Premier League week 24 saw yet more drama across the table, with some dropped points, late comebacks and some terrific goals scattered among the 10 games played over the weekend. With plenty of action to get through, picking out just a few highlights was tricky among the decent displays and possibly season defining moments.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the weekend, along with giving out the game of the week and player of the week awards. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the weekend please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.

Gap At The Top

Arsenal arrived at Elland Road with a point to prove. A short run of uneven results had allowed whispers of a title wobble to creep in, but those doubts were emphatically silenced by a ruthless 4–0 dismantling of Leeds United. From the opening exchanges, Mikel Arteta’s side played with intensity and purpose, moving the ball quickly and pressing with cohesion. The score line reflected not just superiority, but intent, this was a team reminding the league exactly why they sit at the summit.

What stood out was Arsenal’s balance across the pitch. Defensively, they were disciplined and calm, rarely allowing Leeds space to build momentum. In midfield, they controlled the tempo, recycling possession patiently before accelerating when openings appeared. Going forward, goals were shared across the side, underlining the depth of Arsenal’s attacking options and making them difficult to defend against over 90 minutes. It was the kind of performance that felt rehearsed, controlled, and decisive.

Beyond the immediate result, the timing of the victory felt significant. With the season entering its defining stretch and pressure mounting from rivals, Arsenal responded not with nerves but authority. Their ability to dominate away from home, particularly at a traditionally difficult venue, suggested a maturity that often separates title challengers from champions. This was not a team scraping results; it was one imposing its identity.

As February begins, Arsenal’s lead at the top looks deserved rather than fragile. The league remains unpredictable, but performances like this reinforce the sense that Arsenal have both the quality and mentality to sustain their challenge. If this display becomes the standard rather than the exception, their grip on the title race will be hard to loosen.

Comebacks And Chaos

While Arsenal made headlines at the top, Matchweek 24 delivered chaos and drama in the battle for European places. Few games captured that better than Chelsea’s thrilling comeback against West Ham. Trailing by two goals at half-time, Chelsea looked flat and vulnerable, but the second half told a very different story. Tactical adjustments, increased urgency, and a surge in confidence flipped the match on its head, culminating in a dramatic stoppage-time winner.

The result said plenty about Chelsea’s evolving identity. Rather than folding under pressure, they showed resilience and belief, qualities that have not always defined them in recent seasons. The comeback kept them firmly in the conversation for European qualification and injected renewed optimism among supporters. It was also a reminder that momentum, once captured, can swing matches and seasons alike.

Liverpool also reignited their campaign with a dominant 4–1 win over Newcastle. After a frustrating spell without a league victory, the performance felt cathartic. High-tempo pressing, sharper movement in attack, and a clinical edge in front of goal returned just when doubts had begun to grow. The win didn’t just bring three points — it restored belief that Liverpool can still shape the top-four picture.

Elsewhere, narrow wins and hard-fought draws underlined just how tight the league has become. Manchester United’s victory over Fulham and Tottenham’s draw with Manchester City added further congestion to an already crowded table. With so many teams separated by fine margins, every late goal and dropped point is magnified. The race for Europe is no longer about consistency alone, it’s about surviving the chaos.

Fine Margins

Beyond the headline results, Matchweek 24 was defined by moments that may carry lasting significance. Everton’s late equaliser against Brighton, for instance, might seem modest in isolation, but it spoke volumes about their resilience. In a season where draws can quietly accumulate value, the ability to salvage points late on could prove vital to their final position.

Tottenham’s draw with Manchester City also carried broader implications. For Spurs, matching City punch for punch offered encouragement in a season marked by inconsistency. For City, however, the dropped points fed into a growing narrative of vulnerability. While still dangerous and capable of brilliance, they no longer feel inevitable, a perception shift that shapes how opponents approach them.

Individual performances added further texture to the weekend. Creative midfielders dictating games, defenders stepping up under pressure, and forwards seizing decisive moments all reinforced how much the league hinges on personal form as much as collective structure. In February and March, one player’s hot streak or lapse can tilt an entire campaign.

At the bottom end, Sunderland’s emphatic win over Burnley reminded everyone that survival battles can swing suddenly. A convincing victory doesn’t just boost goal difference, it lifts belief, energises crowds, and changes dressing-room psychology. As the season edges toward its final third, Matchweek 24 felt like a reminder that in the Premier League, narratives shift quickly, and no position is ever truly settled.

Game of the week: Manchester United 3-2 Fulham While several games produced comebacks and late drama, our game of the week is a tad biased, as the late drama at Old Trafford between two sides who would have felt disappointed with anything but a win, produced some quality goals and moments which showed Manchester United might be on a serious upturn rather than a brief hot streak, while Fulham are no mugs when it comes to taking on the bigger sides, even if they once again leave Old Trafford with a bitter taste.

Player of the week: Dominic Solanke With one goal that contained a bit of controversy, the second will be arguably a goal of the season contender, as Solanke led the line for Spurs in a comeback against City that turned what could have been Frank’s final outing as manager into a result that could shape the title race and give Spurs a push up the table for the final run-in.