The 2022/2023 Premier League season is now into its thirty-fourth 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 Keep Hopes Alive

Arsenal’s 3–1 victory over Chelsea on Tuesday night was about far more than a London derby. After a wobble that had seen their title challenge begin to creak, Mikel Arteta’s side needed a response, and they delivered it emphatically. Two early goals from Martin Ødegaard set the tone inside half an hour, with Arsenal playing at a tempo Chelsea simply couldn’t live with.

The performance was vintage Arsenal of that season: sharp passing, relentless pressing and total control of midfield. Gabriel Jesus’ second-half goal effectively ended the contest, while Chelsea’s late consolation barely masked another disjointed display in what was a deeply troubled campaign for them. For Arsenal, it was a reminder of their ceiling when confidence flows.

Crucially, the win lifted Arsenal back to the top of the table, even if Manchester City still held games in hand. Psychologically, it mattered. With City closing in relentlessly, Arsenal showed they weren’t ready to fade quietly, even if the odds were beginning to tilt away from them.

Goals And Chaos

If you wanted entertainment, Week 34 had it in abundance. Brighton’s astonishing 6–0 demolition of Wolves was perhaps the most eye-catching result, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side producing one of the attacking performances of the season. The Amex was rocking as Brighton sliced Wolves apart with pace, movement and total freedom.

At Anfield, Liverpool and Tottenham played out a wild classic that summed up both teams’ seasons. Liverpool raced into a 3–0 lead, Spurs somehow clawed their way back, and just when it looked like a draw was inevitable, Diogo Jota struck deep into stoppage time to make it 4–3. It was breathless, chaotic and utterly Premier League.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s 4–1 win over Leeds was a result with serious consequences. What looked unthinkable earlier in the season was suddenly real: Bournemouth were pulling clear of danger, while Leeds were sliding fast. These weren’t just big wins, they were mood-shifters.

Relegation Nerves

Down at the bottom, the tension ratcheted up another level. Crystal Palace’s 4–3 win over West Ham was a seven-goal thriller that somehow managed to feel both frantic and controlled. Under Roy Hodgson, Palace looked reborn, attacking with confidence and purpose that had been missing for months.

For West Ham, it was another frustrating domestic setback in a season where league form never quite matched their European exploits. Dropped points in games like this kept them uncomfortably close to the relegation scrap, even if their squad suggested they should be well clear.

Meanwhile, results like Bournemouth’s win over Leeds and Leicester and Everton continuing to stumble meant the bottom three battle was tightening by the week. With only a handful of games left, Week 34 felt like the moment where survival stopped being theoretical and became brutally real, every mistake suddenly carrying enormous weight.

Matchday 34 Player of the Week: Danny Welbeck With Brighton looking at a strong finish to the season, Welbeck bagged a brace and assist as he and Brighton demolished Wolves to give them a strong chance at a European place.

Matchday 34 Game of the Week: Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur As Richarlison hit a 93rd minute leveller, it looked like the points would be shared after Liverpool’s super fast 3-0 head start, however Jota had other ideas as he bagged a 94th minute winner to give Liverpool all 3 points.

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