Premier League Roundup: Rice Brace Lifts Arsenal In Title Race As Enzo Denies Man City With Dramatic Late Strike

‎The Premier League produced another dramatic weekend filled with comebacks, late goals, managerial tension, and major shifts in the title race.

‎Arsenal continued their impressive form, Manchester City and Liverpool were stunned in stoppage time, and Wolves finally ended their historic winless run.

‎Here is a full breakdown of all the key actions.

‎Rice Delivers a Champion’s Performance

‎Declan Rice once again demonstrated why he is a leading contender for the Premier League’s Player of the Season.

‎After being a pre-match fitness doubt due to a knee issue, the England midfielder returned with authority, scoring two almost identical second-half goals to seal a crucial comeback victory for Arsenal on the south coast.

‎Arsenal fell behind early when Evanilson intercepted a misguided pass from Gabriel Magalhães and rolled the ball into an empty net.

‎The Brazilian defender quickly redeemed himself, smashing home an equalizer six minutes later after a dazzling run from Noni Madueke, who continues to impress since returning from injury.

‎Rice’s double swung the momentum firmly in Arsenal’s favour before Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi struck late to set up a nervous finish.

‎Arsenal held on for their fifth straight league win, opening a six-point lead at the top and keeping both Manchester City and Aston Villa at bay.

‎McGinn Leads the Response against Nottingham Forest

‎Aston Villa bounced back emphatically from their heavy midweek defeat against Arsenal by defeating Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.

‎Ollie Watkins opened the scoring on the brink of halftime with a precise long-range effort that settled Villa’s nerves. Captain John McGinn then stepped up in the second half, scoring twice to put the game beyond Forest’s reach.

‎Forest briefly threatened a comeback when Morgan Gibbs-White reduced the deficit, but McGinn restored Villa’s cushion after capitalising on a misjudgment from goalkeeper John Victor, who rushed out of his area and was easily rounded.

‎Villa’s spirited performance keeps them firmly in the title conversation as the season enters its decisive phase.

‎A First Win at Last for Wolves

‎Wolves finally ended their miserable start to the season by securing their first league victory with a commanding performance against West Ham.

‎Early intensity paid off as Jhon Arias opened the scoring, followed by goals from Hwang Hee-chan and Mateus Mané, all before halftime.

‎Wolves manager Rob Edwards admitted experiencing a mixture of relief and satisfaction but stressed that the team must build on this result.

‎In contrast, West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo labelled the performance “embarrassing” and the worst of his coaching career, reflecting the frustration around the club’s recent downturn.

‎Reed’s Stunning Strike Shocks Anfield

‎Liverpool’s season took another painful hit as they failed to capitalize on what looked like a late winner at Craven Cottage.

‎Cody Gakpo’s 94th-minute goal appeared to have secured three points, but Fulham substitute Harrison Reed responded almost immediately with a sensational strike from distance.

‎Fulham had earlier taken the lead through Harry Wilson, who finished confidently after bursting through Liverpool’s defence.

‎ Florian Wirtz equalised in the second half, setting up a tense finale. The draw adds to Liverpool’s growing concerns under Arne Slot, who continues to face scrutiny during a turbulent second season at the club.

‎Fernandez Punishes Wasteful City

‎Manchester City failed to make their dominance count and were punished dramatically at the Etihad Stadium as Enzo Fernández scored a 94th-minute equaliser to earn managerless Chelsea a valuable point. 

‎Tijjani Reijnders had given City a first-half lead with a sharp finish, but missed opportunities came back to haunt Pep Guardiola’s side.

‎The champions also suffered injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, adding to Guardiola’s frustrations during a tough run of fixtures.

‎Chelsea, led on the day by interim manager Calum McFarlane after Enzo Maresca’s departure, showed resilience throughout and were rewarded with a result that could influence both their season and the title race.

‎ “Of course I have concerns. Have you seen the bench today? It’s three players for the academy and now we will have more,” said Guardiola.

‎”We don’t have players. That is the truth.”

‎Amorim Makes Headlines

‎Manchester United’s draw at Leeds was overshadowed by manager Ruben Amorim’s strong post-match declaration regarding his authority at the club.

‎Reports suggesting concerns among board members about his tactical approach prompted a firm response as he insisted he was brought in to manage, rather than simply coach, the team.

‎On the pitch, Leeds struck first when Brenden Aaronson raced clear and finished calmly.

‎“This year I think we are in control of the games more often than last year,” Amorim told TNT Sports.

‎“So it was a good game, but of course (I am) a little bit frustrated not to win.”

‎United equalised just minutes later through Matheus Cunha and nearly snatched victory when the Brazilian struck the post late on. United’s recent run of draws continues to hinder their progress, especially amid a growing injury list that includes Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount, and others.

‎The match was later overshadowed by tragic news as Leeds confirmed the death of a supporter after a medical emergency before kickoff.

‎Thiago Takes Centre Stage

‎Igor Thiago delivered one of the standout individual performances of the weekend, scoring a superb hat trick as Brentford beat Everton at Goodison Park.

‎His clinical finishing continues his impressive season, placing him behind only Erling Haaland in the scoring charts.

‎Everton struggled to keep pace with Brentford’s attacking efficiency, and Thiago’s movement and decisiveness inside the box proved too much for their defence to handle.

‎A Routine Win for the Magpies

‎Newcastle secured an important win over Crystal Palace in a controlled display. Strong game management and consistent pressure helped the Magpies get back on track after recent inconsistencies, with Palace offering little threat throughout.

‎Late Drama Denies Spurs

‎Tottenham were left frustrated after controlling much of the match against Sunderland, only to concede an 80th-minute equaliser from Brian Brobbey.

‎Spurs had created several chances but failed to capitalise, allowing Sunderland a route back into the game with a well-taken finish that stunned the home support.