Footballer Erling Haaland shoots during Manchester City's English Premier League match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, on December 20, 2025. Photo: DARREN STAPLES
Arsenal ensured that they will spend Christmas top of the Premier League, thanks to a 1-0 away win over Everton, retaking first place after briefly being deposed by Manchester City, who beat West Ham United 3-0 earlier in the day.
Star striker Erling Haaland scored two of the goals as City's win put them on 37 points, one more than the Gunners ahead of their late kick-off, but that lead lasted for only a few hours as Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres scored from the spot midway through the first half after a handball at a corner by Everton's Jake O'Brien.
Though Everton pressed high and hard throughout, they struggled to create goal-scoring chances and Leandro Trossard should have sealed the three points for Arsenal midway through the second half with a shot that struck the woodwork.
With their next game against Brighton & Hove Albion on December 27, the win moves Arsenal to 39 points, two ahead of Manchester City. Everton slip to 10th in the table on 24 points, behind Brighton on goal difference.
Brighton had earlier drawn earlier in the day 0-0 with Sunderland, the first time the two teams had played each other in a Premier League match.
In other matches, Liverpool climbed to fifth with a 2-1 win over nine-man Tottenham Hotspur that was marred by an injury to the Reds' British record signing Alexander Isak.
Isak came off the bench for Liverpool in the second half after a turgid opening period in which Spurs' Xavi Simons was shown a straight red card, and put his side ahead in the 56th minute before hobbling off with a potentially serious injury.
Hugo Ekitike doubled the visitors' lead with a header in the 66th minute but Liverpool switched off and Tottenham substitute Richarlison fired home after a scramble in the area in the 83rd minute. It set up a nervous finale for Liverpool and they had to endure nine added minutes as Tottenham sensed they might prevent a club-record 11th calendar year league home defeat.
Tottenham ended with nine men after captain Cristian Romero was sent off for a second yellow card.
Elsewhere, Nick Woltemade's first-half double inside 20 minutes looked set to give Newcastle victory over Chelsea but the visitors hit back after the break with a Reece James free kick and a goal from Joao Pedro.
The 2-2 draw left Chelsea in fourth place with 29 points while Newcastle, whose defensive frailties continue to cost them precious points, are 11th with 23.
Burnley, who are 19th, looked like slumping to yet another defeat when Antoine Semenyo's curling effort midway through the second half gave Bournemouth the lead in a dull game. But Armando Broja headed in a 90th-minute equaliser, which saw the game finish 1-1.
After such an impressive start to the season Bournemouth are now on a winless run of eight games and in 14th.
And there was no festive cheer for Wolves as Keane Lewis-Potter scored his first Premier League goals since January to give Brentford a 2-0 win at Molineux. Wolves could not even manage a late consolation as Jorgen Strand Larsen's penalty was saved. Brentford are 12th while Wolves are 20th with just two points.
The loss was Wolves' 10th successive league defeat, meaning they have failed to win any of their first 17 games, matching the record set by Sheffield United in 2020-21.
- Reuters
