The 2022/2023 Premier League season is now into its twenty-fifth 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.

Arsenal Resolute

Arsenal’s 1–0 win away at Leicester City may not have been a classic, but it was exactly the kind of result that defines title contenders. In previous seasons, this was the sort of fixture that could have slipped away. Instead, Mikel Arteta’s side dug in, stayed patient and left the King Power Stadium with three priceless points.

Leandro Trossard’s first-half goal proved decisive, but the real story was Arsenal’s control and composure. Leicester had moments, particularly after the break, yet Arsenal rarely looked panicked. Their defensive structure held firm, and Aaron Ramsdale was called upon only sparingly, a sign of a team that understood game management.

At this stage of the season, performances matter less than outcomes, and Arsenal delivered exactly what was required. With Manchester City refusing to relent, any dropped points felt magnified. This win kept Arsenal firmly in the title conversation and reinforced the idea that this squad had matured beyond simply playing attractive football.

Perhaps most impressively, Arsenal were doing this without looking flawless. Injuries, pressure and expectation were all building, yet they continued to find solutions. It was a victory that spoke volumes about belief, and belief is often the difference in a title race.

City Respond In Style

If Arsenal showed resilience, Manchester City responded with a reminder of their sheer firepower. Their 4–1 win away at Bournemouth was vintage City: dominant possession, relentless movement and goals from all angles. For Pep Guardiola’s side, this was about sending a message as much as collecting points.

City never allowed Bournemouth to settle, stretching the pitch and forcing errors with their pressing. Once the goals started to flow, the result felt inevitable. Erling Haaland, as ever, was central to the threat, but the supporting cast also chipped in, underlining City’s depth and attacking variety.

Goal difference also mattered here. In a season where margins were tight at the top, City’s ability to rack up convincing wins could yet prove crucial. This was not just a win, it was a statement that they were ready to chase down anyone above them.

Crucially, City looked focused and sharp. There was no hint of complacency, no sense they were waiting for others to falter. Instead, they applied pressure in the only way they know how: by winning emphatically and forcing their rivals to keep matching them.

West Ham Spark Life

Away from the title race, West Ham United produced one of the weekend’s most eye-catching results with a 4–0 demolition of Nottingham Forest. For a side that had struggled for consistency and confidence, this felt like a much-needed release of pressure.

The performance was energetic, direct and ruthless, everything West Ham had too often lacked during a difficult campaign. Goals came from across the pitch, and Forest were overwhelmed by the intensity from the opening stages. The London Stadium, restless in recent weeks, finally had something to celebrate.

For David Moyes, the result was more than just three points. It offered breathing space in the lower half of the table and a reminder of what his team is capable of when confidence flows. With European commitments and domestic struggles colliding earlier in the season, this win hinted at renewed focus.

While one result doesn’t define a season, it can change momentum. For West Ham, this emphatic victory suggested they were not ready to be dragged into a relegation scrap without a fight, and that, in itself, made it one of the standout talking points of Week 25.

Matchday 25 Player of the Week: Declan Rice With a goal and captains performance, Rice showed real leadership as he completed the most passes, created the most chances, was the most accurate passer and dragged his team to a much-needed 3 points.

Matchday 25 Game of the Week: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Chelsea With both teams in unpredictable form, Spurs came out on top despite having their interim manager at the helm. This game wasn’t the best showing on the pitch, but the talking points and drama that follow more than made up for it.

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