The race for the Premier League title took a sharp turn on Saturday as Aston Villa’s Emiliano Buendia scored a 95th minute goal to beat league leaders Arsenal.
Not so long ago Mikel Arteta’s Gunners were six points clear and looking to stretch their lead to nine but, coupled with Manchester City’s annihilation of Sunderland, the margin has been shrunk to just two points, and the Premier League 2025 betting odds have taken a shift away from North London.
The Gunners defence has been rock solid this term; the best back four in the business went eight games without conceding and, from the beginning of September, shipped only two goals in 13 matches in all competitions, but they were breached twice by Unai Emery’s in form Villa. Matty Cash gave the hosts a first half lead but Leandro Trossard levelled for Arsenal early in the second half and Arsenal would have gone ahead but for a stunning save from Emiliano Martinez to deny Martin Odegaard. And Buendia lifted the roof off Villa Park when he won the game with virtually the last kick of the match.
After a slow start to the campaign the Villans are up to third place, thanks to a five match winning run in the Premier League and seven in a row in all competitions.
On the back of a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on their last trip away from the Emirates, when the Blues were down to ten men, this was another disappointment for a team which looked invincible a couple of weeks ago, and now is the time for Arsenal to hold their nerve.
Particularly as Manchester City are now clicking through the gears and, after they were given a scare during their 5-4 win over Fulham last week, the Sky Blues had no such concern as they swept the Black Cats aside with a 3-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium.
In my SBOTOP preview of the Manchester City vs Sunderland clash I said the Sky Blues would stomp all over the Wearsiders, and so they did with the in-form Phil Foden putting in another man-of-the-match performance. City were two up by the break as Ruben Dias rifled in a screamer to break the deadlock and Josko Gvardiol rose to head home a Foden corner. And the Manchester lad rounded off a perfect day when he slotted home after great work from the impressive Rayan Cherki.
The form of Foden and Erling Haaland is starting to look ominous and there will be nerves jangling already in North London. When you add in the quickly emerging talent of Jeremy Doku and relative newcomers Omar Marmoush and Tijjanii Reijdners this is a squad which can challenge for sure. The Sky Blues are starting to look like they have recovered from last season’s hangover.
Leeds and Liverpool the entertainers
They may have different targets this season but Leeds United and Liverpool gave the fans a pre-Christmas treat at Elland Road as they packed in the Premier League 2025 highlights in an entertaining 3-3 draw.
Leeds are fighting for survival and they have had a great week, pulling five points clear of the drop zone with a win over Chelsea and now a draw with Liverpool. The Reds are trying to force their way into the race for the top four but they missed a golden chance to go fifth as they let a two goal lead slip and then conceded a 96th minute equaliser. Hugo Ekitike scored a quick-fire brace immediately after half time but Arne Slot’s team were pegged back by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach. Dominik Szoboszlai has become Liverpool’s most influential player this season and it looked like he had won it when he slotted home with ten minutes left on the clock.
But Liverpool just can’t see a win out at the moment and Elland Road erupted when Ao Tanaka scored a dramatic last minute leveller. It was another blow for Liverpool who need to pick themselves up for a Champions League trip away to Inter Milan on Tuesday night as the pressure mounts on Slot.
Elsewhere Tottenham Hotspur picked up a first victory in five thanks to a 2-0 win over Brentford with goals from Richarlison and Xavi Simons, and Newcastle United beat ten man Burnley 2-1, to move one place behind Spurs in 11th. Fourth placed Chelsea drew 0-0 with Bournemouth and there was a big move from David Moyes’ Everton who made it four wins from five with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
The Toffees are up to sixth…three places above neighbours Liverpool; so the North West city has gone Blue!
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