Premier League Matchweek 24 Results show that the 2025/26 title race has shed its polite pretences and began to look like an Arsenal coronation.
Here in this article, you will get to see some of the analysis of the matchweek.
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways: Matchweek 24 Full Results
- Arsenal’s Surgical Strike: Leeds Dismantled at Elland Road
- The Half-Space Overload: Tactical Shifts at Anfield
- The Collapse of Control: City and Villa Stumble
- Conclusion: The Gap Widens
While Mikel Arteta’s side operated with the clinical execution of a squad that has found its systemic groove, their closest challengers exhibited a fraying of structural integrity that turned potential wins into dropped points.
As of February 1, 2026, the Gunners sit six points clear at the summit, leaving Manchester City and Aston Villa to ponder how a campaign of such promise began to lose its defensive edge in the February sorting phase.
The psychological weight of the weekend cannot be overstated. After three consecutive league games without a win, Arsenal faced a crisis of confidence that threatened to derail their season.
Their response at Elland Road was a masterclass in poise, proving that the scars from three successive runner-up finishes have finally healed into a tougher, more resilient hide. For the first time this season, the league leaders look like a team playing without the fear of failure, a shift in mentality that may finally bridge the gap between “contenders” and “champions.”
Tactically, the weekend was defined by the erosion of game-state security. From Stamford Bridge to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, discipline evaporated the moment momentum shifted. For the managers, it was a lesson in the volatility of the modern Premier League; for the fans, it was high-stakes chaos masquerading as sport.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways: Premier League Matchweek 24 Full Results
Leeds United 0-4 Arsenal: A 0.15 xG for Leeds tells the story of total offensive strangulation by the leaders.
Tottenham 2-2 Man City: City’s 2.08 xG went to waste as Dominic Solanke’s scorpion kick stole the headlines.
Man United 3-2 Fulham: Benjamin Šeško’s 94th-minute winner kept the Michael Carrick honeymoon alive at Old Trafford.
Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle: The Reds recorded a massive 2.28 xG, completely overwhelming the Magpies’ 0.36.
Chelsea 3-2 West Ham: Enzo Fernandez’s 92nd-minute strike capped a comeback from two goals down at half-time.
Aston Villa 0-1 Brentford: A defensive lapse saw Villa fail to convert 72% possession and 2.40 xG into points.
Brighton 1-1 Everton: Beto’s 97th-minute equaliser rewarded a direct approach in a low-quality affair.
Wolves 0-2 Bournemouth: Junior Kroupi’s 8th goal of the term punished a Wolves side that managed just one shot on target.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace: 10-man Forest hold on for a draw to move six points clear of the drop.
Arsenal’s Surgical Strike: Leeds Dismantled at Elland Road
Leeds United’s defensive line at Elland Road wasn’t just high; it was suicidal. Arsenal didn’t merely win; they conducted a tactical evisceration. By the time the final whistle blew, Leeds had managed a meagre 0.15 xG and only one shot on target. The Gunners did not just outplay Leeds; they removed them from the contest.
The Ampadu-Gruev Dilemma
Mikel Arteta exploited Leeds’ 3-4-2-1 by positioning Viktor Gyökeres as a “false nine” between the lines, forcing Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev into a constant, losing battle of whether to press or hold their shape. When they pressed, the space behind was exploited by Noni Madueke, who starred in place of the injured Bukayo Saka. When they held, Martin Zubimendi dictated the tempo with 77% pass accuracy, 5 passes into the final third, and opening the scoring with a clinical header.
The Half-Space Overload: Tactical Shifts at Anfield
After Anthony Gordon’s opener for Newcastle in the 36th minute, Liverpool shifted into a fluid midfield diamond to seize control. With Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley unavailable, Dominik Szoboszlai started at right-back but inverted into a central role. He joined Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister to create a numerical advantage against a Newcastle midfield missing Bruno Guimarães.
This adjustment allowed Florian Wirtz to thrive at the tip of the diamond. Operating between the lines, Wirtz exploited the gaps in the visitors’ defence to spark the comeback. Hugo Ekitiké capitalised on this service, scoring a quickfire brace in the 41st and 43rd minutes to turn the game before halftime.
Mohamed Salah played a vital tactical role by stretching the Newcastle backline. In the 67th minute, his positioning forced Dan Burn wide, creating the space for Salah to assist Wirtz for the third goal. Ibrahima Konaté capped the 4-1 win with an emotional late header, but the victory was built on the central superiority established by Slot’s mid-game structural change.
The Collapse of Control: City and Villa Stumble
Manchester City’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham was a masterclass in how to lose control of a “solved” game. Pep Guardiola’s side sailed into a 2-0 lead through Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, but their second-half intensity dropped significantly. Spurs regained their breath, and Dominic Solanke inspired a comeback with a brace, culminating in an audacious scorpion kick equaliser from a Conor Gallagher cross.
At Villa Park, the story was even grimmer for the home side. Aston Villa controlled 72% of the ball and completed 558 accurate passes, but lacked the verticality to break Brentford’s low block. Even after Kevin Schade was sent off, Villa failed to equalise, with Tammy Abraham seeing a goal disallowed by VAR. Losing 1-0 to a 10-man side suggests the the winning mentality found in North London might be missing in Birmingham.
Conclusion: The Gap Widens
Matchweek 24 has turned the 2025/26 standings into a two-tiered system: Arsenal, and everyone else trying to find their defensive identity. While Michael Carrick’s Manchester United (4th) and Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea (5th) are finding ways to win in the mud, they remain far behind the structural perfection of the leaders. Arsenal are now six points clear with the momentum firmly in their favour. The title is theirs to lose, and on this weekend’s evidence, they have no intention of letting go.
