The 2022/2023 Premier League season is now into its eighteenth game week, and the entertainment continues to be relentless and thoroughly enjoyable.

As a result, we will be breaking down each round of fixtures by picking out 3 of the biggest talking points, covering the biggest results, goals and general talking points from the week. We then will round off by picking our player of the week and game of the week based on what we saw in that round of games.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) if you have seen anything in a game that you think we should be talking about, or have anything to share from what you’ve seen at a game that week. Any funny stories, tactical analysis or general comments will be featured.

United’s Resilience

Manchester United’s trip to Molineux felt like one of those fixtures that can quietly shape a club’s season. Wolves were organised, intense and, under new boss Julen Lopetegui, keen to make a statement. United, meanwhile, looked confident but not clinical, and while they had good spells of possession, they lacked that spark to break the deadlock. For long stretches it felt like the match might drift into a frustrating stalemate, the kind that derails momentum in the festive period.

Then came the moment everyone talked about: Marcus Rashford off the bench, ball at his feet, driving through bodies with that unmistakable swagger before squeezing in the winner. It was poetic, really. Having been dropped from the starting line-up for sleeping through an alarm, Rashford’s response wasn’t anger or sulking, it was pure football. Ten Hag’s discipline was praised, Rashford’s mentality even more so, and suddenly United’s dressing room looked like a place with standards and accountability.

Beyond Rashford’s goal, the wider narrative around United was equally big. The win pushed them into a strong position heading into 2023, sparking talk of a potential top-four finish, and even whispers of an outside title challenge if things broke their way. More importantly, the team showed resilience that had often been missing in previous seasons. They didn’t crumble, didn’t panic, and found a way to win ugly when it mattered most.

For fans, this match felt like another sign that something was changing under Ten Hag. United weren’t perfect, but they were organised, focused and together. And with Rashford playing with the confidence of a man reborn, it was no surprise that week 18’s biggest talking point centred around the Red Devils’ renewed bite.

Arsenal Surge – City Slip

Arsenal’s 4–2 win away at Brighton was more than just a high-scoring thriller, it was another statement in a season full of them. Mikel Arteta’s side played with a frightening sharpness, carving Brighton open with clinical attacks and a clarity of purpose that hadn’t been seen at Arsenal in years. Even when Brighton rallied late on, Arsenal looked like a side that believed completely in what they were doing. It was the kind of win title challengers deliver: ruthless early on, composed under pressure.

What made the victory even more significant was the result elsewhere. Manchester City, heavy favourites for another title, dropped points at home in a surprising 1–1 draw with Everton. Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession as always, but they lacked precision and were punished by a determined Everton outfit fighting for every blade of grass. Suddenly, Arsenal’s advantage at the top of the table didn’t just grow, it felt substantial, symbolic.

Liverpool added their own noise to the top-four picture with a slightly chaotic 2–1 win over Leicester, courtesy of two Wout Faes own goals. But even that sideshow didn’t distract from the broader storyline: Arsenal looked like the real deal. They weren’t sneaking results, they were imposing themselves on games, showing maturity, intensity and a confidence that resonated across the league.

Heading into January, the mood among Arsenal supporters was cautiously euphoric. This wasn’t a fleeting good run, this was a team with identity, cohesion and belief. And Week 18 reinforced the idea that the Premier League title race was no longer City against the field. Arsenal had stepped into the ring, gloves up, and they weren’t backing down.

Relegation Battle

Week 18 wasn’t just about the title chase, there were big stories near the bottom of the table too. West Ham’s 2–0 defeat at home to Brentford shone a harsh spotlight on a team that had slipped alarmingly from their European-chasing highs. Brentford were bright, energetic and fully deserving of their win, leaving West Ham looking flat and increasingly anxious in front of their home supporters. The boos at full-time weren’t surprising, they were the sound of a fanbase worried about what was unfolding.

The pressure on David Moyes intensified sharply. After back-to-back seasons of pushing into Europe, West Ham suddenly found themselves drifting toward the relegation zone. Injuries, loss of form, and a lack of attacking fluency all contributed to the decline, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. The festive period is unforgiving, and points dropped in December often come back to haunt teams in May.

Elsewhere, the battle at the bottom tightened further. Southampton’s loss to Fulham added to their woes, while Bournemouth’s defeat to Crystal Palace highlighted their inconsistencies. Even Nottingham Forest’s draw with a stuttering Chelsea felt meaningful, a point that could prove vital in a survival race that was shaping up to involve half a dozen teams.

Relegation isn’t usually front-page news in December, but Week 18 made it impossible to ignore. These weren’t isolated dips, several clubs were sinking into long-term slumps, and the fear was beginning to show. For West Ham in particular, the alarm bells weren’t just ringing; they were echoing around the London Stadium.

Matchday 18 Player of the Week: Michael Olise With the temptation to give Faes the award was there, Olise’s brace of assists helped Palace to a decent away win against Bournemouth, and showed once again his impressive abilities in their front-line of Zaha-Eze-Olise.

Matchday 18 Game of the Week: Brighton 2-4 Arsenal Although Arsenal raced into a 3-0 lead just after half-time, the fightback shown later on by Brighton made for an interesting end to the clash, and with 6 goals from the game it certainly delivered.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) what you made of the eighteenth round of fixtures, and what you’re looking forward to in the next game week.