Arsenal further solidified their position at the top of the Premier League table, extending their lead to six points after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over AFC Bournemouth. This significant win maintains their strong title challenge. Elsewhere in the league, Aston Villa climbed to second place following their convincing 3-1 triumph against Nottingham Forest, while Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrated a long-awaited milestone, securing their first victory of the 2025-26 season.
The Gunners initially found themselves trailing at Vitality Stadium when Bournemouth took an early lead within the first ten minutes of the match. However, defender Gabriel Magalhaes swiftly responded for Arsenal, finding the equalizer in the 16th minute, bringing the score to 1-1 by halftime. Mikel Arteta’s squad then surged ahead in the second half, with Declan Rice delivering a crucial brace, scoring in the 54th and 71st minutes. Despite Bournemouth managing to net their second goal in the 76th minute, Arsenal held firm to secure all three points, pushing their total to 48 points from 20 matches played.
Following this impressive performance, Arsenal now sits comfortably at the summit of the Premier League, widening the gap between themselves and the chasing pack and reinforcing their status as league leaders.
In another significant fixture, Aston Villa capitalized on their momentum, rising to second place in the league standings. After suffering a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal at the close of 2025, Villa rebounded strongly with a convincing 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on January 3. This victory propelled them to 42 points, also from 20 matches, positioning them as a strong contender in the upper echelons of the league table.
Perhaps the most dramatic result of the week unfolded at the Molineux Stadium, where Wolverhampton Wanderers finally broke their season’s duck. After a challenging start to the 2025-26 campaign, which saw them endure 16 losses and three draws in their initial 19 league matches, Wolves secured their first three points of the season. Their 3-0 triumph over West Ham United brought immense relief and excitement to their fanbase.
This momentous win also brought an end to Wolves’ daunting 23-match winless streak in the Premier League, a run that had extended since their last victory against Leicester City on April 26, 2025. The goals against West Ham United were expertly netted by Jhon Arias, Hwang Hee Chan, and 18-year-old Mateus Mane, marking a memorable occasion for the club and its supporters.
Despite this long-awaited win, Wolverhampton Wanderers remain at the bottom of the Premier League table with just 6 points after 20 weeks. West Ham United, with 14 points from the same number of matches, currently occupies 18th position in the league standings, highlighting the ongoing challenges at the lower end of the table.
