Arsenal won’t be pressing the panic button, but Premier League title jitters are starting to emerge in north London as a 2-3 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday left the door ajar for the chasers.
Stunning second-half goals from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha gave United a first Premier League win at Arsenal since 2017, loosening their grip on top spot.
Instead of restoring the seven-point lead, Arsenal’s first home defeat of the season in all competitions left them four points ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa.
City managed to win again on Saturday by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Villa won 2-0 at Newcastle United on Sunday before Arsenal kicked off at the Emirates Stadium.
A stunning first-half strike from Emiliano Buendia and a late goal from Ollie Watkins sealed the points for Villa, who bounced back impressively from last week’s home defeat to Everton.
Arsenal, who are now three league games without a win, have 50 points from 23 games, with City and Villa on 46, while a rejuvenated United are fourth with 38.
Chelsea are fifth with 37 after a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, sealed by goals from Estevao, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez. Chris Richards scored a consolation goal for the hosts, after which Adam Wharton was sent off.
Nottingham Forest moved five points above the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Brentford.
Arsenal are chasing a first title since 2004 and could well have built a commanding lead after City and Villa stumbled of late. But Sunday’s defeat, after successive 0-0 draws, has increased fears.
«You have to give Manchester United credit. We gave them a goal that is unusual and painful, and then two brilliant moments with incredible goals. We were not at our best and we paid the price,» said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Terrible mistake
The Gunners looked in control when Lisandro Martinez’s own goal put them ahead in the 29th minute.
But a terrible mistake from Martin Zubimendi in the 37th minute gave United Bryan Mbeumo’s equalizer.
Dorgu then rifled home a volley in the 50th minute and United’s confidence soared until substitute Mikel Merino poked the hosts level late on from a corner.
However, United weren’t done yet and substitute Cunha advanced before curling a right-foot shot past David Raya from 25 yards, sparking wild celebrations from the visiting fans.
One point from the last two league games had hampered Villa’s momentum, but things were back in the right direction against a disappointing Newcastle side.
Buendia opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a dipping shot that flashed past Nick Pope.
Newcastle pressed forward in search of an equalizer but it was Watkins who had the final say for Villa, hitting the far post in the 88th minute to head home and seal the win.
After recording a 1-0 victory over Turkish side Fenerbahçe in the Europa League on Thursday, Villa had little time to prepare for the match against Newcastle but responded well.
“It’s a difficult schedule for us, but it’s what we want to do: play in European competitions and fight for these places in the Premier League, so we have to adapt, fight and play and recover and go again,” Buendia said.
Forest were under pressure after third-from-bottom West Ham United moved two points behind after a win against Sunderland on Saturday.
But it responded with a victory over Brentford, who lost at home for only the second time this season in the league. Goals from Igor Jesus and Taiwo Awoniyi proved decisive for Forest, who drew level with sixteenth-placed Leeds United.
Published on January 26, 2026
