Arsenal put on a show as English Premier League returns in style
Boxing Day matches serve up a feast of goals, memorable comebacks and late drama
The 2022/23 Premier League season resumed in style with seven Boxing Day matches producing a total of 25 goals following a six-week break for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Leaders Arsenal underlined their title credentials with a 3-1 turnaround win over West Ham United, the only home victory of the day.
Said Benrahama’s first-half penalty put the Hammers ahead, but two goals in five minutes turned the match on its head.
Bukayo Saka levelled on 53 minutes with a neat touch and low finish before Gabriel Martinelli hammered home Arsenal’s second from Granit Xhaka’s pass.
Eddie Nketiah put the seal on proceedings with a low shot for his first Premier League goal of the season as he stepped up in the absence of injured striker Gabriel Jesus.
Arsenal extend their lead at the top to seven points. West Ham are 16th, one point above the relegation zone.
Newcastle go second
Newcastle United are Arsenal’s closest challengers after Miguel Almiron scored his ninth goal of the season as they moved above Manchester City into second spot with a 3-0 victory at Leicester City.
Almiron struck on seven minutes after Chris Wood’s early penalty had given Eddie Howe’s side the lead. Joelinton headed in from Kieran Trippier’s corner to hand Newcastle a three-goal cushion at half-time.
A sixth consecutive win takes
Newcastle to 33 points, one point clear of third-place Man City, who face Leeds United on Wednesday in their match in hand over Arsenal.
Late comeback by Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur missed out on the chance to move level on points with Man City in a four-goal thriller at Brentford.
Antonio Conte’s men looked to
be heading for defeat when Vitaly Janelt scored from close range before Ivan Toney doubled Brentford’s lead early in the second half.
But Spurs hit back as Harry Kane scored a record 10th Boxing Day goal and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg levelled the match with a sweet strike.
Spurs remain fourth on 30 points, 10 ahead of 10th-placed Brentford.
Robertson the history-maker
Liverpool made it three consecutive wins for the first time this season with a 3-1 success at Aston Villa in which Andrew Robertson made Premier League history.
Robertson set up Mohamed Salah for the opener, his 54th Premier League assist, which overtook Leighton Baines’ total to become the defender with the most assists in the competition’s history.
Salah then turned provider for Virgil van Dijk and although Ollie Watkins reduced the arrears, 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic’s first goal for Liverpool wrapped up the points for the sixth-placed Reds.
Wolves off bottom spot
There was late drama at Everton, where Daniel Podence and Rayan Ait-Nouri handed new Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Julen Lopetegui a 2-1 debut win that moves them off bottom spot.
Yerry Mina put Everton 1-0 up but Wolves drew level with Podence’s crisp close-range finish.
The match was deep into added time when substitute Ait-Nouri applied the final touch to a swift counter-attack to claim victory that takes Wolves to within one point and place of Everton, who are 17th.
Double derby delight
Both Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham claimed derby honours as they won their respective matches at Southampton and Crystal Palace.
It proved an unhappy first home Premier League match for new Southampton manager Nathan Jones, as former Saint Adam Lallana, a Romain Perraud own goal and Solly March’s stunning strike put Brighton 3-0 up within 56 minutes.