EPL: Arsenal Leads Log Since Boxing Day, Man United Boosts Champions League Hopes, Iwobi’s Goal Not Enough For Fulham

Manchester United returned to winning ways in the early afternoon kick off as they beat Everton 2-0 with two penalty goals from Bruno Fernandes and then Marcus Rashford.

Everton seemed to be the side likely to score first as they made several attempts at goal but Argentina forward was a handful for the Toffees and was twice fouled for the penalty kicks taken by the goalscorers.

England international, Rashford, continued his role up top in the absence of Rasmus Hojlund while at the other end, Beto started for the second successive match for Everton.

Everton goalkeeper and England’s numvef one choice, Jermain Pickford produced some excellent saves to keep the score respectable.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal recorded their 8th successive win as they defeated Brentford 2-1 in a nervous game to take leadership of the table albeit temporarily as titel challengers, Liverpool face Manchester City later on Sunday.

Declan Rice put the Gunners ahead in the 19th minute of the game but a calamitous error by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale let Congolese international, Yoane Wissa, to pounce in the round of play.

Wissa has scored in three consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time in his career. He has now scored exactly seven goals in all three of his Premier League seasons.

There was a collective sigh of relief however as Kai Havertz scored in the 86th minute to continue his fine form and earn Arsenal an eighth consecutive win.

The Gunners are only the fourth side to win each of their first eight Premier League matches of a calendar year. The previous three all went on to win the title that year (Man Utd in 2009, Liverpool in 2020, Man City in 2021).

Mikel Arteta’s side have scored 70 goals in their 28 Premier League games this season, the earliest into a league campaign they have scored 70+ goals since 1963-64 (27th game).

This is the first time that they are leading the table since Boxing day of 2023.

Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi scored a consolation goal as Fulham lost 2-1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers that returned to winning ways after a tursy turvy few weeks.

Algerian left back Rayan Ait-Nouri’s opener was followed by an own goal from Tom Cairney who deflected in Nelson Semedo’s shot to give Wolves their fourth league victory in six matches.

Wolves climbed to eighth in the hunt for a European spot, six points behind Manchester United in sixth.

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Relegation-threatened Sheffield United failed to hold off a Bournemouth comeback for a rare victory as the Cherries came from 2-0 down to earn a hard-fought point.

The Blades seemed likely to secure only their fourth win of the season as they ended a three-match scoreless streak thanks to goals from Gustavo Hamer and Jack Robinson but Andoni Iraola’s men were clinical from their corners, with Dango Ouattara scoring on 74 minutes and Enes Unal equalising in stoppage time.

Despite their disappointment at being unable to hang on for the win, the point was still enough for Sheff Utd to move away from the bottom for the first time since 22 December.

Crystal Palace were denied a second consecutive home win under new gaffer Oliver Glasner as they again showed their vulnerability late in matches, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to share the points in a 1-1 draw against Luton Town at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles have thus dropped 18 points from winning positions, and have conceded 10 Premier League goals in the 90th minute or later, more than any other side.

Palace took an early lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s special finish and looked set to go 11 points clear of the relegation zone, but substitute Cauley Woodrow’s first Premier League goal in 10 years from former Palace winger Andros Townsend’s cross earned Luton a vital point in their battle against relegation.