Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze stole the spotlight with a superb hat-trick in the Premier League leaders’ demolition of Tottenham.
Troubled champions Liverpool’s wretched season hit a new low in a loss to Nottingham Forest, while Chelsea are emerging as Arsenal’s main rivals.
Here, we look at the talking points from the weekend’s action:
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ARSENAL ‘SHOULD WIN TITLE’ AS WILD 10-YEAR TWEET RESURFACES
Six points clear at the top, unbeaten in 15 games in all competitions and buoyed by a 4-1 rout of Tottenham, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will never have a better chance to finally end their Premier League title drought.
The Gunners haven’t been crowned English champions since 2004 and three successive runners-up finishes had raised doubts about Arteta’s ability to end that barren run.
Finishing 10 points behind Liverpool last season was especially painful and the champions’ massive summer spending spree only increased the belief that Arsenal were destined to miss out again.
A 1-0 defeat at Liverpool in August was hugely frustrating for Arteta, but the Spaniard kept faith with his injury-hit team and has been rewarded with a blistering surge.
After their 10-game winning streak was halted in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland before the international break, the Gunners got back on track thanks to Eze’s hat-trick in the rout of hapless Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.
The performance was Eze’s breakout moment in a Arsenal shirt — and it was a one of incredible magnitude and meaning for the 27-year-old.
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze , centerm smiles after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Tottenham in London, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze , centerm smiles after scoring during a Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Tottenham in London, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)Source: AP
Eze grew up supporting Arsenal and was even part of the club’s youth academy before ultimately getting his senior break at Queens Park Rangers, before a five year stay at Crystal Palace.
After his hat-trick — the first in a North London derby by either side since 1978 — a 10-year-old tweet from Eze started going viral.
“I swear imma make it and when I do, they’re gunna show this tweet lol,” it reads.
In the summer, Eze was a Spurs transfer target and was even said to be on the brink of joining Arsenal’s bitter North London rival before the deal was hijacked at the eleventh hour for £60 million ($142 million).
For his own part, when asked about the failed move to Spurs, Eze said: “Let’s not speak about that.”
Sky Sports’ football features writer Nick Wright, however, described it as a “brutal exhibition of what (Spurs) missed out on, performed by a man seemingly on a mission to hammer home the message.”
“It was by far his best performance yet for Arsenal but it also hinted at how much more there is to come from him,” he added.
Eze had a middling start to life in Arsenal colours but, with the ongoing injury absence of Martin Odegaard, has been left with the club’s chief playmaking role.
His performance against Spurs saw him stamp his authority on position, and prove he has what it takes to lead Arsenal’s title charge.
“When Eze came in, I thought, okay, maybe it’s not a game-changer,” Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said after the match.“But then we saw some of his highlights this season, there were still a few great goals in there, and then he goes and scores a hat-trick. So, apologies.
“I certainly undervalued the importance of that signing because he looks like he could make the real difference for Arsenal this season and going on to win the title.”
Meanwhile, Gary Neville said that Arsenal “should win” the Premier League this season, and even the Champions League in coming years.
“The squad are pushing each other. Eberechi Eze looked Brazilian, it’s beautiful to see that confidence from an English player,” he said.
“I’ve accused Mikel Arteta of being a bit handbrake on, but he’s now getting that balance right of flair in the team and confidence, it’s the intent - don’t pass sideways, you’re better than that. Their open-play game was really good, which they’ve been accused of lacking. A lot to like.”
It was the perfect preparation for a huge week featuring a Champions League visit from Bayern Munich and a trip to second-placed Chelsea next weekend.
“We have really good momentum but you can see how difficult every game in the Premier League is. It’s a long run, let’s go game by game. Let’s enjoy tonight, then we have Bayern here and Chelsea away. We have a tough week,” Arteta said.
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, celebrates with Eberechi Eze of Arsenal as he holds the match ball after scoring a hat-rick following the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, celebrates with Eberechi Eze of Arsenal as he holds the match ball after scoring a hat-rick following the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
WOEFUL LIVERPOOL HIT NEW DEPTHS
Liverpool’s plunge down the table shows no sign of stopping after a Nottingham Forest side that began the weekend in the relegation zone cruised to a 3-0 victory at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s struggle to find the right blend from his expensively assembled squad overhaul in the transfer market goes on as Liverpool lost back-to-back league games by a three-goal margin for the first time since 1965.
Alexander Isak’s woeful form embodies the issue that Slot faces.
Signed for a British transfer record £125 million (A$254m) nearly three months ago, Isak is yet to score a league goal for the Reds.
A lack of pre-season training and an injury setback have hampered the Swedish striker, who was hauled off by Slot after an ineffectual 68 minutes against Forest.
He set an unwanted record by becoming the first Liverpool player in Premier League history to end on the losing side in each of his first four starts.
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk said the players are letting their manager down, but Slot believes he should shoulder responsibility for a run that has seen Liverpool slip into the bottom half of the table.
“I can never come up with enough excuses to have the results we have,” Slot said. “That is far from good enough and I’m responsible for that.”
The heat is mounting on Slot massively, with Neville describing Liverpool’s slide as being “unusual” for both its “severity and immediacy”.
“A blip is losing one or two games, when you start losing three and four you have to do something,” he said.
“You can’t lose six games in seven if you are Liverpool Football Club. It’s unacceptable. The manager has to change the style or the system and help them.
“Be a bit more pragmatic. Something has to change in the collective.”
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 22, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Liverpool's Dutch manager Arne Slot reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on November 22, 2025. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /Source: AFP
Fellow Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney said that Liverpool was at risk of suffering a massive slip down the ladder in a similar fashion to Spurs and United, who finished 17th and 15th respectively last season.
He also called out Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah as big names who have gone missing.
“This is a time where the manager and the leaders in the team need to figure it out very quickly. Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, they’ve signed new deals but I don’t think they’ve really led that team this season,” he said.
“I think body language tells you a lot, and I think we’re seeing slightly different body language from the two of them. They are the top two players in that team and if their body language is not right, that affects everyone else.
“I might be wrong on this, but if I was a Liverpool fan or the manager, that would be a big concern for me.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo and teammates of Liverpool react during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on November 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo and teammates of Liverpool react during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Anfield on November 22, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CITY FUME AT REFEREES
Manchester City Ruben Dias let his thoughts be known of the quality of the referee’s decision-making in their 2-1 loss at St James Park.
City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was pushed by Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes in the build-up to the Magpies match-winning goal.
The push went unpunished and immediately afterwards the Italian shot stopper charged at referee Sam Barrott to express his discontent.
VAR stepped in to check for offside, but the goal was allowed to stand.
Dias was left seething.
“There’s one in the first half with Phil, I feel like they were saying it was very clear,” the Portuguese defender told Sky Sports.
“Out of all the decisions, only the second goal. I think we need to make it make sense because where’s the sense in their player pushing our goalkeeper outside the goal? What are we allowing, and for how long?
“Sometimes you allow it, sometimes you don’t. Where’s the rule? What can you actually do?
“The second goal, Gigio is in his place, he’s being pushed out. And there’s no consequence. It’s allowed. I had the chance to see it back, I didn’t even realise it on the pitch.
“I found it weird that he was out of position, so we immediately knew something was wrong. But I managed to see the review and it’s Barnes pushing him away from the goal.
“We’re so picky with certain contacts, but one like this with the keeper, you allow it? It is what it is. If that’s the rule, fine. But let us do the same.
“Back in the day, this was a foul. Now apparently it’s allowed. People are going to say I’m finding excuses but it’s nothing like it. Today Newcastle were better and they deserved the win. because of that, they were allowed to score more chances than us. In terms of the rule, there needs to be a rule.”
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City remonstrates with the Referee, Samuel Barrott, after Harvey Barnes (not pictured) of Newcastle United scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on November 22, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City remonstrates with the Referee, Samuel Barrott, after Harvey Barnes (not pictured) of Newcastle United scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on November 22, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The goal standing was costly for City in the title race as they now sit seven points behind leaders Arsenal in third.
But Sky Sports pundits Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp agreed that the decision was correct.
“I think he needs to be stronger in this particular moment,” Richards said of Donnarumma.
“To be fair to Ruben [Dias], when you touch a goalkeeper like that you sometimes get those decisions. I understand what he’s saying about consistency.
“You see Barnes on him, but the size of Donnarumma? It’s too easy. Not enough contact. Not a foul.”
Redknapp added: “Barnes comes round the back of Gvardiol. Is that enough? Donnarumma has to be stronger. Of course he’s going to complain, but sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t.
“He looks more obsessed with pushing Doku [than being pushed]! He gets himself in a bit of a mess. It’s so minimal - you’ve got to be stronger!
“What’s more important is the desire Newcastle players show to get on the end of that cross.
“There might have been a slight contact, but even if you’re Man City, it’s not enough.”
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City reacts to Harvey Barnes of Newcastle United (not pictured) scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on November 22, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City reacts to Harvey Barnes of Newcastle United (not pictured) scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on November 22, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
CAN CHELSEA MOUNT A CHALLENGE?
Manchester City’s defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, coupled with Chelsea’s fifth win in six league games -- a 2-0 success at Burnley -- propelled the Blues into second place.
A six-point gap to Arsenal could be halved next weekend when the Gunners have to travel to Stamford Bridge in a top-of-the-table clash.
The exertions of winning the Club World Cup in the gruelling July heat of the United States when their title rivals were resting could yet catch up with Enzo Maresca’s men.
But Chelsea’s approach to hoarding young talent in successive transfer windows is beginning to bear fruit.
Maresca could afford the luxury of leaving club record signing Moises Caicedo and Brazilian wonder-kid Estevao on the bench for a comfortable victory at Turf Moor, with one eye on a big week ahead, which also includes a Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, centre, celebrates with Pedro Neto, right, and Marc Cucurella after the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley v Chelsea, in Burnley, England, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, centre, celebrates with Pedro Neto, right, and Marc Cucurella after the English Premier League soccer match between Burnley v Chelsea, in Burnley, England, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)Source: AP
“It was a tough game for many reasons - after the international break, 12 o’clock in the morning, barely awake, this type of pitch, also we need to manage players, so it was a very tricky game,” Maresca said post-match.
“The way the players competed, another clean sheet - they had just one important chance in the second half. We conceded some chaos inside the box, but it’s part of the game. Overall, I think we deserved to win the game and we are happy.
“We are confident, we are doing well. Today we could have done many, many things better for sure, but it was important to win the game.
“We are confident and we are ready to prepare for Tuesday and Sunday.”