Honestly, if you looked at the English premier league matches table back in August, you probably didn't see this coming. Arsenal sitting pretty at the top with a six-point cushion? Sure, maybe. But Aston Villa breathing down the neck of Manchester City in January? That's the kind of chaos that makes the PL the best league on the planet.
We’ve just hit Matchweek 21, and the table is starting to tell a very specific story. It’s a story of Arsenal’s newfound "steel," Pep’s uncharacteristic mid-season wobbles, and a relegation scrap that looks like a slow-motion car crash for some massive clubs.
The View from the Top: Arsenal’s 49-Point Statement
Arsenal currently leads the pack with 49 points. They’ve played 21, won 15, and honestly, they look terrifyingly efficient. People keep waiting for the "Arsenal collapse," but Mikel Arteta seems to have finally built a squad that doesn't care about the ghosts of seasons past. They just ground out a 0-0 draw against Liverpool on January 8th—a game that was basically a chess match with higher stakes.
It wasn’t pretty. It was effective.
Right behind them, things get weird. Manchester City and Aston Villa are deadlocked on 43 points. Think about that for a second. Unai Emery has Villa playing some of the most statistically "lucky" but visually dominant football we've seen in years. According to the nerds at Opta, Villa’s "expected" position is somewhere around 13th. But expected goals don't win trophies; Emiliano Martinez making world-class saves does.
🔗 Read more: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
Why Manchester City feels human again
It’s rare to see Pep Guardiola’s side look vulnerable. Yet, three consecutive draws recently have changed the vibe around the Etihad. Erling Haaland is still the league’s top scorer with 20 goals, but even he has had a bit of a dry spell by his alien standards.
City just signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for £65 million. It’s a massive mid-season move. They needed that spark because their defensive line has been decimated by injuries. Without their usual center-half stability, they’ve been leaking goals in transition. That 1-1 draw against Brighton on January 7th was a perfect example—City dominated possession, but Mitoma made them look amateur on the counter.
The Chaos in the Middle and Bottom
The English premier league matches table is incredibly congested once you look past the top three. Liverpool is in 4th with 35 points, but they are followed by a hungry pack:
- Brentford (33 pts): Keith Andrews is doing a miracle job here. They just thumped Sunderland 3-0.
- Newcastle (32 pts): Slowly climbing back into the conversation.
- Manchester United (32 pts): Still in transition under interim management, struggling for any kind of rhythm.
- Chelsea (31 pts): Liam Rosenior is trying to steady a ship that’s been rocking for two years.
Then you have the basement. Wolves are in serious trouble. Only 7 points from 21 games. That’s a "relegated by March" pace if they don't find a way to win. West Ham and Burnley aren't much better, sitting on 14 and 13 points respectively.
💡 You might also like: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
What most people get wrong about the current standings
Everyone looks at the points, but you’ve gotta look at the "games in hand" and the upcoming January fixtures. The winter window is the great equalizer. West Ham is already throwing money at the problem, spending over €50 million this month to try and escape the drop.
There's also the "Thomas Frank effect" at Tottenham. Spurs are currently sitting in 14th place with 27 points. For a club with those resources, it’s a disaster. Adapting to Frank’s style has been slower than anyone anticipated, and losing Diogo Jota (a tragic loss that the whole league is still mourning) has left a hole in their tactical identity that hasn't been filled.
The Big One: January 17th
If you want to know if the English premier league matches table will stay this way, circle January 17th on your calendar.
The Manchester Derby is happening at Old Trafford. City needs a win to keep Arsenal in sight. Meanwhile, Arsenal travels to Nottingham Forest. If the Gunners slip and City wins the derby, that six-point lead evaporates into a three-point nail-biter.
📖 Related: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Actionable Insights for the Second Half of the Season
If you're tracking the league or playing FFantasy, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the "Expected Goals" (xG) Regression: Aston Villa is overperforming their data massively. History suggests they will have a dip in form. Don't be surprised if they slide toward 5th or 6th by March.
- The Semenyo Impact: Man City’s new signing is a game-changer for their depth. He adds a verticality they’ve lacked since Sane left years ago.
- The Relegation "Safety" Mark: Usually, it’s 40 points. This year, with the bottom three performing so poorly, 34 or 35 might actually be enough to stay up.
The league is far from over. Arsenal has the pole position, but the sheer volume of matches in January usually breaks someone. Let's see if the Gunners have the "steel" Arteta keeps talking about.
Keep a close eye on the mid-week Carabao Cup results too. Teams like Chelsea and Arsenal are juggling domestic cups alongside a brutal PL schedule, and fatigue is the one thing no amount of transfer money can fix.
Next, you might want to look at the specific player injury lists for the top four, as squad depth is going to be the deciding factor heading into February.