The festive period is meant to be relentless, chaotic and unforgiving, but as the Premier League reached its halfway point, Matchweek 19 delivered something a little different. Spread across 30 December to New Year’s Day, the final round of 2025 offered moments of authority, frustration, and quiet significance rather than all-out drama. It was a week that felt less about fireworks and more about revealing where teams truly stand.

As the calendar turned, the title race began to take clearer shape. Arsenal used the moment to send a message, others hesitated when the opportunity was there, and the league as a whole showed signs of wear after an intense December. Goals were harder to come by, margins felt thinner, and patience became just as important as power.

From statement wins to stalled favourites and the wider themes emerging at the season’s midpoint, here are the three biggest talking points from Premier League Matchweek 19, a round that may not have shouted loudly, but spoke volumes about what lies ahead in 2026.

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.

Arsenal Dominant

If there were any lingering doubts about Arsenal’s title credentials heading into the New Year, they were emphatically brushed aside on 30 December. The Gunners’ 4–1 victory over Aston Villa wasn’t just another three points, it felt like a moment. Villa arrived in north London on an 11-game winning run, full of confidence and with a growing reputation as genuine contenders. They left humbled, outplayed, and reminded that Arsenal have gears few teams can live with.

What stood out most was Arsenal’s control. From the opening exchanges, Mikel Arteta’s side dictated tempo, pressed aggressively, and moved the ball with a clarity that Villa struggled to cope with. The midfield battle was decisive, with Arsenal repeatedly breaking lines and forcing Villa deeper and deeper. Even when Villa threatened briefly, Arsenal responded immediately, a sign of a team growing in authority and maturity.

The performance also reignited discussion around Arteta’s attacking options. With goals spread across the front line and strong contributions from players rotating in and out of the XI, Arsenal suddenly look far less reliant on any single scorer. Gabriel Jesus’ impact, whether starting or from the bench, became a particular talking point, his movement and link play giving Arsenal an extra dimension.

Perhaps most importantly, the win shifted the psychology of the title race. At the halfway point of the season, Arsenal weren’t just leading, they were beating direct rivals convincingly. As the Emirates crowd ushered in the New Year early, there was a growing sense that this side is no longer learning how to compete at the top. They expect to be there.

Draws Galore

New Year’s Day is usually a celebration of chaos, tired legs, open games, and late drama. Instead, 1 January 2026 delivered one of the quietest days of Premier League football in recent memory. Three goalless draws and a single 1–1 felt more like a midweek November slate than a festive showcase, leaving fans scratching their heads and managers talking about margins.

The most notable result came at the Stadium of Light, where Manchester City were held to a 0–0 draw by Sunderland. City dominated possession, as expected, but lacked their usual incision in the final third. Sunderland, organised and disciplined, executed their game plan to perfection, earning a point that felt like a win, while City’s title challenge took another subtle dent.

Elsewhere, Liverpool’s stalemate with Leeds raised eyebrows. Despite plenty of the ball and a familiar intensity, Liverpool struggled to break down a compact Leeds side. Chances came and went, but the cutting edge was missing, prompting familiar questions about squad rotation, fatigue, and whether January reinforcements might be needed.

Taken together, the New Year’s Day fixtures told a broader story: the Premier League tightening up. Teams lower down the table are increasingly comfortable defending deep and playing for fine margins, especially against elite opposition. For the title challengers, these dropped points may not feel costly now, but come May, they often loom large.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond individual results, Matchweek 19 sparked wider discussion about the state of the league at the festive midpoint. Across several fixtures, attacking fluency dipped, while defensive organisation improved, a pattern that many analysts linked to physical and mental fatigue after an intense December schedule. Managers spoke openly about tired squads, reduced training time, and the difficulty of maintaining rhythm.

Liverpool, City, and Tottenham all experienced moments where patience replaced punch. The instinct to recycle possession rather than force risky passes was noticeable, as was a reluctance to overcommit bodies forward. While it made for fewer goals, it highlighted how tactically sophisticated the league has become, with even newly promoted sides capable of frustrating the best.

At the same time, Matchweek 19 fed into January narrative-building. Performances, good and bad, sharpened focus on transfer needs, squad depth, and managerial pressure. For some clubs, the new year arrived with optimism and clarity; for others, with familiar concerns bubbling back to the surface.

As the Premier League turned the page on 2025, this round felt less like a spectacle and more like a checkpoint. Arsenal surged forward, challengers hesitated, and the league as a whole seemed to pause, breathe, and brace itself. If Matchweek 19 was quieter than usual, it may still prove pivotal, the calm before the second-half storm.

Game of the week: Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa A test for Villa who lose their winning run while also putting their long-term title credentials under question, however Arsenal brushed aside the tricky test as they overcame a hurdle that possibly in previous years could have caused a slip-up.

Player of the week: Leandro Trossard With Arsenal having plenty of options in their attack when everyone is available, Trossard remains a crucial part of the side in key moments, as he bagged a goal and assist to help make the result comfortable, and demonstrated the options Arsenal have ahead of a big second half to the season.