Premier League Matchweek 12 Review: North London Domination and Title Race Shocks
The Premier League delivered a matchweek of monumental importance, with the North London Derby living up to its hype and major upsets shaking up the top of the table. Arsenal capitalised in stunning fashion, while Manchester City and Liverpool stumbled badly. Eberechi Eze’s sensational hat-trick stole the headlines, making this a weekend that could be looked back upon as a pivotal moment in the 2025/26 title race.
đź”´ The North London Earthquake: Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham
The weekend’s crescendo was, without a doubt, the North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium. Going into the match, the pressure was immense, compounded by the earlier results which saw both Manchester City and Liverpool drop points. Arsenal, however, thrived under the scrutiny, delivering a performance that was equal parts clinical and statement-making, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over their bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
For a tense opening 36 minutes, the contest was cagey. Tottenham, clearly instructed to frustrate the league leaders, held a tight, low block, limiting the Gunners’ intricate final-third play. The breakthrough, however, was a moment of quality that prised open the lock, with Leandro Trossard netting from close range to settle the home side’s nerves.
The pivotal sequence of the game arrived in a blistering 10-minute spell either side of half-time. Crucially, the dagger came from an unlikely, yet incredibly significant, source: Eberechi Eze. The playmaker, a boyhood Arsenal fan who was almost signed by Spurs in the summer, rifled in a brilliant second goal just before the break. The emotional weight of the goal was palpable. By the time Eze completed his brace shortly after the restart, the contest was effectively over, transforming a high-stakes derby into an Arsenal exhibition.
Eze completed a majestic, career-defining hat-trick in the 76th minute with another clinical finish, becoming only the fifth player in history to score a hat-trick in the North London Derby. The final whistle brought a 4-1 scoreline, a result that not only handed Arsenal the bragging rights but, more significantly, propelled them to a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. The performance displayed a ruthless edge that few expected, underlining their growing title belief and establishing a tangible ‘aura’ of champions-in-waiting, according to many pundits.
For Tottenham, this was a chastening experience. The defeat saw them drop to ninth place, and the manner of the loss—especially their inability to cope with Arsenal’s relentless pressure and individual brilliance—will raise serious questions for their manager and squad resilience in major matches. The pressure on their position will intensify in the coming weeks.
📉 The Weekend of Shocks: City and Liverpool Stumble
Matchweek 12 will also be remembered for the seismic shocks delivered to the Premier League’s established hierarchy. Before the North London Derby, the two clubs who have dominated the league for the past five years both suffered damaging, unexpected defeats, creating a major vacuum at the top that Arsenal were only too happy to fill.
Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City
Manchester City’s bid to keep pace with the leaders hit a significant snag at St James’ Park. Newcastle United delivered a performance of intense, high-energy football, capitalising on City’s rare moments of sloppiness. Despite an early lead being a possibility, City looked off-the-pace, and the Magpies’ forward line, marshalled by an outstanding performance from a returning player (who scored a crucial double), proved too much. The 2-1 defeat was not just about the points dropped; it was the first time in an age that Pep Guardiola’s side looked genuinely unsettled and vulnerable against domestic opposition. The loss saw them slip to third place, a huge psychological blow.
Liverpool 0-3 Nottingham Forest
Perhaps the most shocking result of the entire weekend was Liverpool’s inexplicable capitulation at home to a rejuvenated Nottingham Forest side. Forest, who have struggled for consistency, produced a stunning display of counter-attacking football and defensive solidity. The 3-0 scoreline was a brutal reflection of Liverpool’s current form, which has seen them endure a worrying run of losses. The tactical issues, coupled with individual errors, were ruthlessly exposed. The defeat drops Liverpool out of the European places and leaves manager Arne Slot under immediate, intense pressure. The sheer margin of the defeat at Anfield has commentators asking serious questions about the depth and focus of the Reds’ squad.
Chelsea’s comfortable 2-0 win over Burnley allowed them to seize the opportunity, leapfrogging City into second place. The result sets up a monumental top-of-the-table clash next weekend between **Chelsea and Arsenal** at Stamford Bridge, which suddenly takes on even greater significance.
✨ Best of the Rest: Villa, Palace, and the Relegation Battle
Away from the headline fixtures, Matchweek 12 provided plenty of drama elsewhere:
- Leeds United 1-2 Aston Villa: Aston Villa continued their solid run of form by securing a valuable away win. Unai Emery’s team showed resilience and a clinical edge, moving them firmly into the top four—a testament to their consistent strategy and squad cohesion.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Crystal Palace: Crystal Palace secured a clean and crucial away victory, continuing their own quiet climb up the table. Their defence was rock-solid, and their efficiency in attack saw them comfortably dispatch a struggling Wolves side who remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
- Fulham 1-0 Sunderland: In the late Saturday kick-off, Fulham managed to snatch a late 1-0 victory against Sunderland, courtesy of a RaĂşl JimĂ©nez strike. While Sunderland have been the league’s surprise package so far this season, the defeat, described by their manager as their ‘worst performance of the season,’ suggests their honeymoon period may be over.
- Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham United: A high-scoring draw saw both sides leave with a point, but neither manager will be wholly satisfied. The attacking intent was clear, but defensive frailties remain a concern, especially for West Ham who continue to languish near the bottom.
The relegation picture is beginning to solidify, with Wolves looking increasingly detached at the foot of the table. Burnley, despite showing glimpses of fight, continue to struggle, and Leeds United’s position is becoming perilous following their home defeat. The scrap for survival, however, remains volatile, with only a few points separating the bottom six.
🔮 The Title Picture: Arsenal’s Opportunity
This past weekend has fundamentally altered the landscape of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Arsenal, who have been relentlessly consistent, finally have the buffer they craved. Their six-point lead is not insurmountable, but the fact it came at the expense of their biggest rivals’ setbacks is a massive psychological boost. The coming weeks, however, present a huge test of their nerve, starting with the colossal fixture against Chelsea. For Manchester City and Liverpool, the response to these damaging defeats will define their season. The title race is no longer a three-horse race; it is, for the first time in a long time, Arsenal’s to lose. The pressure has now shifted entirely.