As of Saturday, Arsenal will head into Christmas at the top of the Premier League, but history suggests this is never a good omen for the Gunners.
Arsenal have been top at Christmas four times before and have never gone on to lift the trophy. Will their luck finally change this year, or will the chasing pack spoil the party?
A 1-0 victory away at Everton ensured that Arsenal held a two-point lead over Manchester City heading into the Boxing Day fixtures.
They secured the win via a solitary goal from the penalty spot.
The scoreline could have been more comfortable, but Arsenal were wasteful in front of goal.
Fortunately for them, Mikel Arteta has built a side that is rock-solid defensively.
With only 10 goals conceded so far this season, Arsenal have shown resilience, and even without Gabriel, they have an able deputy in Piero Hincapie.
He was the unsung hero at the back, playing a key role in securing yet another clean sheet.
The depth of this Arsenal squad is what separates this team from previous versions that topped the table at Christmas.
Perhaps this time, the Premier League trophy will finally return to North London.
Manchester City are also doing their part. Another two goals from Erling Haaland ensured the gap remained at two points.
It is now five wins in a row in the league, and seven straight victories, including the Champions League and the Carabao Cup.
City clearly have the ability to go on a run that stretches into double digits. Pep Guardiola has been here before and knows exactly what it takes to sustain this kind of momentum.
The question is whether this current squad possesses the mentality of City’s previous great sides.
Only time will tell, but right now, City look increasingly unstoppable.
The fixtures will get tougher, and if they navigate that period successfully, they will be Arsenal’s greatest threat.
Aston Villa, however, should not be discounted. Unai Emery’s men equalled a club record by winning 10 Premier League games in a row after beating Manchester United, thanks to a brace from Morgan Rogers.
Villa were not at their best, but Emery will gladly take the three points.
Ruben Amorim’s United side pressed well and delivered one of their strongest performances, but they will rue their wastefulness in front of goal.
United also face uncertainty with Bruno Fernandes potentially sidelined during the holiday fixtures.
Villa, meanwhile, continue to show belief, structure, and ruthless efficiency.
How do you deflect media attention? One way is to beat a manager who is already under pressure.
That is exactly what Arne Slot did as Liverpool edged past Tottenham Hotspur, piling more scrutiny on Thomas Frank.
It should have been a routine win after Spurs went down to ten men in the first half, but Liverpool somehow made hard work of it.
Even after facing nine men following Cristian Romero’s reckless red card, Liverpool struggled to control possession. It was meant to be straightforward, but this Liverpool side continues to complicate matters.
While it is now two league wins in a row, Slot’s squad remains very much a work in progress, and this time, he cannot pin the blame on Mohamed Salah, who is away at the African Nations Cup.
St James’ Park hosted arguably the best game of Saturday, but it was marred by inconsistent refereeing.
Newcastle raced into a 2–0 lead before Chelsea fought back to earn a share of the points.
The Magpies’ faithful had every right to feel aggrieved, with two penalty appeals waved away. Football fans understand that decisions tend to balance out over a season, but supporters are not asking for perfection – only consistency.
At the bottom of the table, Wolverhampton Wanderers are on pace to become the worst team in Premier League history.
Derby County were relegated with just 11 points, and Wolves currently sit on two points with 22 games to play.
Based on current form, Wolves look incapable of beating anyone. The immediate target should be reaching 12 points, simply to avoid setting an unwanted historical record.
The festive fixtures are now upon us, with 20 games packed into the next seven days – a feast of football for fans.
At the top, the pressure is firmly on the three title contenders not to blink first.
History may be working against Arsenal, but the past is just that, the past. If the Gunners continue winning, maintain clean sheets, and sustain their momentum, they will put themselves in a strong position for the second half of the season.
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