Honestly, if you looked at the table a month ago, you’d have bet your house on Arsenal cruising to the finish line. But English football has this annoying, beautiful habit of tripping up the leaders just when they start looking comfortable. After the chaos of Matchweek 22, the barclays premier league fixtures results have left us with a title race that’s basically a three-car pileup involving Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola, and Unai Emery.
Arsenal just dropped points at the City Ground. A 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest sounds boring on paper, but if you saw Matz Sels clawing away Bukayo Saka’s goal-bound effort in the 88th minute, you know it was anything but. The Gunners are sitting on 50 points, seven clear of Manchester City, but City has a game in hand and a scary habit of winning twelve games in a row starting… well, right about now.
The results that actually changed the season
While everyone was staring at the top, Manchester United quietly blew the roof off Old Trafford by beating Manchester City 2-0 today. It’s one of those results that makes you realize the "Barclays" era nostalgia is real—the league is just better when the Manchester derby feels like a war. United are up to 5th now.
Check out how the top of the pile looks after this weekend’s insanity:
Arsenal is leading the pack with 50 points from 22 games. They’ve got a +26 goal difference, which is massive. Then you have Manchester City and Aston Villa both locked on 43 points. Villa plays tomorrow against Everton, and if they win, they’re suddenly only four points behind Arsenal. It’s wild to think Unai Emery has turned Villa Park into a place where title dreams go to die.
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Down at the bottom, Wolves are basically staring into the abyss. They’ve got 7 points. Total. In January. That’s almost impressive in a tragic sort of way. Burnley and West Ham are joined at the hip in the relegation zone, and honestly, the Hammers look like a team that’s forgotten how to win a tackle.
Why we still call it the Barclays Premier League
You've probably noticed people still say "Barclays Premier League" even though the bank hasn't been the title sponsor since 2016. It’s a habit. Like calling a Snickers bar a Marathon (if you’re old enough). But there's a practical reason it's back in the conversation: Barclays actually renewed their deal as the "Official Bank" of the league through 2028.
They’re pumping £75 million into the men’s game and even more into the WSL. So, while the trophy doesn't say "Barclays" on it anymore, their fingerprints are all over the fixtures and the funding that keeps these billion-pound squads running.
Upcoming fixtures that will break your heart (or make your week)
If you're planning your life around the TV schedule, Matchweek 23 is the one to circle in red. We’ve got Arsenal vs. Manchester United on January 25th at the Emirates. If United play like they did against City today, Arsenal’s seven-point lead could evaporate faster than a London puddle in July.
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- January 24: Manchester City vs. Wolves (A potential bloodbath for Wolves).
- January 24: Bournemouth vs. Liverpool (Liverpool needs a win to keep their slim title hopes alive).
- January 25: Arsenal vs. Manchester United (The big one).
- January 26: Everton vs. Leeds United (A proper old-school scrap for survival).
The Leeds result today—beating Fulham 1-0—was huge for Daniel Farke. It pulled them up to 16th. They aren't safe, not by a long shot, but Elland Road is starting to feel like a fortress again.
The Sunderland surprise
Can we talk about Sunderland for a second? They’re 8th. As a promoted side, they were supposed to be fighting for their lives. Instead, they’re taking points off Crystal Palace (2-1 today) and sitting comfortably in the top half. Watching Granit Xhaka lead that midfield has been a revelation. Who knew the former Arsenal man had this kind of "senior statesman" energy in him?
What the stats are actually telling us
The supercomputers at Opta are losing their minds right now. Before today’s draw, Arsenal had an 82% chance of winning the league. That’s likely dipped. Manchester City’s loss to United didn't just hurt their points; it hurt their aura.
Erling Haaland is still the top scorer with 20 goals, but he’s gone two games without scoring. For him, that’s basically a career crisis. If he doesn't find his boots against Wolves next week, Pep might actually have to start coaching again instead of just pointing at the Norwegian giant and nodding.
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Getting the most out of the next matchday
If you're following the barclays premier league fixtures results to place a cheeky bet or just to win your FPL mini-league, keep an eye on the injury reports coming out of Chelsea. They beat Brentford 2-0 today, but Tosin Adarabioyo went off with a hamstring issue. Their defense is already thinner than a cheap matchday program.
Also, watch West Ham. They sacked Graham Potter and brought in Nuno Espírito Santo, and they finally got a win against Spurs (2-1). The "new manager bounce" is real, and their upcoming fixture against Sunderland on the 24th is going to be a fascinating tactical battle.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure you're checking the official Premier League app for the 2026 winter transfer window updates. The window closes on February 2nd, and rumor has it Newcastle is looking to drop some serious cash on a new keeper.
Your next move: Dig into the "Form" tab on your favorite sports app. Look specifically at away goals for the top six. Arsenal's inability to kill off games away from home (like today at Forest) is the only thing keeping this title race alive. If you're an Arsenal fan, pray for a Manchester United draw next week. If you're anyone else, grab the popcorn.