Prowse corner in the third minute of stoppage time.
Chelsea have now dropped 17 points from winning positions at home this season. Only in 1995/96 (20) have they ever dropped more at Stamford Bridge in a single Premier League campaign.
“Our record defending set plays is not of the level required,” said Rosenior. “A marking assignment was missed. I’m not here to throw players under the bus – I will always protect my players, and I’ll deal with it during the week. But there was a player assigned that duty who marked the wrong man.”
Still unbeaten in the Premier League since he joined, the Chelsea head coach added: “I’ve learned I have a good team but to maximise the potential we need players to see things through.”
A fine performance from a resurgent West Ham was not sufficient to yield a win, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were left to rue what might have been.
The hosts’ Expected Goals (xG) total of 2.87 from 20 shots was the highest of any side that has failed to score in a Premier League match this season.
Axel Disasi, Crysencio Summerville, Callum Wilson and Jarrod Bowen all went close, but could find no way past AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Nonetheless, it was a dominant performance from a relegation-threatened team who looked doomed in mid-January, but have lost just one of their last six league games.
“We were really close,” said Nuno. “That is the feeling that stays with us – that we feel it is almost there for us to take and we didn’t take it. At the same time, we played well, we competed well and we were solid. But, overall, it was us who were really close and that’s why we are sad. Unfortunately, it was not to be.”
A below-par Bournemouth did not match their recent performances, but the visitors remain unbeaten in their last seven league games.
“It’s a good point for us,” said Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola. “[West Ham] are in a good run and in need of results, and you can feel that from the beginning. We knew they would start strong, but we couldn’t equal their intensity.”
Nico O’Reilly may well go to the World Cup this summer as England’s left-back, but he continued to show his abundant versatility with a first Premier League double of his career when deployed in an attacking midfield role.
Playing behind the two Man City forwards, O’Reilly struck twice inside the first half-hour, putting the hosts ahead on each occasion either side of a Lewis Hall equaliser.
“He has also played full-back, holding midfielder when Rodri was not there,” said his manager Pep Guardiola, of O’Reilly. “Now in his position today – what a player, he made an incredible step up.”
It meant City kept the pressure on Arsenal at the summit and continued a wretched run for Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Newcastle have not won any of their last 17 Premier League away games against Man City, with Hall’s equaliser their first goal at the Etihad in 2,730 days since September 2018.
The visitors caused City plenty of problems though, and their head coach Eddie Howe refused to be downbeat after ending a run of three consecutive wins across all competitions.
“Considering everything we have put into the last few weeks, that was a good performance,” he said. “Wasn’t good enough but we went toe to toe with them. We were equals in the game, we were well in it. Didn’t defend the two goals well enough, that’s the disappointment really.”
A much-needed win given their recent issues on and off the pitch, but this was a fortunate triumph for a Crystal Palace side struggling for any fluency.
In a largely even affair, it was Wolves who came closest to taking a first-half lead, only for Tolu Arokodare to see his penalty saved by Dean Henderson. Incredibly, it was the Nigeria striker’s fifth successive miss from the spot.
With the game in the balance, Ladislav Krejci was then sent off just after the hour mark having received two yellow cards in the space of four minutes.
Palace continued to toil, but substitute Evann Guessand tucked home a winner in the 90th minute with his first Premier League goal since joining from Villa in the winter transfer window. It secured only Palace’s second victory in their last 16 matches in all competitions.
“I think everybody who watched the game could see how nervous we are in the first half, making so many easy mistakes and then a great ‘keeper saving a penalty, which was important,” said Oliver Glasner.
“I think the win today will help us, but it’s a first small step. I’m sure the structure will be better and better, and the results will be better and better.”
Defeat was yet another cruel blow for Wolves in a season of them. “I thought we were going to win the game,” said their boss Rob Edwards.
Arne Slot admitted his Liverpool team were “lucky” to emerge from the City Ground with victory after Alexis Mac Allister bundled in the winner in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time in a chaotic finish.
The Argentinian had already celebrated once in stoppage time when Ola Aina’s clearance smashed into him and straight into the net. His joy was short-lived though, when the goal was ruled out for handball, as it was deemed to have hit his elbow.
Moments later, another cross found its way to Mac Allister, who bundled home from close range. This time the winner stood, after another VAR check, this time for offside, giving him a first Premier League goal since last April.
Watch: The crazy late drama at the City Ground
It was the third time this season that Liverpool have scored a winning goal in the 90th minute or later – more than any other side in the Premier League.
“It was fine margins,” said Slot. “We really struggled in the first half. We were the lucky ones scoring in the extra time.”
Nottingham Forest had been totally dominant in the opening 45 minutes. Their 12 first-half shots were the most any side has managed before half-time in a Premier League game against Liverpool since Stoke City in May 2015. On that day more than a decade ago, Stoke were 5-0 ahead by the break.
“We are very frustrated,” said their new head coach Vitor Pereira. “It was a fantastic first half. We know the second half could be difficult because we played three days ago [in the UEFA Europa League] and travelled four hours. We didn’t press properly. They won the game. In my opinion, one point was the minimum. Zero points is not fair.”
Despite heading to Sunderland off the back of three successive defeats, this win not only lifted Fulham to 10th, but Marco Silva’s side now sit three points off seventh place. Could a European charge be possible?
It was not a vintage performance from the visitors, especially in a first half devoid of much entertainment. But they hit back strongly after the break, Raul Jimenez leading the way with two goals.
That double put Fulham 2-0 up, with the second continuing his 100 percent penalty record in the Premier League – with 13 from 13, no player has a better perfect record in the competition.
Watch: All of Jimenez’s penalties
Enzo Le Fee pulled a goal back for Sunderland from the penalty spot, but Harry Wilson then provided Alex Iwobi with Fulham’s third in a classic breakaway. Since the start of November, only Erling Haaland (17) and Bruno Fernandes (15) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Wilson’s seven goals and five assists.
“Very important win, big win for us,” said Silva. “Well deserved as well. We showed quality, maturity, composure, organisation and braveness. Those are the important moments you have to step up and we did it.”
After their brilliant start to the season, Sunderland have now lost five Premier League games in nine in 2026, more than they did in 2025 (four). Their biggest joy came from the return of influential captain Granit Xhaka, who came off the bench after injury.
Just a few days after their shocking capitulation at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arsenal flexed their title credentials in perfect fashion to leave new Spurs head coach Igor Tudor under no illusions of the scale of his task.
As was the case when these two teams last met, Eberechi Eze was the matchwinner. Since scoring a hat-trick in the last north London derby in December, Eze had made only four league starts and played 360 minutes.
But he struck twice at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, remarkably moving third on Arsenal’s list of top scorers against Spurs in the Premier League – behind only Robert Pires (seven goals) and Emmanuel Adebayor (six).
Watch: Eze’s double v Spurs
Viktor Gyokeres also scored twice – putting the icing on the cake with a second in stoppage time – meaning he has scored more goals (eight) in 2026 across all competitions than any other Premier League player.
“After what happened against Wolves it was tough, but that’s the beauty of this game,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. “You watch it back and you cannot understand how they drew that game. You feel angry, upset, ashamed. We are all different nationalities, different people, but it’s been a joy to see how we came together and asked: ‘How will we use it to be a turning point and make ourselves better?’”
Only Wolves (10) have lost more home games in Europe’s big-five leagues this season than Spurs’ eight. They remain the only winless team in the Premier League this calendar year.
“I’m very sad,” said Tudor. “But in one way it’s good to understand where we are, to have a game to show you reality, so each of us understand. The medicine is that each of us look in the mirror and really starts to change our habits. Working hard is the only way.”
Manchester United maintained their impressive improvement under Michael Carrick by achieving their fifth win in six games since his appointment.
In fact, Man Utd are now one of only three teams in Europe’s top five leagues who are unbeaten since 26 December, alongside Inter Milan in Serie A (11 matches) and Borussia Dortmund (eight) in the Bundesliga.
The victory on Man Utd’s first visit to Everton‘s Hill Dickinson Stadium was secured with a stunning counter-attacking goal scored by in-form substitute Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian ran 80 yards to finish emphatically from Bryan Mbeumo‘s pass at the end of a move started by Matheus Cunha – all three players were signed last summer.
Watch: Man Utd’s superb counter-attacking winner
Sesko has now scored six goals in his last seven matches in all competitions, and no player has netted more Premier League goals as a substitute this season than his three (level with Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi and Fulham’s Samuel Chukwueze).
Man Utd also achieved a first away clean sheet since March 2025, thanks to a solid defensive display starring goalkeeper Senne Lammens and centre-back Harry Maguire.
Lammens produced his best save to tip a rising shot from former Man Utd defender Michael Keane over the bar and showed his composure by claiming a number of corner kicks under intense pressure.
Watch Lammens’ highlights v Everton
“For me, their goalkeeper was the best player,” said Everton manager David Moyes, as he lamented his side’s latest failure to win at home.
The Toffees’ last victory at their new stadium was back on 6 December, and the winless streak there in the Premier League now stands at six matches (four defeats, two draws).