The 2022/2023 Premier League season is now into its thirty-third 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 Respond

After a bruising defeat to Manchester City the previous week, Arsenal needed a response, and they found one in emphatic fashion with a 3–1 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates. From the opening whistle, Mikel Arteta’s side played with urgency and clarity, dominating possession and pressing aggressively. Martin Ødegaard’s quickfire first-half double effectively killed the contest before Chelsea could settle.

The performance was particularly impressive given the context. Arsenal’s young squad had shown signs of strain during April, surrendering leads and momentum in the title race. Against Chelsea, however, they looked refreshed and focused, moving the ball sharply and attacking with confidence. Ødegaard led by example, dictating tempo and repeatedly finding space between the lines.

Chelsea’s defensive fragility was once again exposed, but Arsenal still deserve credit for exploiting it so ruthlessly. Gabriel Jesus added a third before a late consolation goal from Noni Madueke, though by then the outcome was beyond doubt. The Emirates crowd sensed this was a side determined not to fade quietly.

While Manchester City still held the upper hand with games in hand, this result ensured Arsenal remained firmly in the conversation. More than the points, it was the manner of the win that mattered, a reminder that the Gunners still had fight, belief and quality when it mattered most.

European Picture

Gameweek 34 also had major implications in the race for European qualification, particularly with Liverpool’s dramatic 4–3 win over Tottenham and Newcastle’s composed 3–1 victory over Southampton. Liverpool’s win was chaotic, emotional and unforgettable. Racing into a 3–0 lead inside 15 minutes, Jürgen Klopp’s side looked set for a routine afternoon, only to collapse defensively and allow Spurs back into the game.

Tottenham’s late equaliser through Richarlison appeared to have rescued a point, sparking wild celebrations, until Diogo Jota struck deep into stoppage time. The emotional release was unmistakable, with Klopp famously sprinting down the touchline. Beyond the drama, the result kept Liverpool’s late push for European places alive and underlined their resilience after an inconsistent season.

Newcastle, by contrast, went about their business with far less chaos. Their 3–1 win over Southampton was professional and assured, reinforcing their status as one of the league’s most impressive stories. Eddie Howe’s side controlled the game, showed patience in possession and punished mistakes when they came.

That win strengthened Newcastle’s grip on a Champions League spot and highlighted the gulf in confidence between a team chasing Europe and one slipping towards relegation. As May approached, Newcastle looked increasingly comfortable under pressure, a remarkable achievement for a side returning to the elite conversation.

Fine Margins

At the bottom end of the table, Gameweek 34 delivered tension in abundance. Crystal Palace’s 4–3 win over West Ham was a breathless encounter that swung momentum sharply in Palace’s favour. Under Roy Hodgson, Palace had rediscovered their attacking edge, playing with freedom and confidence that had been absent earlier in the season.

Eberechi Eze was central to everything good Palace did, tormenting West Ham’s defence and showing why he had become one of the league’s most exciting creative players. For West Ham, the defeat was a setback that left them nervously glancing over their shoulders despite their European commitments elsewhere.

Elsewhere, Leicester City’s 2–2 draw with Everton felt like a missed opportunity for both sides. It was scrappy, tense and low on quality, exactly what you’d expect from a relegation six-pointer. Goals were exchanged, mistakes were made, and neither team did enough to claim a decisive advantage in the survival race.

As the final weeks approached, these results highlighted just how slim the margins were at the bottom. One moment of brilliance or one costly error could define a club’s season. Gameweek 34 didn’t settle the relegation battle, but it made clear that the fight for survival was heading for a nerve-shredding finish.

Matchday 33 Player of the Week: Erling Haaland With a goal and brace of assists, Haaland was a thorn in the side of Arsenal’s defence as they crumbled to the defeat which could hand City yet another title.

Matchday 33 Game of the Week: Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal The moment where the title was awarded in my opinion, as Arsenal have become the masters of their own downfall once again.

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