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00:00:00What a freak!
00:00:01Oh, what a goal!
00:00:02Oh, look at that!
00:00:03Absolutely phenomenal!
00:00:04Rooney!
00:00:05Oh-ho!
00:00:06Welcome to Match of the Dead.
00:00:30Good evening.
00:00:51The festive fixtures continue apace.
00:00:53Six games on the way this evening.
00:00:55The last match of the day of 2025.
00:00:58Plenty of goals and incident for Danny Murphy and for Rob Green to discuss.
00:01:02And we will see the much-anticipated clash between Arsenal and Aston Villa.
00:01:07First versus third very shortly.
00:01:09But we're going to begin with a cracker at the London Stadium.
00:01:12West Ham are yet to win a home game.
00:01:14They're up against Brighton in the Premier League in eight previous attempts.
00:01:18Nuno Espirito Santos' side went into this one.
00:01:21Five points from safety.
00:01:22Commentary comes from Vicky Sparks.
00:01:25It's only 23 days since these two last met.
00:01:28When a last-gast Brighton equaliser denied West Ham a precious three points.
00:01:34How desperately the hosts need a victory here tonight.
00:01:37Winless in their last seven.
00:01:39Nuno Espirito Santo brings in Callum Wilson up top in a bid to stop the rot.
00:01:44With Crescencio Somerville dropping to the bench.
00:01:47Brighton are without a win in five themselves as inconsistency continues to play their season.
00:01:53They make four changes.
00:01:54Danny Welbeck is fit enough to start with Mintec, Milner and Feltman also coming in.
00:01:59Alco, Ruter, Hinshelwood, Gruder and Coppola.
00:02:02The tone is back on the bench after illness.
00:02:04Doubling up there on Callum Wilson.
00:02:15So good is this hold up play.
00:02:17Bowen could be in behind.
00:02:18Is he behind?
00:02:19Gives West Ham the lead.
00:02:31And early joy erupts around the London Stadium.
00:02:34It all starts with that long ball forward from Areola.
00:02:38Van Hecker winning the initial header but then Brighton don't cover themselves in glory.
00:02:43Bowen too strong.
00:02:44Bowen too fast.
00:02:45Bowen too accurate.
00:02:46West Ham on.
00:02:47Brighton nil.
00:02:48He's pulled forward.
00:02:49Filled away by Deboe.
00:02:50Only as far as Welbeck.
00:02:51All very nicely done.
00:02:52It's Mintec.
00:02:53It's Welbeck.
00:02:54It's Welbeck.
00:02:55It's a penalty.
00:02:56Well it was a lovely move by Brighton.
00:03:09Welbeck did eventually get the shot.
00:03:12away.
00:03:13But this is what the spot kick was for.
00:03:15Clear contact from Kilman.
00:03:19Brighton handed away back into this.
00:03:25With Welbeck against Areola.
00:03:29And Welbeck emphatically equalises.
00:03:35Well he's still questioning the decision.
00:03:40Maximilian Kilman perhaps asking whether Mintec was already going down.
00:03:45With a thumping penalty from Danny Welbeck.
00:03:49Draws Brighton level.
00:03:51Womp womp.
00:03:53Ismintec.
00:03:54Taking on Walker-Peters.
00:03:55And it will be a Brighton corner.
00:04:00And it will be a Brighton corner.
00:04:07And it's another penalty.
00:04:13West Ham shell-shocked by two spot kick decisions in quick succession.
00:04:26And how this game has turned on its head.
00:04:31Well it's Paqueta on Dunk.
00:04:33And he does wrestle him down.
00:04:38And again it's Welbeck against Areola.
00:04:45And Welbeck hits the bar.
00:04:47And can't convert the rebounds.
00:04:51And now it's all kicking off.
00:05:06And tempers all of a sudden are flaring.
00:05:10Well he went for the Penenka this time Danny Welbeck.
00:05:15Relief for West Ham.
00:05:19And that is why.
00:05:21It all boiled over there a little bit.
00:05:25So a yellow card for Danny Welbeck.
00:05:28A yellow card for Mateus Fernandes.
00:05:35Here's Fernandes.
00:05:36Now Bowen.
00:05:37Fernandes taking off his toes by De Kuyper.
00:05:39But will fall to Bowen.
00:05:42Calioglu's done really well to read that.
00:05:44Not as though Bowen was wriggling through.
00:05:47Sculls.
00:05:48Gets it back.
00:05:49It's Callum Wilson.
00:05:50Oh surely a handball there.
00:05:52Referee Michael Salisbury says no.
00:05:55And West Ham are absolutely aghast.
00:05:59And that is a poor challenge indeed.
00:06:06And it's all in danger of spilling over again.
00:06:09And Catherine Wilson continues to say.
00:06:12That should have been a penalty our end.
00:06:15But VAR are checking.
00:06:17Well it's against Lewis Dunk.
00:06:20And there is going to be a video review.
00:06:24And I don't think that's a surprise.
00:06:27You can see why West Ham are appealing for it.
00:06:30Yes it's close range.
00:06:31But the arm is very much out.
00:06:34Is it a natural action?
00:06:37After review.
00:06:41Brighton number five commits a humble offense inside the penalty area.
00:06:47Filed decision is penalty and yellow card.
00:06:56So it is our third spot kick off the game.
00:06:59Penalty.
00:07:00Yellow card.
00:07:02Dunks protesting.
00:07:03As if we didn't have enough going on here.
00:07:04West Ham are making a change.
00:07:05Torrivo is off.
00:07:06And Konstantinos Mavropanos enters the field.
00:07:07So it will be Lucas Paqueta.
00:07:09Who has scored all seven of his penalties in his West Ham career.
00:07:16It's Paqueta against Verbruggen.
00:07:18And Paqueta scores.
00:07:19And Paqueta scores.
00:07:20And that's how you do it.
00:07:21And West Ham are back in front.
00:07:23and out of the end of the first half.
00:07:24And he is not 14,000,
00:07:25but a third half to score.
00:07:26And he is not 14,000 in the top.
00:07:27And he is a third half to score.
00:07:28And he is a third half to score.
00:07:29So it will be Lucas Paqueta who has scored all seven of his penalties,
00:07:30in his West Ham career.
00:07:31It's Paqueta against Verbruggen.
00:07:33And Paqueta scores!
00:07:34And Paqueta scores!
00:07:35That's how you do it!
00:07:41That's how you do it! And West Ham are back in front.
00:07:48Now the end of a first half full of drama.
00:07:55Here he is again, Caro Mitomo.
00:08:02What a deflection, and it will be a Brighton corner.
00:08:12December is not a happy month for Fabian Herzlop.
00:08:16In fact, he is yet to win a game in December with Brighton.
00:08:24Difficult one to deal with, and it's in!
00:08:31And Brighton have fall back to level once more in this topsy-turvy game.
00:08:39Well, it's a wicked delivery.
00:08:42Areola gets something on it, but only as far as Joel Veltman.
00:08:48His first Brighton goal since May 2024.
00:08:54Brighton looking to maintain their momentum with Mitomo.
00:08:59He's done well.
00:09:01Oh, beautiful! Areola just does enough!
00:09:06It's a really smart save, but that would have been a beautiful Brighton goal.
00:09:13Ruta getting involved.
00:09:16He's done really well.
00:09:18Cleared away by 18-year-old Ezra Mayers.
00:09:21They are finishing this game strongly.
00:09:25They scored late on in the draw with West Ham earlier this month.
00:09:31Can they find a late winner?
00:09:33Deep into the six-hour box once again!
00:09:36And headed off the line.
00:09:38Areola stranded that time.
00:09:43West Ham under real pressure trying to clear.
00:09:46And eventually will do so.
00:09:48What a vital clearance by Malpropanos to keep it at 2-2.
00:09:53It's only the second time in Premier League history that three penalties have been awarded in the first half of the game.
00:10:00What was it like watching on from the touchline?
00:10:02It was confusing.
00:10:03I was just thinking.
00:10:05I think honestly the referees must again speak with the players.
00:10:11Try to really explain to them which is contact, which is excessive, which can be fouled.
00:10:16Because we see so many things, so many contacts in the box now in set pieces.
00:10:21That is confusing.
00:10:23Not a result we can't be happy with.
00:10:25But in the end we tried it.
00:10:27We gave everything.
00:10:28And in some moments we missed a little bit of quality.
00:10:32In some moments we had a lack of luck.
00:10:36And therefore it's only a 2-2.
00:10:39So disappointing from a Brighton point of view.
00:10:42But for West Ham, Rob, this is something you've highlighted before.
00:10:45Is there inability to hold on to a lead?
00:10:47Yeah, it's becoming a real issue.
00:10:49And it has become a massive issue now for Nuno.
00:10:51You're looking at the amount of games that they've got in front and not held on to that 1-0 lead.
00:10:56You're looking at the only game that they have done was against Nuno back in August.
00:11:00And I highlighted it here against Bournemouth.
00:11:03And it was the same again today.
00:11:05In the second half they came out a goal up and just went back into the shells
00:11:10and just decided to defend, defend, defend.
00:11:13And they're not good enough to do that.
00:11:15They can't do that right now.
00:11:16You look at the errors from Areola from crosses.
00:11:18You look at Kilman giving away a penalty.
00:11:20His hand in the second goal as well.
00:11:22Paqueta's dealing with dunk for a penalty.
00:11:25There's too many errors within the side just as an overall picture to say one goal is enough.
00:11:30So it's a really difficult quandary for Nuno to come into.
00:11:34And they're now looking at their next few fixtures as kind of must-win games.
00:11:38This is where they need to start putting a run of form together that can take them out of the bottom three.
00:11:44Are there winnable fixtures in there, do you think?
00:11:46Well, they had winnable fixtures.
00:11:48They had tonight.
00:11:49They have Fulham at the weekend, which they lost.
00:11:51One point from two home games.
00:11:52And now you're going to Wolves.
00:11:53And Wolves will be looking at that after tonight's result and saying we can win a game.
00:11:57We can win a game.
00:11:58We can take a step forwards here.
00:11:59They're looking to improve.
00:12:00So all of a sudden, the game against Wolves, the game against Forest, you're thinking they're four points behind in the relegation zone.
00:12:08So from there, just to be in touch, just to attract players to the club in January is going to be critical.
00:12:15So I think this week is going to be huge.
00:12:17We heard Fabian Herzler's frustration, possibly fuelled by the fact that at one all, Danny Welbeck had a go at a Panenka.
00:12:25I'm a big fan of Danny Welbeck, but I'm not a big fan of the Panenka.
00:12:29You surprised me.
00:12:30I think maybe Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane type players, but he's got a wonderful opportunity to put West Ham in a real bad position here.
00:12:37I think he's overthinking it because he's already taken one.
00:12:41You know, that's going to be in his head because he doesn't want to do the same thing.
00:12:44And that's not what you do.
00:12:45You either go one way or the other as firm and as hard as you can.
00:12:48If they'd have gone in the lead at that point, I'm not sure West Ham would have been able to come back.
00:12:52But I suppose, look, you can tell that West Ham players aren't happy with it, which is bizarre because he's missed.
00:12:58So you might as well congratulate him for trying to be too cheeky.
00:13:01But I suppose if one player this season's earned the right, maybe Danny has.
00:13:04And Fabian Herzl has still not won a league game in December either.
00:13:07That run continues.
00:13:08Now, we will bring you that match between first and third very shortly.
00:13:12We're just waiting for the managers' interviews.
00:13:13But to Stamford Bridge next.
00:13:15Chelsea looking to bounce back from defeat by Aston Villa three days ago against Bournemouth without a win in their last nine.
00:13:22Jonathan Pearce is your commentator.
00:13:25Rumours have been flying about the future of Chelsea manager Enzo Moresca following that Villa defeat just 169 days after he took Chelsea to the Club World Cup.
00:13:35Antoine Semenyo's much-touted move to Manchester City won't help Bournemouth boss Andoni Irreola as he suffers his worst run in three years.
00:13:44Chelsea unbeaten in eight league games against Bournemouth make five changes from the Villa defeat.
00:13:49In come Achimpong, Fafana, Gusto, Estevão and Dilap.
00:13:53Kokorea is missing with a hamstring injury.
00:13:55This is almost certainly then a farewell game for Antoine Semenyo who's had a hand in 44% of their goals this season.
00:14:02Four changes for them.
00:14:04In come Hill for a first start in nearly two months.
00:14:07Brooks, Klaivert and Evan Nielsen.
00:14:09Chelsea have lost just one of their last twenty-two home calendar year-ending games.
00:14:21Klaivert looking for Evan Nielsen, he's got beyond the Chelsea defence, he's touched it very wide,
00:14:26and the block was aired by Fafana.
00:14:33Semenyo with a long throw, again it's knocked out with very well, Brooks has got it in, has he?
00:14:38Has now Bournemouth lead, terrible Chelsea defender.
00:14:43They failed to cut out the long throw and Brooks had two stabs at it.
00:14:47Bournemouth needed a bounce back from that horror defensive show at Brentford at the weekend,
00:14:52leading six minutes.
00:14:56Look at the number of blue shirts in there, and yet they don't deal with the first one.
00:15:01Brooks' effort is saved by Sanchez, he's hungry to get to the second.
00:15:05Almost got to the second to keep it out.
00:15:07And then Brooks made short.
00:15:091-0.
00:15:10And then Brooks made short.
00:15:111-0.
00:15:18Descedo whips one cleanly away to Esteval.
00:15:21Isolated with Truffaut.
00:15:24This could be a key area of the game, he's gone beyond him, Semenyu came in.
00:15:28Chelsea fans won the penalty.
00:15:31Run given.
00:15:33And now Bournemouth look to break away, and Evan Ilsen carries on, he was too strong for the defender.
00:15:40Can't beat the goalkeeper.
00:15:42And now it's up to Craig Pawson in the VAR booth to have a check.
00:15:47Good run by the youngster, Semenyu seemed to clip his heels.
00:15:53How much contact was there?
00:15:55There's a knock of Semenyu's right knee on the back of Esteval's leg.
00:16:00He's been told to go and review it, and I'm pretty sure that Sam Barrett will give the penalty here.
00:16:10There's contact there, back of his calf, and then Esteval does clip his own legs.
00:16:15There can only be one decision here.
00:16:17My final decision, the penalty kick.
00:16:20And Donny Irreola thinks that's very, very soft.
00:16:26Oh, Kyle Palmer will take the penalty.
00:16:29Big moment.
00:16:34To which Palmer against his former club mate Petrovic.
00:16:40Ooh, nearly got there.
00:16:42Nearly got there, but it's 1-1.
00:16:44Not a way he would have wanted to end his former career Semenyu by giving away a penalty.
00:16:49Should it end tonight.
00:16:53Goalkeeper gets right.
00:16:54Might have got a fingertip onto it, but not enough.
00:17:04Ooh, that's a poor ball infield by Achenpot.
00:17:07And it's set up here for breakfast.
00:17:09A good save, really very good save, Robert Sanchez.
00:17:13Strong left hand.
00:17:18Mistake there.
00:17:19Casado doesn't win the challenge, he's on a yellow card of course.
00:17:22Evan Ilsen, good ball into Brooks.
00:17:23And it's a good recovery by Sanchez, because he was diving away to his other side.
00:17:29To his other side.
00:17:40This is Casado.
00:17:42Enzo Fernandes to Garnaccio.
00:17:45Back to Enzo Fernandes, worked the space very well!
00:17:48And scores a lovely goal, and Chelsea are ahead.
00:17:51Smashing finish, that.
00:17:55Oh, they've turned the game on its head.
00:18:00Bournemouth initially gave the ball away, never really recovered from that mistake.
00:18:05Arnacho turned inside, Jimenez set up Fernandes.
00:18:11He took the touch to get away from his defenders, into that space.
00:18:17Watch the touch of Fernandes, lovely that, as Scott came across.
00:18:21And it's a fine finish too, and it's 2-1 Chelsea.
00:18:37The tournament defending by Wesley Profana, but it's a Bournemouth throw.
00:18:40That's a menu, we'll take it long.
00:18:52Blancs through the zone, penalty area, and in, and Bournemouth are out again.
00:18:57It's Cliveau, and Bournemouth are back in the game, Cliveau makes it 2-2.
00:19:04Chelsea are hapless, defending their penalty area at set pieces.
00:19:10It was a Chelsea head that nodded it back through his own penalty area.
00:19:14And in came Cliveau, all alone, to stab it past Robert Sanchez, who had no chance.
00:19:28Just have a knee around the back.
00:19:30Kusco now, did that come off his arm? Bournemouth are adamant.
00:19:34Very high up on his arm.
00:19:38That's not a handball, I don't think that's a handball.
00:19:43They are checking because they have to.
00:19:45It's been checked and cleared, the ball comes down off his shoulder area.
00:19:49In comes the corner, headed up by Quesedo.
00:19:53Possible breakers on here, Estevalo, Palma, look at the players running up on the left-hand side.
00:19:58Both sides, Neto is there with him.
00:20:00Palma has a look, releases Neto.
00:20:02Dilap's in the middle, beautiful breakaway, no finish.
00:20:05Couldn't quite climb above the ball and make definitive contact.
00:20:12But it's a lovely Chelsea break, that.
00:20:14It's a big chance too for young Liam Dilap.
00:20:17Esteval does so well, as does Palma.
00:20:21Strong positive carry, perfect release, early ball in.
00:20:26Lovely move, deserved better.
00:20:38Esteval.
00:20:41Good well, good save, Georgi Petrovic.
00:20:45A little pleasing at his old club.
00:20:49Chelsea are getting stronger.
00:20:52Sonesi.
00:20:59Cross all the way through.
00:21:03Adley pulls it better soon now.
00:21:05Oh, that was his opportunity.
00:21:07That was his moment.
00:21:10Over it went.
00:21:12Lovely set-up here by Adley.
00:21:15Took it early from an awkward high.
00:21:17Terrific first half, second half.
00:21:21Second half more.
00:21:23Measured.
00:21:24More cautious.
00:21:25Finishes 2-2.
00:21:27The big question now for Bournemouth, of course.
00:21:30How do they deal with the future without Antoine Semenya?
00:21:34Because here he is clearly waving goodbye.
00:21:38I think the points we are getting both games against Chelsea, even the game against United, games where you feel you've had a good performance and it's not a great reward at one point.
00:21:53But it's true that before coming probably is a point that you will have taken.
00:21:58I think we put Bournemouth to defend in one box for many, many minutes.
00:22:03But the final product and the last third to score another goal more, to win the game or to kill the game.
00:22:14That was missing today and it's something that we need to find and we need to improve as soon as I can.
00:22:22At the end you would have seen the reaction from the fans towards Antoine Semenya and indeed his teammates as he seemed to be waving farewell to the club.
00:22:30How devastating is that for you?
00:22:32Do you just move on?
00:22:34No.
00:22:35Antoine is a massive player for us and he will be still with us.
00:22:39It's not the last game he has played for us, definitely.
00:22:43We'll come to Antoine Semenya's future in just a second.
00:22:46It's yet another high scoring away game involving Bournemouth but they haven't won one in ten in a row now, Danny.
00:22:52So, while it might be vastly entertaining, it's not necessarily effective for them.
00:22:57No, but it's great to watch for us.
00:22:59I thought Chelsea actually second half were pretty good, Estava was a joy to watch.
00:23:02But first half, a couple of concerns for them.
00:23:04One was how often Bournemouth opened them up and how well they played.
00:23:07And secondly, set plays is becoming a problem for Chelsea.
00:23:11They conceded two today from long throw-ins.
00:23:14At home, you've got to do better, well in any game, but especially at home when you're trying to dominate a team.
00:23:20Semenya, you know, we know where he's trying to get as far as he can.
00:23:23There's lots of bodies in there for Chelsea.
00:23:25They don't get the first contact, which is crucial.
00:23:28And then they don't follow runners on the back post.
00:23:31So we can see Hill gets the first contact and then Brooks runs off the back of Garnaccio.
00:23:35He's not watching the man, he's watching the ball.
00:23:37And then they give themselves a mountain to climb, which they climb and do well and get back in the game at 2-1.
00:23:41And then what happens?
00:23:43Once it's happened once, it can't happen again.
00:23:45The target's the same, there's nothing different.
00:23:48Misreads the ball chalibre there, but it's the back post that's the problem.
00:23:52It's the second ball, the runner.
00:23:54And again, unfortunately, it's Garnaccio.
00:23:56And no surprise really, he was taken off half-time.
00:23:58I think probably because of these two lapses in concentration.
00:24:01You've got to be switched on.
00:24:03You can't give teams goals like that and expect to win football matches.
00:24:06Yeah, one of the biggest strengths of Chelsea this season is Robert Sanchez's ability to come and claim these balls.
00:24:11They have five players in between him and the ball at times there and completely negated the opportunity for him to come.
00:24:18And they suffered from that.
00:24:20You could look at this as Chelsea having been a goal down and managing to get a point from it.
00:24:24Or you could look at what's been more of a pattern for them this season, which is, you know, dropping points from winning positions.
00:24:31Yeah, I think the game was a nice summary of how their season's gone at times.
00:24:35And it's the chaos that they can't deal with.
00:24:37Bournemouth brought an energy and a chaos to the game, much like Aston Villa did at the weekend in the second half.
00:24:42And it's their lack of ability to respond and keep control of games has been the real issue for Chelsea.
00:24:48Not Antoine Semenya's last game in a Bournemouth shirt, you think, Danny.
00:24:52Or certainly that's what Andoni Aroula said.
00:24:54Well, maybe they've got a practice match tomorrow or something like that.
00:24:57I very rarely see scenes at the end where someone's saying goodbyes and even hugging his teammates.
00:25:02He's a player in demand for obvious reasons.
00:25:04He'll definitely benefit whichever squad he goes to.
00:25:08Bournemouth are cute and clever in the market.
00:25:10I'm sure they've already got a replacement, but it's hard for the manager to come out and say,
00:25:13yes, he's on his way.
00:25:15Even if they do get that replacement, even if it is the right player, obviously you'd expect they'd take a little while to settle in.
00:25:21Are either of you concerned about Bournemouth this season?
00:25:25I thought the recent weeks, the run that they've had, they've had real difficulty with the energy.
00:25:30They've been void of energy.
00:25:31Something very un-Bournemouth-like.
00:25:33This look more like the Bournemouth of old, more like what we've been used to seeing in the Premier League.
00:25:37If they stick with what they had tonight, they'll be OK.
00:25:39Yeah.
00:25:41So now to top versus third at the Emirates with just three points separating the two sides.
00:25:47Aston Villa on a run of 11 straight wins in all competitions.
00:25:51Arsenal's last defeat came against Villa earlier this month.
00:25:55Commentary comes from Simon Brotherton.
00:25:57A mid-season test of title challenging credentials and it comes just 24 days after they last met.
00:26:04The defeat at Villa Park is Arsenal's only reverse in the last 24 matches.
00:26:09While Villa's 11-game winning run has equaled their club record tally last achieved 111 years ago.
00:26:16A knee injury means Declan Rice misses the game for Arsenal but Jurian Timber returns
00:26:21and a fit against Gabriel starts for the first time since early November.
00:26:25Piero in Capier slides across to left-back and Kai Havertz returns from injury on the bench.
00:26:31Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are suspended for Villa who make five changes.
00:26:36Lamar Bogard plays at right-back with Luca Dena, Amadou Anana, Oli Watkins and Jadon Sancho all coming in.
00:26:43It's Sancho's first league start since arriving on loan last summer.
00:26:51They are unbeaten on the last two visits here to the Emirates.
00:26:54Winning 2-0 a couple of seasons ago and 2-2 draw last term.
00:27:01He's got away from Sancho, superb play by in Capier.
00:27:03This is good from Arsenal.
00:27:05In Capier's ball in, Jokeres with the header.
00:27:10First sighting of goal for Arsenal.
00:27:12Villa's players protesting.
00:27:15Jokeres there with a clear heading opportunity.
00:27:20That's the makings of a good one tonight, this.
00:27:29Challenge by Konser who's done superbly here.
00:27:31Watkins is up alongside him.
00:27:33Watkins wide!
00:27:34First chance of the match for the visitors.
00:27:38It was excellent play by Esri Konser who got in there, whipped the ball of Victor Jokeres.
00:27:44Watkins in an excellent position and miscuing the shot.
00:27:49A moment of encouragement for Villa with that ball.
00:27:55And now an excellent pass from Tielemans.
00:27:57And here comes Morgan Rodgers with support.
00:28:01The pass into Sancho.
00:28:03The defending was solid from In Capier.
00:28:06But again, a little warning there for Arsenal.
00:28:09Well, what a pass from Juri Tielemans here.
00:28:15Setting Villa on the counter.
00:28:17Picking out Morgan Rodgers.
00:28:24Fifteen minutes in.
00:28:25Villa certainly giving Arsenal something to think about.
00:28:29Both teams with bright attacking moments so far in this first half.
00:28:33Jokeres waits in the middle.
00:28:37Trossard's looking for the angle for the shot.
00:28:41Comfortable enough for Emi Martinez.
00:28:49Arsenal again going down that left-hand side.
00:28:51They're really trying to test the right-hand side of Aston Villa's defence.
00:28:55In the absence of their regular right-back cash.
00:28:57In it comes from Trossard.
00:28:58Jokeres!
00:28:59Almost in.
00:29:03Jokeres getting in, in front of the defender.
00:29:07Esri Konza.
00:29:09But the header flashing past the post.
00:29:15Here's Inanna.
00:29:17That's a decent-looking ball.
00:29:18Into Jadon Sancho.
00:29:19Right at the end of the first half.
00:29:21It's Watkins and it's an absolutely superb defensive challenge by Saliba.
00:29:26Wouldn't have counted anyway.
00:29:27Flags up on the far side.
00:29:30That was excellent play all round.
00:29:31Brilliant from Villa.
00:29:32And superb from Saliba.
00:29:36Given as offside.
00:29:37Very tight.
00:29:38But Villa almost springing clear to take a late first half lead.
00:29:43Arsenal with a clean sheet again so far.
00:29:50David Reyes kept a clean sheet in exactly half of the Premier League games this season so far.
00:29:55That's better from Jokeres.
00:29:57Support here from Timba.
00:29:58Block made by Lindelof.
00:29:59It's going to be a corner for Arsenal.
00:30:00First corner of the match for them.
00:30:01Saka to take.
00:30:02Gabriel right in Emi Martinez's grill there as it's in.
00:30:05Martinez doesn't get hold of it.
00:30:06The ball's in the back of the net and Arsenal have scored.
00:30:08It was Gabriel who caused the real problem.
00:30:17He was right there on top of Emi Martinez even before the ball came in.
00:30:32It was Gabriel who caused all the issues for Martinez.
00:30:36It's messy but it matters not for Arsenal because they all count.
00:30:41It just rolled in, rolled down Gabriel's leg and then into the net.
00:30:46What a start to the second half.
00:30:49That's liven things up here.
00:30:51And yet another test for Unai Emery's team who so often find themselves behind.
00:30:56Particularly away from home.
00:31:04Bogart into Tielemans.
00:31:05Looking for Jadon Sancho.
00:31:07Won by Martin Odegaard.
00:31:09He was quicker.
00:31:10He was sharper.
00:31:11He was keener.
00:31:12And Zubermendi makes it two.
00:31:14Oh, what a lovely goal from Martin Zubermendi.
00:31:19And it all came on Odegaard.
00:31:21Got there ahead of Jadon Sancho.
00:31:26And played it through.
00:31:27Zubermendi finished it off.
00:31:30Stunning start to the second half.
00:31:32Arsenal in danger of running away with it here all of a sudden.
00:31:37Villa's defence breached again.
00:31:39Arsenal two.
00:31:40Aston Villa nil.
00:31:41Aston Villa nil.
00:31:44And what a test this is going to be for Unai Emery's team to try to get back in the match now.
00:31:51While there were plenty of furrowed brows in the first half.
00:31:55But they are absolutely loving it now.
00:31:57Pressure on.
00:32:02Rodgers.
00:32:03Villa lose the ball.
00:32:04Marino into Odegaard.
00:32:06Odegaard looks to get the ball past Martinez who gets a hand on it.
00:32:13Martinez with a vitally important fingertip save.
00:32:15Arsenal can sense a third goal might be coming.
00:32:22Saka.
00:32:28Lovely play.
00:32:29No penalty says the referee.
00:32:32Arsenal still on the attack.
00:32:34They are going to double check it.
00:32:36So, we await the verdict on that.
00:32:40But Arsenal continue on the front foot with Martin Odegaard.
00:32:44That's a terrific ball in.
00:32:45Saka can't get his head on it.
00:32:48Timber.
00:32:50Trussell.
00:32:513-0.
00:32:52Game set match.
00:32:53Arsenal.
00:32:55There will be five points clear at the end of 2025 at the top of the Premier League table.
00:33:01It is being checked for offside.
00:33:06It was given as disallowed on the field for offside.
00:33:10It didn't look like it was offside as the ball was played in there.
00:33:16It's just one more pass.
00:33:17They're looking at a pass out to Incaffier.
00:33:19They're saying Saka's onside so they're checking Incaffier who I think is onside.
00:33:25It's going to be a goal and the crowd will find out in a moment.
00:33:28Arsenal 3, Aston Villa 0.
00:33:32And what an end to the year it is going to be for the league leaders.
00:33:40Villa's 11-game winning run surely at an end now.
00:33:45What a run it has been.
00:33:49Incaffier.
00:33:51Away to Odegaard.
00:33:53Garcia's been beaten by Zubermendi.
00:33:58Plenty of red and white shirts racing forward here.
00:34:01Trossard leads the way.
00:34:03Into Gabriel Jesus.
00:34:05Oh, it's his first touch.
00:34:06Oh, he's waited a long time for this.
00:34:12He's missed most of the calendar year with a cruciate injury.
00:34:17He's only recently come back.
00:34:20And he's only just come on the field tonight.
00:34:22It's brilliant from the Brazilian.
00:34:28Arsenal finishing 20-25 in style.
00:34:32They are the team to beat in the Premier League title race.
00:34:36Here's Marlon.
00:34:39The ball into Watkins.
00:34:41And it's a brilliant save by David Reier.
00:34:43Goodness me, that was astonishing.
00:34:44How on earth did Villa not get a goal there?
00:34:47Again on the follow-up.
00:34:48David Reier.
00:34:50It's like there's some sort of magnetic field around his goal.
00:34:54Good play by Jimmo.
00:34:56Into Marlon.
00:34:57That's Gabriel Jesus back.
00:34:59And Daniel Marlon's still going here.
00:35:01So, it's a good play.
00:35:03It's a good play.
00:35:04It's a good play.
00:35:05It's a good play.
00:35:06It's a good play.
00:35:07It's a good play.
00:35:08It's a good play.
00:35:09It's a good play.
00:35:10It's a good play.
00:35:11Jesus back.
00:35:12And Daniel Marlon's still going here.
00:35:14Superb play from Daniel Marlon.
00:35:16And Watkins scores on his 30th birthday.
00:35:20Another goal for Oli Watkins against Arsenal.
00:35:24Watkins, who has scored six league goals
00:35:28against the Gunners over the years,
00:35:30has himself another one here.
00:35:35Sweeping it home from close range.
00:35:38It was excellent play from Daniel Marlon,
00:35:40who somehow got it through David Raya's legs.
00:35:46Oh, what a second half that was tonight.
00:35:48Yeah, it was amazing.
00:35:50Yeah, we knew.
00:35:51We played against a team that won 11 games in a row.
00:35:54They had a great emotional state.
00:35:56They are a really fabulous team.
00:35:58They keep you on the edge in a reaction.
00:36:00And in the first half, in the first ten minutes,
00:36:03we missed time a few things.
00:36:05And they opened us up, and they are really dangerous there.
00:36:07After we had some more control,
00:36:09we came up in the second half,
00:36:10and I thought we were outstanding.
00:36:11Today we did a very good first half,
00:36:15differently than the last match in Chelsea.
00:36:18And, of course, we were more or less competing well,
00:36:21and even getting our momentum and creating chances.
00:36:25But the second half, the first goal changed everything.
00:36:27And we finished losing, but now with the players,
00:36:35my analysis, of course, is after the match,
00:36:39how we did here in 90 minutes.
00:36:41But overall, the most important for us
00:36:44is to understand overall how we are.
00:36:45Well, Arsenal have had the results of late,
00:36:49if not necessarily the performances.
00:36:52What a time for them to put in,
00:36:54particularly that second half performance, Danny.
00:36:57Absolutely, their performance was a big statement.
00:37:00It was powerful, full of quality,
00:37:02showed their strength in depth.
00:37:04Let's not forget they didn't have Declan Rice,
00:37:06one of the most important players.
00:37:08But I thought in the first half,
00:37:10when Villa were pretty good, actually,
00:37:12and caused Arsenal problems,
00:37:13that partnership that's back together of Gabriel and Saliba
00:37:17gave Arsenal the platform to then go on
00:37:20to have that wonderful second half performance.
00:37:23Now, Villa played through the press beautifully at times
00:37:25in the first half.
00:37:26And look at the pace of Gabriel and Saliba there,
00:37:29to then get Rodgers to play a poor ball
00:37:32and Capier sees out the danger.
00:37:35Again, you can see Villa waiting
00:37:38to win the ball back on the transition,
00:37:41which they do really well, and then they play through.
00:37:43And once they do, because Arsenal go after teams at home,
00:37:46which is right as well,
00:37:47because they really dominate teams at home generally,
00:37:50when they get into these positions,
00:37:52the two are always close together,
00:37:53they're always communicating, the distances are good.
00:37:56And here, basically, the angle's really difficult there
00:37:58for Watkins to do.
00:38:00And Saliba's so patient, he's just got this calmness,
00:38:02he doesn't panic.
00:38:04There they are on the press that we're talking about,
00:38:06they commit men forward,
00:38:07and the reason they do it,
00:38:08is because they believe and trust their defenders
00:38:11to play one-on-one, and to cope.
00:38:13And there's none better, really, than Saliba,
00:38:15you know, when he's on top of his game.
00:38:17Right position again, he's got the athleticism and pace,
00:38:20calm, no danger, okay, the ball could have been better.
00:38:23But time and time again, we saw them break on Arsenal,
00:38:26and the Arsenal back forward don't panic.
00:38:29I mean, this here from Saliba,
00:38:31he doesn't know that this is going to be given
00:38:33a couple of inches offside, look at this.
00:38:35That is just phenomenal.
00:38:37And that's what you get when you get those two together,
00:38:39you get the athleticism, the calmness,
00:38:41and the fear factor.
00:38:43I think it gives them a great platform to really go after teams,
00:38:45and of course, the game they lost at Villa,
00:38:47neither of them were playing, of course.
00:38:49And while Gabriel and Saliba provide that platform for Arsenal
00:38:53on the pitch, there's also the way in which the goal
00:38:56was conceded that allowed them to take advantage of the fact
00:38:59that Villa were then trying to get back into the game.
00:39:01And it was an error from Emi Martinez.
00:39:03Yeah, and it was Gabriel, it was one of the two of them
00:39:05getting in the way, getting in, making any use of himself.
00:39:08As he always does.
00:39:09As he does, yeah, and Unai Emery says it himself,
00:39:12he changed the game.
00:39:13And that's what got the ball rolling.
00:39:15And we knew it was coming.
00:39:17We've seen it before at Brentford this season,
00:39:19we've seen it at Leeds, and we saw it on Saturday at Chelsea
00:39:22where Martinez just gets preoccupied with the players around him.
00:39:24He's got two there, he's fighting there, and he can't come for the ball
00:39:28because he's just worried about what's around him.
00:39:30And again, tonight, he's preoccupied, he's worried.
00:39:33And from there, you know he's going to be there,
00:39:36you know he's going to be there, Saliba's around you,
00:39:38you can see him, you can touch him.
00:39:40And as a keeper, if you're going up amongst bodies
00:39:43and you're going to bring it down amongst heads,
00:39:46you've got to punch it, he doesn't do that.
00:39:47Two minutes later, Villa reacts, and they've got their men in around the players,
00:39:53protecting Martinez.
00:39:55Now this has been going on for weeks.
00:39:57This has been going on since the start of the season.
00:39:59So I don't know why it takes mid-game against Arsenal
00:40:02for it to happen again, three days after it happening at the weekend,
00:40:06for them to react.
00:40:07It seems like it's a bit of a miss.
00:40:08And it, the manager said, it cost them.
00:40:11That said, it was a stunning performance from Arsenal
00:40:14in the second half in particular.
00:40:16They then open up that six-point gap over Aston Villa.
00:40:19Suddenly it starts to look a lot more comfortable,
00:40:22and yes, Manchester City have got a game in hand
00:40:24that they'll play on New Year's Day,
00:40:26but it feels like a big one, that, in terms of the title race.
00:40:30Have they seen off one of the main contenders?
00:40:32Not just yet, but they've shown everybody they mean business
00:40:35and a couple of bad results or a couple of draws
00:40:38and one loss doesn't define their season.
00:40:41Look, they're wonderfully physically,
00:40:45defensively brilliant.
00:40:47There's been a little bit of criticism recently
00:40:49on lack of creativity and too many goals offset plays,
00:40:52but they've got so many players now
00:40:54who are fighting for positions in the forward areas.
00:40:56You're going to see an uplift, I think,
00:40:58and more intensity from the forward players.
00:41:00Jesus is coming on scoring.
00:41:01We don't think we saw Eza today.
00:41:02You know, they've got so much talent.
00:41:05I think they'll just spur each other on to do more and more
00:41:08and, yeah, it's a big day for them and a big statement.
00:41:12I think each win like this, each big win they have,
00:41:14is a massive hurdle, particularly at the Emirates,
00:41:17where they get really, really nervous.
00:41:19They're waiting for that trophy
00:41:20and that feeds on to the team.
00:41:23We saw it in previous seasons.
00:41:25We saw it last season in the Champions League.
00:41:27They get nervous.
00:41:29So big statement wins like this, big moments.
00:41:32You look in the next one, possibly the League Cup,
00:41:34coming up against Chelsea.
00:41:35That's another big statement in there.
00:41:37It's going to be each one brings on that little bit more belief.
00:41:40Yeah, it's a huge night for Arsenal, a huge night at the top of the table.
00:41:45Burnley have drawn their last two,
00:41:47but Scott Parker's side were on a run of nine without a win
00:41:50ahead of the visit of Newcastle.
00:41:52Guy Mowbray was at Turf Moor.
00:41:53Burnley need a win, but then Newcastle do too.
00:41:58They've only won one of their last five,
00:42:00and that was against Burnley three and a half weeks ago.
00:42:03For the Clarets, three changes from Saturday against Everton.
00:42:06Maxime Estep returns from injury,
00:42:08and Florentino and Lume Schauder also coming to start.
00:42:11For Newcastle, four changes.
00:42:13Nick Pope plays for the first time since November.
00:42:16Joel Linton, Harvey Barnes, and Johan Wisser also brought into the team.
00:42:19This tradition is a very happy place for Newcastle to visit.
00:42:27They have won their last three here,
00:42:29but life on the road has not been easy for Toon fans this season.
00:42:37There's Anthony Gordon.
00:42:41And Fabian Scher.
00:42:44It's a really good return to Gordon.
00:42:46Controlled it nicely too, up against Kyle Walker.
00:42:48And he beats him once.
00:42:51Crossing towards Joel Linton, who's hooked it in.
00:42:55It's taken Newcastle only just over a minute.
00:42:59Brilliantly finished that by the Brazilian.
00:43:02His 200th appearance in the Premier League.
00:43:04And his first goal in the competition this season.
00:43:08Gordon's delivery.
00:43:09Maybe not what he was looking to do with it.
00:43:14I think it may have taken a deflection and looped up to Joel Linton,
00:43:18but what a connection that was.
00:43:20It's caressed it into the corner.
00:43:22Burnley 0, Newcastle 91.
00:43:24Just sets the tone.
00:43:25Just puts a downer on the turf more atmosphere from the very start,
00:43:35apart from in the visiting section, which is bouncing.
00:43:37Barnes.
00:43:39Couldn't hold on.
00:43:41Lucas Spires has wrestled the ball free of him.
00:43:44Gordon came in though with a good tackle for Newcastle.
00:43:47Bruno Guimaraes into a crowd.
00:43:49Gordon out of the pocket.
00:43:53Gordon again.
00:43:55Trying to combine with Barnes.
00:43:56Here is Barnes.
00:43:57Saved by Dubravka.
00:43:59Trying to get back up.
00:44:00It's an almighty mess for Burnley.
00:44:02And Johan Wisser has put it in for number two.
00:44:07His first Premier League goal in the black and white stripes.
00:44:12Burnley is surrounding the referee, Rob Jones.
00:44:16They feel there might have been a foul in the midst of all that melee.
00:44:20It will, of course, be looked at.
00:44:21The more worrying concern for Burnley is the absolute mess that they got themselves into.
00:44:31I just wonder there, though, if there was a barge in the back.
00:44:35Was Josh Laurent fouled by Bruno Guimaraes?
00:44:40I think there's going to be a secondary Newcastle cheer, though.
00:44:42The goal is going to be allowed to stand.
00:44:45Burnley 0, Newcastle 2.
00:44:47Let's not forget that very recently they were 2-0 up against Chelsea and drew 2-2.
00:44:53Lucas Chukwu, Edwards.
00:44:54Edwards.
00:44:55Edwards trying to get a sight of goal.
00:44:56Denied that by Wisser.
00:44:57That was blocked by Ekdahl.
00:44:58Put back in by Lucas Pires.
00:44:59That's a goal.
00:45:00Brilliantly taken.
00:45:01Josh Laurent has given Burnley some hope.
00:45:02And maybe started another Newcastle wobble.
00:45:03Josh Laurent's first Turfmoor goal.
00:45:04It's a night of firsts.
00:45:05Lucas Pires with the first shot.
00:45:06Might be a question there.
00:45:07It's a night of firsts.
00:45:08There might be a question there about the positioning of Breuer.
00:45:09Was he offside?
00:45:10It was his help on.
00:45:11It was a night of firsts.
00:45:14Is it?
00:45:15The first shot.
00:45:17It's a night of firsts.
00:45:20It was a night of firsts.
00:45:21Josh Lauren's first Turf Moor goal it's a night of firsts Lucas Perez with the
00:45:29first shot might be a question there about the positioning of Breuer was he
00:45:35offside it was his help on to Josh Lauren who has done what he needed to do
00:45:42the check is complete Lauren has scored and it is Burnley 1 Newcastle 2
00:45:50Gordon
00:45:54Gordon going nowhere fast is the answer
00:45:58here's Breuer Breuer's shot deflected Schauner
00:46:04Schauner finds Edwards and Edwards has his shot cleared off the line Fabian
00:46:11Scher getting back to crucial effect for Newcastle Burnley keep coming Edwards has
00:46:18another go well wide Newcastle and Anthony Gordon in particular have Fabian Scher
00:46:26to thank for still being in front
00:46:29Guarantino
00:46:32Schauner nicely touched through to Breuer Edwards is with him
00:46:38Breuer's pass is a good one Marcus Edwards for Burnley straight against the leg of Nick Pogue
00:46:44big chance goes
00:46:47they only have started the second half the better team here
00:46:53Humphreys
00:46:55Humphreys again Breuer trying to battle through with Humphreys help
00:47:01Lucas Perez
00:47:03that's not a bad ball and it's off the woodwork with Pope stranded
00:47:11Lauren nearly got himself another lovely chip this from Lucas Perez
00:47:17Lauren's header Pope had given it up and it nearly dropped in Nick Pope is increasingly a busy goalkeeper
00:47:26busy goalkeeper
00:47:31Edwards
00:47:33dummies Gordon and takes on Hall
00:47:35gets the crossover to Schauner
00:47:39once again Burnley have had their chances
00:47:43once again
00:47:45they have largely failed to convert
00:47:49Murphy
00:47:51Bruno Gimeraj
00:47:52Bruno Gimeraj
00:47:54corner
00:47:55right in front of the Newcastle fans
00:47:59Dennis Hall
00:48:03Dubravka
00:48:05that's two hands on it
00:48:07Joe Linton happy to let it bounce
00:48:09and Dubravka's beaten to it
00:48:10Humphreys off the line
00:48:12that one was dipping under Bashir Humphreys with some good defensive
00:48:17work
00:48:19just wonder if Burnley have had their chances now
00:48:23they could
00:48:26probably should have drawn themselves level
00:48:28Hall
00:48:30gets past Ekdahl and gets it back from Wissar
00:48:33here's Jacob Murphy
00:48:34oh goodness
00:48:35the three points were there on a plate for him to win
00:48:39Jacob Murphy
00:48:41really ought to have dispatched that
00:48:44pretty much in his sleep
00:48:52Miley to Murphy
00:48:53to Nali
00:48:54Ekdahl has Voltemada breathing down his neck
00:48:58and Dubravka has given it straight to Bruno Gimeraj
00:49:00and Newcastle have won the game
00:49:05it ends as it begun
00:49:09with Burnley all over the shop at the back
00:49:12Bruno's sixth goal this season
00:49:15his first one that's come away from St James' Park
00:49:18and it's put the seal
00:49:20on what will be only Newcastle's second Premier League away win of the season
00:49:27it's Burnley one Newcastle three
00:49:31the positives are that we showed a real spirit
00:49:36a real commitment a real fight
00:49:38and sometimes in these moments like anything in life
00:49:41in adversity and certain hardship
00:49:43which that was the case tonight
00:49:45that that's something that can go disappearing very very quickly
00:49:48default position can be hiding
00:49:50and certainly not stand up to the challenge
00:49:52my team never did that
00:49:53and I don't think they ever will
00:49:55I think that's been proven over some time now
00:49:57in the second half we control the game well
00:50:00we manage the time and play well
00:50:02and still create chance
00:50:04I think we could have more goals today
00:50:07but at the end I'm really happy with the three points
00:50:10because that's the most important
00:50:12we needed to win
00:50:13we know we were under pressure today
00:50:15I thought the lads responded really well
00:50:17it was a really fast start
00:50:19I thought we scored some really good goals
00:50:22and then us being us at this present time
00:50:24we made it difficult for ourselves
00:50:26you know there's a couple of moments there
00:50:27where Nick made massive saves for us
00:50:29but overall I thought we showed real resilience
00:50:31and character in that second period to get over the line
00:50:33Eddie Howe said Newcastle made it difficult for themselves
00:50:37in the end it looks like a relatively comfortable scoreline
00:50:40but it wouldn't be fair to say that Burnley put up no resistance to them
00:50:44no it wasn't routine
00:50:46and you think here Newcastle away from home
00:50:48they've been poor this season
00:50:50Guy touched on it in commentary
00:50:51just a second away win
00:50:52they were rocking at times
00:50:54and Joel Linton can say what he likes after the game
00:50:56they were in trouble at moments
00:50:57and you look at the chances that they had
00:50:59that Burnley
00:51:00and you think about all the good play that they had
00:51:02it's just critical moments
00:51:03and then players
00:51:05you know the instincts of Cher
00:51:07a momentary lapse in concentration at the back for themselves
00:51:10but when they did attack
00:51:12they attacked with conviction
00:51:13they came up against Nick Pope
00:51:15who came back and was in good form
00:51:17and Eddie Howe who said it himself
00:51:18he said you know
00:51:19he came up with big moments
00:51:21that was key tonight
00:51:22and you're looking thinking
00:51:24well is he going to come back and play
00:51:26because A. Ramsdale had done okay
00:51:28was he still the number one?
00:51:30I think now we know
00:51:31Nick Pope's back
00:51:32and he's playing well
00:51:33really sharp at moments
00:51:35but around this Burnley created opportunities
00:51:37in and amongst congested area
00:51:39in and amongst when they could break
00:51:40see coming away from it
00:51:41Scott Parker's thinking
00:51:43it's pretty much everything we can do in a game
00:51:46and from here
00:51:47you look at these chances
00:51:48you've got to score them
00:51:50you've got to take these moments
00:51:52because things like this happen
00:51:53a moment's indecision
00:51:55the game's still in the balance
00:51:56it's horrible for Dubravka
00:51:58he's up against his former club
00:52:00Nick Pope was up against his former club
00:52:02one rule for one keeper
00:52:03one rule for the other
00:52:04it's a tough night again for Burnley
00:52:06Having said everything that you have
00:52:08in sort of defence of Burnley
00:52:10if you like
00:52:11the fact is that they haven't won
00:52:12in the last ten games
00:52:13there are more than grumblings
00:52:15around turf more about
00:52:17where the club is heading this season
00:52:19where do you think we stand
00:52:21in terms of the amount of pressure
00:52:22that's on Scott Parker at the moment?
00:52:24I don't think they can stay up
00:52:26I don't think they can survive
00:52:27that's first and foremost
00:52:29it's then you're saying
00:52:30where do you take the club?
00:52:31much like Wolves
00:52:32they're in a better position than the Bulls
00:52:33but where do you take them from now?
00:52:35what's the vision?
00:52:36how much damage can they sustain
00:52:38for the rest of the season
00:52:39if runs continues
00:52:40it's got to stop at some point
00:52:42what about from Newcastle's point of view?
00:52:44Eddie Howe talked about
00:52:45the problems that they've caused themselves
00:52:47at times this season
00:52:48but in terms of their attacking prowess
00:52:51how much does the return
00:52:53the full return of Wyssa make to that?
00:52:55I think it's really positive for them
00:52:57great stats
00:52:58first in all of those
00:52:59scored when he came back into the team
00:53:01in the League Cup against Fulham
00:53:02scored today
00:53:03he's reliable in the build-up
00:53:05he's quick
00:53:06he's got different attributes
00:53:07to Volta Marder
00:53:08of course he has
00:53:09but it gives Eddie Howe an option
00:53:10to change them up
00:53:11mix them
00:53:12they've got good options in wide areas
00:53:13actually
00:53:14so I think for Newcastle fans
00:53:15that's something exciting for them
00:53:16to look forward to
00:53:17his impact on the team
00:53:19in the next few months
00:53:20to the city ground now
00:53:22Nottingham Forest
00:53:23coming off back-to-back defeats
00:53:24against Everton
00:53:25without a win
00:53:26or a goal
00:53:27in their last three
00:53:28Chris Wise was at this one
00:53:30outside of the bottom club wolves
00:53:34these two are the lowest scorers
00:53:36in the league
00:53:37and between them
00:53:38they have strikers
00:53:39that are either out injured
00:53:40out of luck
00:53:41or bang out of form
00:53:43Nottingham Forest
00:53:44will finish 2025
00:53:45above the relegation zone
00:53:46the steady signs of encouragement
00:53:48are there
00:53:49Sean Dyche
00:53:50freshens it up
00:53:51at full-back
00:53:52Oleksandr Zinchenko
00:53:53comes in for
00:53:54Nicolo Savona
00:53:55Everton's 3-0 win
00:53:56over Forest
00:53:57at the start of the month
00:53:58remains their biggest victory
00:53:59of the season
00:54:00but the absentee list
00:54:01is getting long
00:54:02the latest to join it
00:54:03Michael Keane
00:54:04and Carlos Alcaraz
00:54:05neither in the Everton squad
00:54:07tonight
00:54:08Income Patterson
00:54:09and Ruel
00:54:10and Grealish is back
00:54:11on the bench
00:54:12so a very different challenge
00:54:15for Nottingham Forest
00:54:16tonight
00:54:17compared to the visit of
00:54:18swashbuckling
00:54:19Manchester City
00:54:20three days ago
00:54:21it is David Moyes' Everton
00:54:23Garner
00:54:25managed to find the out ball
00:54:27as well
00:54:28there might have been a little
00:54:29touch on roll
00:54:30but play's going to go on
00:54:31with Everton anyway
00:54:32because Barry's got it
00:54:33Dibling one of the
00:54:36supporting cast
00:54:37here he is
00:54:38Tyler Dibling
00:54:44Patterson
00:54:45for Iribunum
00:54:47who has the power
00:54:49to keep Dominguez
00:54:50away from here
00:54:51McNeil
00:54:52for Garner
00:54:53it's in
00:54:54James Garner
00:54:57against his former club
00:54:58for Everton
00:54:59well out of respect
00:55:01he doesn't celebrate
00:55:02but the Everton fans do
00:55:05James Garner
00:55:07taking it quickly
00:55:08and striking it low
00:55:09across Jean's goal
00:55:11who got the
00:55:13merest fingertip to it
00:55:14but nothing more
00:55:15there's only two players
00:55:17on the pitch for Everton
00:55:18tonight
00:55:19that have scored
00:55:20Premier League goals
00:55:21this season
00:55:22and he's one of them
00:55:23that's number two
00:55:24for James Garner
00:55:25and in terms of
00:55:26Everton tonight
00:55:27that's number one
00:55:28Nottingham Forest
00:55:290
00:55:30Everton 1
00:55:31Williams
00:55:34it's a great ball
00:55:36and it is a
00:55:37fluff finished
00:55:38at the back of the queue
00:55:39from Callum Hudson
00:55:40Odoi
00:55:41really good opportunity
00:55:43that for Nottingham Forest
00:55:4413th time that
00:55:47these two managers
00:55:48have pitted their
00:55:49extensive wits
00:55:50against one another
00:55:51the very first time
00:55:52actually nine years ago
00:55:53tomorrow when
00:55:54touches Burnley beat
00:55:55Moises Sunderland
00:55:56by four goals to one
00:55:58maybe just the touch
00:56:02initially from Garner
00:56:03sent Anderson into Iribunum
00:56:05and Iribunum
00:56:06giving away the free kick
00:56:07almost sent Anderson off course
00:56:10that initial challenge by Garner
00:56:12and into the path of Iribunum
00:56:14Iribunum
00:56:17so Forest free kick
00:56:18and their two full backs
00:56:19are over this
00:56:20Niko Williams
00:56:21and Alexander Zinchenko
00:56:23it's Zinchenko
00:56:24it was on target
00:56:26I think on most occasions
00:56:27Jordan Pickford probably would have
00:56:28caught that
00:56:29last Forest win against Everton
00:56:31here
00:56:32more than 30 years ago
00:56:33Steve Stone played
00:56:34and Ian Wohan scored
00:56:36what would prove to be
00:56:37the winner in that game
00:56:38Nottingham Forest beating
00:56:39Everton by three goals
00:56:40to two
00:56:41coming up to the hour then
00:56:43at the city grounds
00:56:44Forest continue to probe
00:56:45Gibbs-White
00:56:46O'Brien was too strong for him
00:56:49but then has given the
00:56:50ball away
00:56:51he calls Jesus
00:56:52has he got hold of it?
00:56:53he has
00:56:54he nearly scores a special goal
00:56:56it was a poke towards
00:56:58Pickford's goal from Igor Jesus
00:57:01and it ends up
00:57:03whistling past the
00:57:04right-hand post
00:57:05of the Everton goalkeeper
00:57:07Garner
00:57:13corner is the call
00:57:17the second corner of Everton's night
00:57:23but right in front of their
00:57:26feverish supporters
00:57:32O'Brien there to
00:57:33clear the corner away
00:57:35back in it goes
00:57:38that's a better ball
00:57:39that was nearly 2-0
00:57:40Tarkovsky heading it wide of the post
00:57:43really was close wasn't it?
00:57:47that header from Tarkovsky
00:57:49now Everton are coming at Forest
00:57:54and Jack Grealish has got a lot of space here
00:57:56Grealish still
00:58:01Dwight McNeil
00:58:02back to Grealish again from Garner
00:58:07Barry and Dibbling patiently waiting
00:58:12Garner's hit
00:58:13was travelling
00:58:15really was travelling
00:58:16scored one very nicely taken goal tonight
00:58:20already James Garner
00:58:21squeezed for room Douglas Luiz
00:58:31he's lost it and all of a sudden
00:58:33the gaps are beginning to come a bit more frequently for Everton
00:58:36Garner what a spin that is
00:58:40and the ball as well
00:58:43for Barry
00:58:44for 2-0 Everton
00:58:46Tiano Barry scores against Nottingham Forest again
00:58:55and while he takes plenty of praise
00:58:59plenty more needs to come the way of James Garner
00:59:02what a fabulous assist from the Everton midfielder
00:59:07and the relief etched across the face of Tiano Barry
00:59:12to add another to his Premier League tally
00:59:16most Nottingham Forest fans are still in here
00:59:21but there are one or two red seats that are beginning to appear
00:59:24Backward
00:59:28oh he's got the room
00:59:29oh it's gone all the way across
00:59:33it's an Everton away win
00:59:35that will rejuvenate hopes of a European charge this season
00:59:39and they have done the double over Nottingham Forest in the space of a few weeks
00:59:43that is three straight defeats now for Sean Dyche's side
00:59:48I always saw tonight have been a really difficult game
00:59:50because Nottingham Forest are probably pushing really hard for the points
00:59:54I thought they played really well against Manchester City at the weekend
00:59:57and were a bit unlucky not to take something from the game
01:00:00so it was never going to be an easy game for us
01:00:02and then obviously with the players we have missing
01:00:04but great credit to the ones who come in
01:00:06they've done a great job
01:00:07really did
01:00:08We've dominated the game in many ways
01:00:09but not with that real edge and that cutting edge
01:00:11and certainly if you're going to dominate
01:00:13don't lose the game to two really poor goals defensively
01:00:16not enough edge from us
01:00:18and I think that's the next step
01:00:19you know when the expectation grows
01:00:21what about us growing
01:00:22I think that's the next step
01:00:23this club's played a massive part in my career
01:00:26so I was never going to celebrate if I scored
01:00:29I definitely enjoyed the second goal way more
01:00:32you know the work that I did
01:00:34and then the pass
01:00:35I was just praying that he put it in the back of the net
01:00:37and he did so
01:00:39I was really happy
01:00:40and you know that makes it a lot easier
01:00:42going into the final five or ten minutes
01:00:44two up rather than one
01:00:46well no wonder James Garner was happy with a goal
01:00:49and an assist against his old club
01:00:51well he goes under the radar a little bit
01:00:53I mean Tewsbury Hall, Grealish and Jai
01:00:55tend to get a lot of the headlines when Everton have done well this season
01:00:58but he's been terrific
01:00:59and today was arguably his best performance of the season
01:01:02he's filled in in various positions
01:01:04he's playing in midfield at the moment
01:01:06he's enjoying it
01:01:07he's technically very good
01:01:08we know that
01:01:09this is a brilliant finish
01:01:10first chance Everton had in the game
01:01:12really really good finish that is
01:01:14I like the fact he can play quick
01:01:16he knows when he's got time on the ball
01:01:18he travels with the ball nicely
01:01:20can get you know
01:01:21he can get Everton up the pitch at times
01:01:23and just release that pressure
01:01:25he's a clever footballer
01:01:26he's not physically that big
01:01:28and doesn't rely so much on the aggressive side of the game
01:01:31but this
01:01:32this is what he's capable of
01:01:34we've seen him score a few long ranges
01:01:35that's a close effort
01:01:36and he does the hard work
01:01:38he can't play in the middle of the park
01:01:39unless you're prepared to do that
01:01:40get back into
01:01:41defensive areas
01:01:43and block crosses
01:01:44and stick with your runners
01:01:45and this is the highlight for me
01:01:46I mean
01:01:47as a midfielder
01:01:49this type of assist
01:01:50is the most pleasing
01:01:51lovely bit of skill
01:01:52and then can you find a way to the pass
01:01:54beautiful
01:01:55into Barry
01:01:56who gets his second goal
01:01:57and
01:01:58pleases those Evertonians
01:02:00who grow him up
01:02:01but this is
01:02:02this is
01:02:03top midfield play
01:02:04and
01:02:05it deserved a goal
01:02:06for the brilliance of the pen
01:02:07yeah
01:02:08it's his fifth game
01:02:09it's central midfielder in a row now
01:02:10yeah
01:02:11and you're looking at
01:02:12you touch on it there
01:02:13Keenan Driesby Hall
01:02:14stepping out
01:02:15through injury
01:02:16they've been a depleted side
01:02:17who's going to step up
01:02:18he's stepped up now
01:02:19and Everton fans are looking at him
01:02:21kind of over the course of this season
01:02:23how good are you
01:02:24what are you
01:02:25I think we're starting to see the picture
01:02:26and he's got to get his contract
01:02:28so he's out of contract
01:02:29but apparently for the end of the season
01:02:30which is unbelievable really
01:02:31I'm talking about a plan for the game
01:02:35it was very clear what Nottingham Forest and Sean Dyche intended
01:02:3846 crosses
01:02:40from Nottingham Forest in this game
01:02:42but
01:02:43it says here only eight successful
01:02:45but you would read it slightly differently Danny
01:02:47obviously watching the game
01:02:49you see the quality of the crosses
01:02:51and the only reason the successful number there is low
01:02:54is because of the performance of O'Brien and Tarkovsky
01:02:56who were absolutely outstanding
01:02:58there was a couple of poor headers from Forest when they did get the first round
01:03:00but a lot of quality from Forest in wide areas
01:03:04and something I think is a positive for them moving forward
01:03:07I wouldn't see that stat as a negative
01:03:09just keep getting it in there
01:03:10and of course they'll be having Chris Wood back sooner rather than later
01:03:15Now Manchester United beat Newcastle in the only game on Boxing Day
01:03:19they were back at Old Trafford for the visit of Wolves
01:03:21who are still yet to win
01:03:23and on a run of 11 straight defeats
01:03:25your commentator Steve Bauer
01:03:27Manchester United have lost just twice in the last 12 games
01:03:33they're there without Mason Mount due to a muscle problem
01:03:36it takes the unavoidable list of Ruben Amirim to eight players
01:03:40so Joshua Zertzky starts for only the fourth time in the Premier League this season
01:03:44Wolves who are on the third longest run without a victory in Premier League history
01:03:49are missing the suspended Andre and the injured Santiago Bueno
01:03:53so Tachua and Arias both come in
01:03:57it has been pointed out quite correctly that Wolves have pushed Arsenal
01:04:03and Liverpool away from home very closely indeed recently
01:04:07and their last away Premier League win was here at Old Trafford in April
01:04:13Dorkin over Szczesko
01:04:17and a comfortable for Jose Saar
01:04:19who immediately finds Hwang
01:04:21brilliant from him
01:04:23now can he set something moving?
01:04:25now can he set something moving?
01:04:27Zertzky
01:04:31they might go again
01:04:33Joshua Zertzky deflected
01:04:35and Manchester United get the break and they get the lead
01:04:39and that's a tough one on Wolves the way they've started this game
01:04:43it was congested in those central areas
01:04:46that when it came back to Zertzky
01:04:50it hits Krejci
01:04:52and deflects off the Czech Republic international
01:04:55past Jose Saar
01:04:57and into the back of the net
01:04:59his goal has given his team a 1-0 lead
01:05:06Vigate into Zertzky
01:05:09Kenya demanding it
01:05:10he's going to go the other way instead to Dorgun
01:05:12who's up against Tachua
01:05:15and he's got Shaw bursting forwards
01:05:19deflected along the way
01:05:21well after his first ever goal
01:05:23for Manchester United on Boxing Day
01:05:26he fancied another go
01:05:28but Cachua
01:05:31just managed to deflect that wide
01:05:35for Manchester United's second corner
01:05:38off the post from the Slovenian
01:05:41Jose Saar beaten
01:05:43almost 2-0
01:05:46his eighth game in charge tonight
01:05:48two of them against Manchester United
01:05:50and he's lost all seven
01:05:52the Wolves have lost their last eleven in a row
01:05:56Mane
01:05:59and he's found
01:06:00Mane
01:06:01and that's taken by the Belgian cleanly
01:06:15decent contact from Bueno
01:06:18excellent stop with that left leg from Lammans
01:06:21and it's Krejci who the goal deflected off for Manchester United to equalise for Wolves
01:06:26right on the stroke of half-time
01:06:28no chances taken by Dorgun
01:06:29no chances taken by Dorgun
01:06:30and that is Wolves' first corner of the game
01:06:32and that is Wolves' first corner of the game
01:06:35Manchester United's turn to have everybody back
01:06:37that came off Zertzky
01:06:38what an excellent header
01:06:391-1
01:06:40and it's Krejci who the goal deflected off for Manchester United to equalise for Wolves
01:06:52right on the stroke of half-time
01:06:54inadvertently flicked on by Zertzky but what a perfect header from Krejci right in the corner
01:07:03and that was a sweet moment for him
01:07:10Manchester United's half-time change is the introduction of Jack Fletcher
01:07:13in the place of Joshua Zertzky
01:07:21now Fletcher
01:07:23it's heaven again
01:07:25he's off at block by Doherty
01:07:27now Casemiro
01:07:29that's nice
01:07:31Francesco
01:07:33he was offside anyway
01:07:35and he'd be relieved because he should have done better
01:07:40ooh, was he?
01:07:42not in the end
01:07:46and that match
01:07:47they've finished winning eight Premier League games without Bruno Fernandes on Boxing Day
01:07:52Manchester United
01:07:53but they've got a peg-back tie without their skipper
01:07:58it's direct towards Dalo
01:08:00Doherty's header
01:08:01oh, and it's going to be an own goal, is it?
01:08:05Jose Sartre has prevented it
01:08:08with a miraculous recovery
01:08:11the GDS watch hasn't gone off
01:08:14and it looked as though it was going to beat Jose Sartre
01:08:17with the determination, the flexibility
01:08:20to get back and recover that situation
01:08:22outstanding
01:08:23this is how close it was
01:08:25this is how close it was
01:08:26to 2-1
01:08:27look at that
01:08:31goodness me
01:08:35Xiao Gomez
01:08:36good
01:08:39didn't get there
01:08:44brilliant from Lammans
01:08:46and somehow
01:08:47the follow-up
01:08:49from Mascara
01:08:51didn't go in
01:08:52well this is a real let-off for Manchester United
01:08:55this is a real let-off for Manchester United
01:08:57Crecci's effort denied
01:09:00and Lammans does well on the floor, you know
01:09:04agonising
01:09:05for Mascara and indeed his manager
01:09:12Crecci
01:09:13Mascara kept it in
01:09:25Chichura has beaten Shaw here
01:09:29and it's back towards Arias
01:09:34he was under excellent pressure from Dalo
01:09:37who got the final touch
01:09:39the Colombian who's yet to score for Wolves
01:09:41I saw the headlines there
01:09:50Shashko
01:09:53got it back from Cunha
01:09:55trying to go round Doherty
01:09:58Cunha to keep things moving
01:10:00Casemiro
01:10:02Shashko
01:10:04and the follow-up's in from Dorgo
01:10:06but he's offside
01:10:09the flag is up
01:10:11the celebrations will be cut short
01:10:15and the Boxing Day hero
01:10:17who was hoping to write another script
01:10:19looks like he's going to be denied
01:10:22yes he's off
01:10:24no goal
01:10:26still 1-1
01:10:28another night of frustration for him
01:10:30drop points
01:10:33when they were least expected
01:10:35Rob
01:10:37well done your first point
01:10:38I mean if you're getting greedy
01:10:40could it have been more?
01:10:41potentially I think it's the least we deserved
01:10:43you know it's another good performance
01:10:44it's progress
01:10:46and I know that's been slow in terms of results
01:10:49but our performances especially away from home
01:10:51have warranted I think more than the points and what we've got
01:10:55it's nice to take something away from the game
01:10:57I feel we deserved that
01:10:58Ruben just a point in the end
01:10:59how did you see that?
01:11:01I think it was a strange game
01:11:03we already knew it
01:11:05that would be a different game
01:11:08if you compare it to Newcastle
01:11:10we needed more imagination today
01:11:12but we tried
01:11:14but the quality was not there
01:11:16also because the characteristics
01:11:17is not the right characteristics
01:11:19in this moment
01:11:21but we tried
01:11:23we need to recover to the next one
01:11:25if Manchester United had one
01:11:27they would have moved up to fourth in the table
01:11:29but Wolves losing run comes to an end at Old Trafford
01:11:32just their third point of the season
01:11:35and Amarim looks as though
01:11:37he was reverting to type
01:11:39going back to that 3-4-3
01:11:40rather than the back 4 he tried against Newcastle
01:11:43yeah I mean you can put the formations up
01:11:45you can put the personnel up for me
01:11:47Lamond's played well
01:11:49you're looking at a continuation of a problem in consistency
01:11:52in terms of just an overall performance of intensity
01:11:55that's there and there's two managers from tonight
01:11:58for me and one that's worked with the team
01:12:00for a short period of time
01:12:02and you can see small grains of improvement for Wolves
01:12:05and small crumbs of comfort and energy to come from the results
01:12:08and then you're looking at Manchester United
01:12:11and Amarim has spoken at length over a period of time
01:12:14saying last season there were too many games for us to work on the manager
01:12:18on the training pitch for the manager
01:12:20now he's had half a season on this
01:12:23and he's gone back from one formation to another and back again
01:12:25I'm just not seeing the positional the formational improvement or the performance improvement
01:12:32and they didn't get the result
01:12:35Xerxes did get the goal
01:12:37but came off at half time
01:12:40tactical substitution
01:12:42is he just someone who's waiting to be sold?
01:12:45I think so yeah
01:12:47he's had enough chances
01:12:48the fans haven't really taken through him
01:12:49he'll probably say he's not been given as many opportunities as he thinks he deserves
01:12:54but for the quality United need
01:12:56he's probably not up to it and I think we'll see him go in this window probably
01:12:59let's take a look at the last table of the year
01:13:02Arsenal begin the new year
01:13:04five points clear at the top
01:13:05Manchester City not in action until the 1st of January
01:13:07when they travel to Sunderland
01:13:09Aston Villa's run of eight Premier League wins comes to an end
01:13:12Bournemouth ten game winless run is their longest in the Premier League
01:13:15for more than two years
01:13:18Wolves end a run of 11 defeats by earning a first point since the 5th of October
01:13:23thank you very much to Rob and to Danny for your company
01:13:27so Arsenal end 2025 top of the Premier League table
01:13:31but however you're celebrating this new year
01:13:34have a wonderful new year and we'll see you on New Year's Day
01:13:36bye-bye
01:13:45bye-bye
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