- 2 weeks ago
Match of the Day - Season 2026 Episode 36 -
30/12/2025
30/12/2025
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00:00:00Welcome to Match of the Dead.
00:00:30Good evening.
00:00:46The festive fixtures continue apace.
00:00:48Six games on the way this evening.
00:00:50The last match of the day of 2025.
00:00:53Plenty of goals and incident for Danny Murphy and for Rob Green to discuss.
00:00:57And we will see the much anticipated clash between Arsenal and Aston Villa.
00:01:01First versus third very shortly.
00:01:04But we're going to begin with a cracker at the London Stadium.
00:01:07West Ham are yet to win a home game.
00:01:09They're up against Brighton in the Premier League in eight previous attempts.
00:01:13Nuno Espirito Santos' side went into this one.
00:01:16Five points from safety.
00:01:17Commentary comes from Vicky Sparks.
00:01:20It's only 23 days since these two last met.
00:01:23When a last gasp Brighton equaliser denied West Ham a precious three points.
00:01:29How desperately the hosts need a victory here tonight.
00:01:33Winless in their last seven.
00:01:34Nuno Espirito Santos brings in Callum Wilson up top in a bid to stop the rot.
00:01:39With Presencio Somerville dropping to the bench.
00:01:42Brighton are without a win in five themselves.
00:01:44As inconsistency continues to play their season.
00:01:48They make four changes.
00:01:49Danny Welbeck is fit enough to start with Mintek, Milner and Feltman also coming in.
00:01:54Algo, Ruter, Hinshelwood, Gruder and Coppola.
00:01:56Nuno's back on the bench after illness.
00:02:08Doubling up there on Callum Wilson.
00:02:10So he gives his hold on play.
00:02:12Throwing, could be in behind.
00:02:14Is he behind?
00:02:15Giggs West Ham the lead!
00:02:17And early joy erupts around the London Stadium.
00:02:29It all starts with that long ball forward from Areola.
00:02:33Van Hecker winning the initial header but then Brighton's don't cover themselves in glory.
00:02:38Bowen too strong.
00:02:39Bowen too fast.
00:02:41Bowen too accurate.
00:02:43West Ham on.
00:02:45Brighton nil.
00:02:46And he's built forward.
00:02:49Filled away by Tadebo.
00:02:50And he's far as Welbeck.
00:02:52Oh, very nicely done.
00:02:53It's Mintek.
00:02:55It's Welbeck!
00:02:56It's a penalty.
00:03:01Well, it was a lovely move by Brighton.
00:03:06Welbeck did eventually get the shot away.
00:03:08But this is what the spot kick was for.
00:03:10But this is what the spot kick was for.
00:03:12Clear contact from Kilman.
00:03:16Righton, and with a way back into this.
00:03:23With Welbeck against Areola.
00:03:26Well, he's still questioning the decision.
00:03:36Maximilian Kilman, perhaps asking whether Mintek was already going down.
00:03:41With a thumping penalty from Danny Welbeck.
00:03:45Draws Brighton level.
00:03:47Wom-wom.
00:03:52It's Mintek.
00:03:53Taking on Walker-Peters.
00:03:56And it will be a Brighton corner.
00:03:58And the other is delivery.
00:04:11Players tumbling everywhere.
00:04:13And it's another penalty.
00:04:16West Ham shell-shocked by two spot kick decisions in quick succession.
00:04:23And how this game has turned on its head.
00:04:26Will it pack it up on dunk?
00:04:31And he does wrestle him down.
00:04:36And again, it's Welbeck.
00:04:39Against Areola.
00:04:43And Welbeck hits the bar.
00:04:46And can't convert the rebounds.
00:04:49And now it's all kicking off.
00:05:01And Templars all of a sudden are flaring.
00:05:05Well, he went for the Penenka this time, Danny Welbeck.
00:05:10Relief for West Ham.
00:05:12And that is why it all boiled over there a little bit.
00:05:20So a yellow card for Danny Welbeck.
00:05:23A yellow card for Matthias Fernandes.
00:05:30Here's Fernandes.
00:05:31Now Bowen Fernandes taking off his toes by the Kuiper, but will fall to Bowen.
00:05:37Calioglu's done really well to read that.
00:05:39It's as though Bowen was wriggling through.
00:05:42Skulls gets it back.
00:05:44It's Callum Wilson.
00:05:45Oh, surely a handball there.
00:05:47And it's all in danger of spilling over again.
00:06:05And Catherine Wilson continues to say,
00:06:08that should have been a penalty our end.
00:06:11But VAR are checking.
00:06:13Well, it's against Lewis Dunk.
00:06:17And there is going to be a video review.
00:06:20And I don't think that's a surprise.
00:06:22You can see why West Ham are appealing for it.
00:06:25Yes, it's close range.
00:06:27But the arm is very much out.
00:06:30Is it a natural action?
00:06:35After review,
00:06:37Brighton number five commits a handball offence inside the penalty area.
00:06:43Final decision is penalty and yellow card.
00:06:47So it is our third spot kick of the game.
00:06:55Penalty,
00:06:56yellow card.
00:06:59Dunk's protesting.
00:07:02As if we didn't have enough going on here.
00:07:05West Ham are making a change.
00:07:07So it will be Lucas Pacqueta who has scored all seven of his penalties in his West Ham career.
00:07:27It's Pacqueta against Verbruggen.
00:07:28That's how you do it.
00:07:39And West Ham are back in front.
00:07:45Now the end of a first half full of drama.
00:07:49Here he is again,
00:07:55Caro Matoma.
00:08:02What a deflection.
00:08:03And it will be a Brighton corner.
00:08:07December is not a happy month for Fabian Herzlac.
00:08:10But he is yet to win a game in December with Brighton.
00:08:19Difficult one to deal with.
00:08:21And it's in.
00:08:21And Brighton are four back to level once more.
00:08:30In this topsy-turvy game.
00:08:32And it's a wicked delivery.
00:08:37Arreola gets something on it.
00:08:39But only as far as Joel Veltman.
00:08:43His first Brighton goal.
00:08:45Since May 2024.
00:08:49Arreola looking to maintain their momentum with Matoma.
00:08:54He's done well.
00:08:56Oh, beautiful.
00:08:57Arreola just does enough.
00:08:59It's a really smart save.
00:09:03But that would have been a beautiful Brighton goal.
00:09:08Arreola getting involved.
00:09:11It's done really well.
00:09:12Fleered away by 18-year-old Ezra Mayers.
00:09:17Mayer finishing this game strongly.
00:09:21He scored late on in the draw with West Ham earlier this month.
00:09:25Can they find a late winner?
00:09:29And to the six-yard box once again.
00:09:31And headed off the line.
00:09:35Arreola stranded that time.
00:09:38West Ham under real pressure trying to clear.
00:09:41And eventually will do so.
00:09:44What a vital clearance by Mavropanos to keep it at 2-2.
00:09:47It's only the second time in Premier League history that three penalties have been awarded in the first half of a game.
00:09:55What was it like watching on from the touchline?
00:09:57It was confusing.
00:09:58I was just thinking.
00:10:00I think, honestly, the referees must, again, speak with the players.
00:10:06Try to really explain to them which is contact, which is excessive, which can be fouled.
00:10:11Because we see so many things, so many contacts in the box now, in set pieces.
00:10:16That is confusing.
00:10:18Not a result we can't be happy with.
00:10:20But in the end, we tried it.
00:10:22We gave everything.
00:10:23And in some moments, we missed a little bit of quality.
00:10:27In some moments, we had a lack of luck.
00:10:31And therefore, it's only a 2-2.
00:10:34So, disappointing from a Brighton point of view.
00:10:36But for West Ham, Rob, this is something you've highlighted before.
00:10:40Is there inability to hold on to a lead?
00:10:42Yeah, it's becoming a real issue.
00:10:44And it has become a massive issue now for Nuno.
00:10:46You're looking at the amount of games that they've got in front and not held on to that 1-0 lead.
00:10:51You're looking at the only game that they have done was against Nuno back in August.
00:10:55And I highlighted it here against Bournemouth.
00:10:58And it was the same again today.
00:11:00In the second half, they came out a goal up and just went back into the shells
00:11:05and just decided to defend, defend, defend.
00:11:08And they're not good enough to do that.
00:11:09They can't do that right now.
00:11:11You look at the errors from Areola, from crosses.
00:11:14You look at Kilman giving away a penalty.
00:11:15His hand in the second goal as well.
00:11:17Paqueta's dealing with dunk for a penalty.
00:11:20There's too many errors within the side, just as an overall picture, to say one goal is enough.
00:11:26So, it's a really difficult quandary for Nuno to come into.
00:11:29And they're now looking at their next few fixtures as kind of must-win games.
00:11:33This is where they need to start putting a run of form together that can take them out of the bottom three.
00:11:39Are there winnable fixtures in there, do you think?
00:11:41Well, they had winnable fixtures.
00:11:43They had tonight, they have Fulham at the weekend, which they lost one point from two home games.
00:11:47And now you're going to Wolves.
00:11:48And Wolves will be looking at that after tonight's result and saying, we can win a game.
00:11:53We can take a step forwards here.
00:11:54They're looking to improve.
00:11:56So, all of a sudden, the game against Wolves, the game against Forest, you're thinking they're four points behind in the relegation zone.
00:12:03So, from there, just to be in touch, just to attract players to the club in January is going to be critical.
00:12:10So, I think this week is going to be huge.
00:12:12We heard Fabian Herzler's frustration, possibly fuelled by the fact that, at one all, Danny Welbeck had a go at a Panenka.
00:12:20I'm a big fan of Danny Welbeck, but I'm not a big fan of the Panenka.
00:12:24You surprise me.
00:12:25I think maybe Messi, Ronaldo, Zidane type players, but he's got a wonderful opportunity to put West Ham in a real bad position here.
00:12:33I think he's overthinking it because he's already taken one.
00:12:36You know, that's going to be in his head because he doesn't want to do the same thing.
00:12:39And that's not what you do.
00:12:40You either go one way or the other as firm and as hard as you can.
00:12:44If they'd have gone in the lead at that point, I'm not sure West Ham would have been able to come back.
00:12:47But I suppose, look, you can tell that West Ham players aren't happy with it, which is bizarre because he's missed.
00:12:53So you might as well congratulate him for trying to be too cheeky.
00:12:56But I suppose if one player this season's earned the right, maybe Danny has.
00:12:59And Fabian Herzler still not won a league game in December either.
00:13:02That run continues.
00:13:04Now, we will bring you that match between first and third very shortly.
00:13:07We're just waiting for the manager's interviews.
00:13:08But to Stamford Bridge next.
00:13:11Chelsea looking to bounce back from defeat by Aston Villa three days ago against Bournemouth without a win in their last nine.
00:13:17Jonathan Pearce is your commentator.
00:13:19Rumours have been flying about the future of Chelsea manager Enzo Mureska following that Villa defeat.
00:13:26Just 169 days after he took Chelsea to the Club World Cup.
00:13:30Antoine Semenya's much-touted move to Manchester City won't help form with boss Andoni Iriola
00:13:36as he suffers his worst run in three years.
00:13:39Chelsea unbeaten in eight league games against Bournemouth made five changes from the Villa defeat.
00:13:44In come Achimpong, Fafana, Gusto, Estevão and Dilap.
00:13:48Cucuré is missing with a hamstring injury.
00:13:51This is almost certainly then a farewell game for Antoine Semenya,
00:13:54who's had a hand in 44% of their goals this season.
00:13:58Four changes for them.
00:13:59In come Hill for a first start in nearly two months.
00:14:02Brooks, Klaiburtz and Evan Nielsen.
00:14:06Chelsea have lost just one of their last 22 home calendar year-ending games.
00:14:12Cucuré is looking for over Nielsen.
00:14:17He's got beyond the Chelsea defence.
00:14:18It's touched to get very wide.
00:14:21And the block was aired by Fafana.
00:14:28Semenya with a long throw.
00:14:30Again, it's not dealt with very well.
00:14:31Brooks has got it in, has he?
00:14:33Has now!
00:14:34Bournemouth lead.
00:14:36Terrible Chelsea defender.
00:14:38They've failed to cut out the long throw.
00:14:40And Brooks had two stabs at it.
00:14:41Bournemouth needed a bounce back from that horror defensive show at Brentford at the weekend.
00:14:48Lead in six minutes.
00:14:51Look at the number of blue shirts in there.
00:14:53And yet they don't deal with the first one.
00:14:56Brooks' effort is saved by Sanchez.
00:14:58He's hungry to get to the second.
00:14:59Almost got to the second to keep it out.
00:15:03And then Brooks made short.
00:15:051-0.
00:15:06D'Essedo whips one cleanly away to Esteval.
00:15:18Isolated with Truffaut.
00:15:19This could be a key area in the game.
00:15:21He's gone beyond him.
00:15:22Semenya came in.
00:15:24Chelsea founds one to penalty.
00:15:27Run given.
00:15:27And now Bournemouth look to break away.
00:15:32And Evan Ilsen carries on.
00:15:33He was too strong for the defender.
00:15:36Can't beat the goalkeeper.
00:15:37And now it's up to Craig Porton in the VAR booth.
00:15:42To have a check.
00:15:44Good run by the youngster.
00:15:46Semenya seemed to clip his heels.
00:15:48How much contact was there?
00:15:50There's a knock of Semenya's right knee on the back of Esteval's leg.
00:15:55He's been told to go and review it.
00:16:00And I'm pretty sure that Sam Barrett will give the penalty here.
00:16:05There's contact there.
00:16:06Back of his calf.
00:16:07And then Esteval does clip his own legs.
00:16:10There can only be one decision here.
00:16:12I find a decision that the penalty kick.
00:16:15And Donny Ereola thinks that's very, very soft.
00:16:21Now Cole Palmer will take the penalty.
00:16:24Big moment.
00:16:25To it's Palmer against his former club mate Petrovic.
00:16:35Ooh, nearly got there.
00:16:37Nearly got there.
00:16:38But it's 1-1.
00:16:40Not a way he would have wanted to end his former career Semenya
00:16:42by giving away a penalty.
00:16:44Should it end tonight.
00:16:48Don't give a guess right.
00:16:50Might have got a fingertip onto it, but not enough.
00:16:53Oh, that's a poor ball infield by Achenpoch.
00:17:02And it's set up here for Brookford.
00:17:04It's set to good save.
00:17:06Really very good save, Robert Sanchez.
00:17:08Strong left hand.
00:17:09Mistake there.
00:17:12Mistake there.
00:17:14Pecedo doesn't win the challenge.
00:17:15He's on a yellow card, of course.
00:17:16Evan Nielsen.
00:17:17Good ball into Brooks.
00:17:20And it's a good recovery by Sanchez because he was diving away to his other side.
00:17:25And this is Pecedo.
00:17:37Enzo Fernandes to Granaccio.
00:17:40That's Enzo Fernandes.
00:17:42Worked the space very well.
00:17:44And scores a lovely goal.
00:17:46And Chelsea are ahead.
00:17:47Smashing finish, that.
00:17:54Oh, they turned the game on its head.
00:17:57Bournemouth initially gave the ball away, never really recovered from that mistake.
00:18:03Arnacho turned inside Jimenez, set up Fernandes.
00:18:07He took the touch to get away from his defenders into that space.
00:18:13Watch out the touch of Fernandes, lovely that, as Scott came across.
00:18:17And it's a fine finish too, and it's 2-1 Chelsea.
00:18:31It's a tournament defending by Wesley Profana, but it's a formless throw.
00:18:38Simone will take it long.
00:18:40It's blocked through the zone penalty area, and in, and Bournemouth are out again.
00:18:52It's Clivert, and Bournemouth are back in the game.
00:18:54Clivert makes it 2-2.
00:18:56Chelsea are hapless, defending their penalty area at set pieces.
00:19:05It was a Chelsea head that nodded it back through his own penalty area, and in came Clivert, all alone.
00:19:12Just stab it past Robert Sanchez, who had no chance.
00:19:23Just have a near round the back.
00:19:25Cusco now, did that come off his arm?
00:19:28Bournemouth are adamant.
00:19:29Very high up on his arm.
00:19:35That's not a handball.
00:19:37I don't think that's a handball.
00:19:39They are checking, because they have to.
00:19:41It's been checked and cleared the ball.
00:19:42Bournemouth comes down off his shoulder area.
00:19:46In comes the corner.
00:19:48Headed up by Quesado.
00:19:49Possible breakers on here.
00:19:50Estevão, Parma, look at players running up on the left-hand side.
00:19:53Both sides.
00:19:54Neto is there with him.
00:19:55Parma has a look.
00:19:56Releases Neto.
00:19:58De Lapp's in the middle.
00:19:59Beautiful breakaway.
00:20:00No finish.
00:20:02Couldn't quite climb above the ball.
00:20:05And make definitive contact.
00:20:07But it's a lovely Chelsea break there.
00:20:09It's a big chance to.
00:20:11For young Liam.
00:20:12De Lapp.
00:20:12Estevão does so well.
00:20:14As does Parma.
00:20:16Strong positive carry.
00:20:18Perfect release.
00:20:20Early ball in.
00:20:22Lovely move.
00:20:23Deserved better.
00:20:32Estevão.
00:20:35Good well.
00:20:36Good save.
00:20:37Georgi Petrovic.
00:20:40Another pleasing.
00:20:40In.
00:20:42In his old club.
00:20:44Chelsea.
00:20:45Are getting stronger.
00:20:46under here.
00:20:47Seneci.
00:20:52Seneci.
00:20:56Cross all the way through.
00:20:57So, Adley pulls it back and it's in him.
00:21:00Oh, that was his opportunity.
00:21:03That was his moment.
00:21:05Over it went.
00:21:07Lovely set-up here by Adley.
00:21:10Took it early from an awkward high.
00:21:14Terrific first half.
00:21:16Second half more measured.
00:21:19More cautious.
00:21:20Finishes 2-2.
00:21:22The big question now for Bournemouth, of course.
00:21:26How do they deal?
00:21:28With a future without Antoine Semenya.
00:21:30Because here, he is clearly waving goodbye.
00:21:36I think the points we are getting, both games against Chelsea,
00:21:39even the game against United,
00:21:41games where you feel you've had a good performance
00:21:45and it's not a great reward one point, no?
00:21:48But it's true that before coming,
00:21:50probably, it's a point that you will have taken.
00:21:53I think we put Bournemouth into defending one box
00:21:56for many, many minutes.
00:21:58But the final product and the last third
00:22:03to score another goal more,
00:22:06to win the game or to kill the game,
00:22:09that was missing today.
00:22:11and it's something that we need to find
00:22:14and we need to improve.
00:22:17At the end, you'll have seen the reaction from the fans
00:22:19towards Antoine Semenya and indeed his teammates
00:22:22as he seemed to be waving farewell to the club.
00:22:24How devastating is that for you?
00:22:27Or do you just move on?
00:22:29No, Antoine is a massive player for us, no?
00:22:32And he will be still with us.
00:22:34It's not the last game he has played for us, no?
00:22:36Definitely.
00:22:36We'll come to Antoine Semenya's future in just a second.
00:22:41It's yet another high-scoring away game involving Bournemouth,
00:22:44but they haven't won one in ten in a row now, Danny.
00:22:47So, while it might be vastly entertaining,
00:22:50it's not necessarily effective for them.
00:22:52No, but it's great to watch for us.
00:22:53I thought Chelsea actually second half were pretty good.
00:22:55Esther Vau was a joy to watch.
00:22:57But first half, a couple of concerns for them.
00:22:59One was how often Bournemouth opened them up
00:23:01and how well they played.
00:23:03And secondly, set plays is becoming a problem for Chelsea.
00:23:06They conceded two today from long throw-ins.
00:23:10At home, you've got to do better, well, in any game,
00:23:12but especially at home when you're trying to dominate a team.
00:23:16Semenya, you know, we know where he's trying to get as far as he can.
00:23:18There's lots of bodies in there for Chelsea.
00:23:20They don't get the first contact, which is crucial.
00:23:23And then they don't follow runners on the back post.
00:23:26So we can see Hill gets the first contact
00:23:27and then Brooks runs off the back of Garnaccio.
00:23:29He's not watching the man, he's watching the ball.
00:23:32And then they give themselves a mountain to climb,
00:23:34which they climb and do well and get back in the game at 2-1.
00:23:36And then what happens?
00:23:38Once it's happened once, it can't happen again.
00:23:40The target's the same, there's nothing different.
00:23:44Misreads the ball chalibre there, but it's the back post that's the problem.
00:23:46It's the second ball, the runner.
00:23:49And again, unfortunately, it's Garnaccio.
00:23:51And no surprise, really, he was taken off half-time.
00:23:53I think probably because of these two lapses in concentration.
00:23:56You've got to be switched on.
00:23:58You can't give teams goals like that and expect to win football matches.
00:24:01Yeah, one of the biggest strengths of Chelsea this season
00:24:03is Robert Sanchez's ability to come and claim these balls.
00:24:06They have five players in between him and the ball at times there
00:24:10and completely negated the opportunity for him to come
00:24:13and they suffered from that.
00:24:15You could look at this as Chelsea having been a goal down
00:24:17and managing to get a point from it.
00:24:19Or you could look at what's been more of a pattern for them this season,
00:24:23which is dropping points from winning positions.
00:24:26Yeah, I think the game was a nice summary of how their season's gone at times.
00:24:30And it's the chaos that they can't deal with.
00:24:32Bournemouth brought an energy and a chaos to the game,
00:24:35much like Aston Villa did at the weekend in the second half.
00:24:37And it's their lack of ability to respond and keep control of games
00:24:41has been the real issue for Chelsea.
00:24:43Not Antoine Semenya's last game in a Bournemouth shirt, you think, Danny,
00:24:47or certainly that's what Andoni Arala said.
00:24:49Well, maybe they've got a practice match tomorrow or something like that.
00:24:52I very rarely see scenes at the end where someone's saying goodbyes
00:24:56and even hugging his teammates.
00:24:57He's a player in demand for obvious reasons.
00:24:59He'll definitely benefit whichever squad he goes to.
00:25:03Bournemouth are cute and clever in the market.
00:25:05I'm sure they've already got a replacement,
00:25:06but it's hard for the manager to come out and say,
00:25:08yes, he's on his way.
00:25:09Even if they do get that replacement, even if it is the right player,
00:25:12obviously you'd expect they'd take a little while to settle in.
00:25:16Are either of you concerned about Bournemouth this season?
00:25:20I thought the recent weeks, the run that they've had,
00:25:23they've had real difficulty with the energy.
00:25:24They've been void of energy, something very un-Bournemouth-like.
00:25:27This looked more like the Bournemouth of old,
00:25:30more like what we've been used to seeing in the Premier League.
00:25:32If they stick with what they had tonight, they'll be OK.
00:25:36So now to top versus third at the Emirates.
00:25:39With just three points separating the two sides,
00:25:42Aston Villa on a run of 11 straight wins in all competitions.
00:25:46Arsenal's last defeat came against Villa earlier this month.
00:25:50Commentary comes from Simon Brotherton.
00:25:52A mid-season test of title challenging credentials,
00:25:56and it comes just 24 days after they last met.
00:26:00The defeat at Villa Park is Arsenal's only reverse in the last 24 matches,
00:26:04while Villa's 11-game winning run has equalled their club record tally,
00:26:08last achieved 111 years ago.
00:26:12A knee injury means Declan Rice misses the game for Arsenal,
00:26:15but Jurian Timber returns,
00:26:16and a fit against Gabriel starts for the first time since early November.
00:26:21Piero in capier slides across to left-back,
00:26:23and Kai Havertz returns from injury on the bench.
00:26:26Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are suspended for Villa,
00:26:30who make five changes.
00:26:31Lamar Bogard plays at right-back,
00:26:33with Luca Dina, Amadou Anana,
00:26:35Oli Watkins and Jadon Sancho all coming in.
00:26:38It's Sancho's first league start since arriving on loan last summer.
00:26:45They're unbeaten on the last two visits here to the Emirates,
00:26:49winning 2-0 a couple of seasons ago,
00:26:51and 2-2 draw last term.
00:26:55He's got away from Sancho,
00:26:57superb play by in capier.
00:26:58This is good from Arsenal in capier's ball in.
00:27:02Jokeres with the header.
00:27:05First sighting a goal for Arsenal.
00:27:07Villa's players protesting.
00:27:10Jokeres there with a clear heading opportunity.
00:27:12That's the makings of a good one tonight, this.
00:27:24Challenge by Concer, who's done superbly here.
00:27:27Watkins is up alongside him.
00:27:28Watkins wide.
00:27:29First chance of the match for the visitors.
00:27:33It was excellent play by Esri Concer,
00:27:36who got in there,
00:27:37whipped the ball of Victor Jokeres.
00:27:41Watkins in an excellent position,
00:27:43and miscuing the shot.
00:27:44A moment of encouragement for Villa with that ball.
00:27:51And now an excellent pass from Tielemans.
00:27:53And here comes Morgan Rodgers with support.
00:27:57The pass into Sancho.
00:27:58The defending was solid from in capier.
00:28:00But again, a little warning there for Arsenal.
00:28:03Well, what a pass from Juri Tielemans here.
00:28:10Setting Villa on the counter.
00:28:12Taking out Morgan Rodgers.
00:28:1815 minutes in.
00:28:19Villa certainly giving Arsenal something to think about.
00:28:24Both teams with bright attacking moments
00:28:26so far in this first half.
00:28:31Jokeres waits in the middle.
00:28:32Oh, Trossard's looking for the angle for the shot.
00:28:36Comfortable enough for Emi Martinez.
00:28:44Arsenal again going down that left-hand side.
00:28:46They're really trying to test the right-hand side
00:28:49of Aston Villa's defence.
00:28:50In the absence of their regular right-back cash.
00:28:52In it comes from Trossard.
00:28:53Jokeres!
00:28:54Almost in.
00:28:58Jokeres getting in,
00:28:59in front of the defender.
00:29:01Esri Konsa.
00:29:04But the header flashing past the post.
00:29:09Here's Inanna.
00:29:11That's a decent-looking ball.
00:29:13Into Jadon Sancho.
00:29:14Right at the end of the first half.
00:29:16It's Watkins,
00:29:16and it's an absolutely superb defensive challenge by Saliba.
00:29:21Wouldn't have counted anyway.
00:29:22Flags up on the far side.
00:29:24That was excellent play all round.
00:29:26Brilliant from Villa and superb from Saliba.
00:29:31Given as offside.
00:29:32Very tight.
00:29:33But Villa almost springing clear to take a late first-half lead.
00:29:38Arsenal with a clean sheet again so far.
00:29:46David Reyes kept a clean sheet in exactly half of the Premier League games this season so far.
00:29:51That's better from Jokeres.
00:29:52Support here from Timber.
00:29:57Block made by Lindelof.
00:29:59It's going to be a corner for Arsenal.
00:30:01First corner of the match for them.
00:30:06Saka to take.
00:30:07Gabriel right in Emi Martinez's grill there as it's in.
00:30:14Martinez doesn't get hold of it.
00:30:16The ball's in the back of the net,
00:30:17and Arsenal have scored.
00:30:18It was Gabriel who caused the real problem.
00:30:22He was right there on top of Emi Martinez,
00:30:24even before the ball came in.
00:30:27It was Gabriel who caused all the issues for Martinez.
00:30:31It's messy,
00:30:32but it matters not for Arsenal because they all count.
00:30:35It just rolled in,
00:30:37rolled down Gabriel's leg,
00:30:39and then into the net.
00:30:41What a start to the second half.
00:30:44That's livened things up here.
00:30:46And yet another test for Unai Emery's team,
00:30:49who so often find themselves behind,
00:30:51particularly away from home.
00:30:58Bogart into Tielemans.
00:31:00Looking for Jadon Sancho.
00:31:02Won by Martin Odegaard.
00:31:04He was quicker.
00:31:04He was sharper.
00:31:05He was keener.
00:31:06And Zubamendi makes it too.
00:31:09Oh, what a lovely goal from Martin Zubamendi.
00:31:14And it all came on Odegaard.
00:31:16Got there ahead of Jadon Sancho.
00:31:21And played it through.
00:31:23Zubamendi finished it off.
00:31:25Stunning start to the second half.
00:31:28Arsenal in danger of running away with it here all of a sudden.
00:31:31Villa's defence breached again.
00:31:34Arsenal 2, Aston Villa 0.
00:31:38And what a test this is going to be for Unai Emery's team to try to get back in the match now.
00:31:44Well, there were plenty of furrowed brows in the first half.
00:31:49But they are absolutely loving it now.
00:31:52Pressure on Rodgers.
00:31:57Villa lose the ball.
00:31:58Marino into Odegaard.
00:32:01Odegaard looks to get the ball past Martinez who gets a hand on it.
00:32:07Martinez with a vitally important fingertip save.
00:32:12Arsenal can sense a third goal might be coming.
00:32:15Saka.
00:32:23Lovely play.
00:32:25No penalty, says the referee.
00:32:27Arsenal still on the attack.
00:32:29They are going to double-check it.
00:32:31So, we await the verdict on that.
00:32:35But Arsenal continue on the front foot with Martin Odegaard.
00:32:39That's a terrific ball in.
00:32:41Saka can't get his head on it.
00:32:43Timber.
00:32:44Truss up.
00:32:453-0.
00:32:46Game set match, Arsenal.
00:32:49There'll be five points clear at the end of 2025.
00:32:53At the top of the Premier League table.
00:32:56It is being checked for offside.
00:33:00It was given as disallowed on the field for offside.
00:33:05Didn't look like it was offside as the ball was played in there.
00:33:08There's just one more pass.
00:33:12They're looking at a pass out to Hincaffier.
00:33:14They're saying Saka's onside, so they're checking Hincaffier,
00:33:17who I think is onside.
00:33:20It's going to be a goal, and the crowd will find out in a moment.
00:33:27Arsenal 3, Aston Villa nil.
00:33:29And what an end to the year it is going to be for the league leaders.
00:33:35Villa's 11-game winning run, surely at an end now.
00:33:40What a run it has been.
00:33:41Incaffier.
00:33:46Away to Odegaard.
00:33:50Garcia's been beaten by Zubermendi.
00:33:53Plenty of red and white shirts racing forward here.
00:33:56Trossard leads the way.
00:33:57Into Gabriel Jesus.
00:33:59Oh, it's his first touch.
00:34:03Oh, he's waited a long time for this.
00:34:07He's missed most of the calendar year with a crucial injury.
00:34:12He's only recently come back.
00:34:14And he's only just come on the field tonight.
00:34:18It's brilliant from the Brazilian.
00:34:23Arsenal finishing 20-25 in style.
00:34:27They are the team to beat in the Premier League title race.
00:34:36Here's Marlon.
00:34:41The ball into Watkins.
00:34:44And it's a brilliant save by David Raya.
00:34:50Goodness me, that was astonishing.
00:34:53How on earth did Villa not get a goal there?
00:34:55McGinn on the follow-up.
00:34:56David Raya.
00:34:58It's like there's some sort of magnetic field around his goal.
00:35:02Good play by Jimmo.
00:35:03Into Marlon.
00:35:05That's Gabriel Jesus back.
00:35:06And Daniel Marlon's still going here.
00:35:09Superb play from Daniel Marlon.
00:35:11And Watkins scores on his 30th birthday.
00:35:15Another goal for Oli Watkins against Arsenal.
00:35:19Watkins, who has scored six league goals against the Gunners over the years,
00:35:25has himself another one here.
00:35:27Here.
00:35:27Sweeping it home from close range.
00:35:32It was excellent play from Daniel Marlon, who somehow got it through David Raya's legs.
00:35:37Oh, what a second half that was tonight.
00:35:43Yeah, it was amazing.
00:35:44Yeah, we knew we played against a team that won 11 games in a row.
00:35:48They're in a great emotional state.
00:35:51They are a really fabulous team.
00:35:53They keep you on the edge in a reaction.
00:35:55And in the first half, in the first ten minutes, we missed time a few things.
00:36:00And they opened us up.
00:36:01And they are really dangerous there.
00:36:02After we had some more control, we came up in the second half.
00:36:05And I thought we were outstanding.
00:36:06Today, we did very good first half, differently than the last match in Chelsea.
00:36:13And of course, we were more or less competing well and even getting our momentum and creating chances.
00:36:19But in the second half, the first goal changed everything.
00:36:23And we finished losing.
00:36:26But now with the players, my analysis, of course, is after the match, how we did here 90 minutes.
00:36:35But overall, the most important for us is to understand overall how we are.
00:36:41Well, Arsenal have had the results of late, if not necessarily the performances.
00:36:46What a time for them to put in, particularly that second half performance, Danny.
00:36:51Absolutely.
00:36:52Their performance was a big statement.
00:36:54It was powerful, full of quality, showed their strength in depth.
00:36:58And let's not forget, they didn't have Declan Rice, one of the most important players.
00:37:02But I thought in the first half, when Villa were pretty good, actually, and caused Arsenal problems,
00:37:08that partnership that's back together of Gabriel and Saliba gave Arsenal the platform
00:37:14to then go on to have that wonderful second half performance.
00:37:17Now, Villa played through the press beautifully at times in the first half.
00:37:20And look at the pace of Gabriel and Saliba there to then get Rodgers to play a poor ball
00:37:26and Capier sees out the danger.
00:37:30Again, you can see Villa waiting to win the ball back on the transition,
00:37:35which they do really well, and then they play through.
00:37:37And once they do, because Arsenal go after teams at home, which is right as well,
00:37:42because they really dominate teams at home generally,
00:37:44when they get into these positions, the two are always close together,
00:37:48they're always communicating, the distances are good.
00:37:50And here, basically, the angle's really difficult there for Watkins to do.
00:37:54And because Saliba's so patient, he's just got this calmness, he doesn't panic.
00:37:59There they are on the press that we're talking about, the commitment forward.
00:38:01And the reason they do it is because they believe and trust their defenders to play one-on-one and to cope.
00:38:08And there's none better, really, than Saliba, you know, when he's on top of his game.
00:38:12Right position again, he's got the athleticism and pace, calm, no danger, OK, the ball could have been better.
00:38:17But time and time again, we saw them break on Arsenal, and the Arsenal back forward don't panic.
00:38:24I mean, this here from Saliba, he doesn't know that this is going to be given a couple of inches offside.
00:38:28Look at this. That is just phenomenal.
00:38:31And that's what you get when you get those two together.
00:38:33You get the athleticism, the calmness, and the fear factor.
00:38:37I think it gives them a great platform to really go after teams.
00:38:40And, of course, the game they lost at Villa, neither of them were playing, of course.
00:38:43And while Gabriel and Saliba provide that platform for Arsenal on the pitch,
00:38:48there's also the way in which the goal was conceded that allowed them to take advantage.
00:38:53In fact, the Villa were then trying to get back into the game.
00:38:56And it was an error from Emi Martinez.
00:38:57Yeah, and it was Gabriel. It was one of the two of them getting in the way,
00:39:00making any use of it themselves.
00:39:03As he always does.
00:39:04As he does, yeah. And Unai Emery says it himself. It changed the game.
00:39:07And that's what got the ball rolling.
00:39:09And we knew it was coming.
00:39:11We've seen it before at Brentford this season.
00:39:13We've seen it at Leeds.
00:39:14And we saw it on Saturday at Chelsea,
00:39:16where Martinez just gets preoccupied with the players around him.
00:39:19He's got two there. He's fighting there.
00:39:21And he can't come for the ball because he's just worried about what's around him.
00:39:24And, again, tonight, he's preoccupied. He's worried.
00:39:28And from there, you know he's going to be there.
00:39:31You know he's going to be there.
00:39:32Saliba's around you. You can see him. You can touch him.
00:39:34And as a keeper, if you're going up amongst bodies
00:39:37and you're going to bring it down amongst heads,
00:39:41you've got to punch it.
00:39:42He doesn't do that.
00:39:42Two minutes later, Villa reacts.
00:39:45And they've got their men in around the players protecting Martinez.
00:39:49Now, this has been going on for weeks.
00:39:51This has been going on since the start of the season.
00:39:53So I don't know why it takes mid-game against Arsenal
00:39:57for it to happen again three days after it happening at the weekend
00:40:00for them to react.
00:40:02It seems like it's a bit of a miss.
00:40:03And the manager said it cost them.
00:40:05That said, it was a stunning performance from Arsenal
00:40:08in the second half in particular.
00:40:10They then open up that six-point gap over Aston Villa.
00:40:13Suddenly, it starts to look a lot more comfortable.
00:40:16And yes, Manchester City have got a game in hand
00:40:18that they'll play on on New Year's Day.
00:40:20But it feels like a big one, that, in terms of the title race.
00:40:24Have they seen off one of the main contenders?
00:40:27Not just yet, but they've shown everybody they mean business
00:40:30and a couple of bad results or a couple of draws
00:40:32and one loss doesn't define their season.
00:40:35Look, they're wonderfully physically, defensively brilliant.
00:40:41There's been a little bit of criticism recently
00:40:43on lack of creativity and too many goals offset plays.
00:40:46But they've got so many players now who are fighting for positions
00:40:49in the forward areas.
00:40:51You're going to see an uplift, I think,
00:40:52and more intensity from the forward players.
00:40:54Jesus is coming on scoring.
00:40:56We don't think we saw Eza today.
00:40:57You know, they've got so much talent.
00:40:59I think they'll just spur each other on to do more and more.
00:41:02And yes, it's a big day for them and a big statement.
00:41:06I think each win like this, each big win they have,
00:41:09is a massive hurdle, particularly at the Emirates,
00:41:11where they get really, really nervous.
00:41:14They're waiting for that trophy.
00:41:15And that feeds onto the team.
00:41:17And you saw it in previous seasons.
00:41:20We saw it last season in the Champions League.
00:41:22They get nervous.
00:41:23So big statement wins like this, big moments.
00:41:26You look in the next one, possibly the League Cup,
00:41:29coming up against Chelsea.
00:41:30That's another big statement in there.
00:41:32It's going to be each one brings on that little bit more belief.
00:41:35Yeah, it's a huge night for Arsenal.
00:41:37Huge night at the top of the table.
00:41:39Burnley have drawn their last two.
00:41:41But Scott Parker's side were on a run of nine without a win
00:41:45ahead of the visit of Newcastle.
00:41:47Guy Mowbray was at Turf Moor.
00:41:50Burnley need a win, but then Newcastle do too.
00:41:53They've only won one of their last five.
00:41:54And that was against Burnley three and a half weeks ago.
00:41:58For the Clarence, three changes from Saturday against Everton.
00:42:01Maxime Esteve returns from injury.
00:42:03And Florentino and Loom Schauder also come in to start.
00:42:06For Newcastle, four changes.
00:42:08Nick Pope plays for the first time since November.
00:42:10Joe Linton, Harvey Barnes and Johan Wisser also brought into the team.
00:42:18This traditionally is a very happy place for Newcastle to visit.
00:42:22They have won their last three here, but life on the road has not been easy for Toon fans this season.
00:42:31There's Anthony Gordon.
00:42:35And Fabian Scher.
00:42:36It's a really good return to Gordon.
00:42:41Controlled it nicely too, up against Kyle Walker.
00:42:43And he beats him once.
00:42:46Crossing towards Joel Linton, who's hooked it in.
00:42:48It's taken Newcastle only just over a minute.
00:42:54Brilliantly finished that by the Brazilian.
00:42:56His 200th appearance in the Premier League.
00:42:59And his first goal in the competition this season.
00:43:04Gordon's delivery.
00:43:05Maybe not what he was looking to do with it.
00:43:08I think it may have taken a deflection and looped up to Joe Linton, but what a connection that was.
00:43:15It's caressed it into the corner.
00:43:17Burnley 0, Newcastle 91.
00:43:19Just sets the tone.
00:43:26This puts a downer on the turf more atmosphere from the very start.
00:43:30Apart from in the visiting section, which is bouncing.
00:43:34But couldn't hold on.
00:43:36Lucas Spires has wrestled the ball free of him.
00:43:39Gordon came in though with a good tackle for Newcastle.
00:43:42Bruno Gimorais into a crowd.
00:43:44Gordon out of the pocket.
00:43:47Gordon again.
00:43:48Trying to combine with Barnes.
00:43:51Here is Barnes.
00:43:52Saved by Dubravka.
00:43:54Trying to get back up.
00:43:55It's an almighty mess for Burnley.
00:43:57And Johan Wisser has put it in for number two.
00:44:02His first Premier League goal in the black and white stripes.
00:44:07Burnley is surrounding the referee, Rob Jones.
00:44:11They feel there might have been a foul in the midst of all that melee.
00:44:15It will of course be looked at.
00:44:16The more worrying concern for Burnley is the absolute mess that they got themselves into.
00:44:24I just wonder there though if there was a barge in the back.
00:44:30Was Josh Laurent fouled by Bruno Gimorais?
00:44:35I think there's going to be a secondary Newcastle cheer though.
00:44:37The goal is going to be allowed to stand.
00:44:40Burnley 0.
00:44:41Newcastle 2.
00:44:43Let's not forget that very recently they were 2-0 up against Chelsea and drew 2-2.
00:44:54Edwards.
00:44:56Edwards trying to get a sight of goal.
00:44:58Denied that by Wisser.
00:44:59That was blocked by Ekdahl.
00:45:02Put back in by Lucas Pires.
00:45:04That's a goal.
00:45:05Brilliantly taken.
00:45:07Josh Laurent has given Burnley some hope.
00:45:11And maybe started another Newcastle wobble.
00:45:16Josh Laurent's first Turfmoor goal.
00:45:18It's a night of firsts.
00:45:23Lucas Pires with the first shot.
00:45:26Might be a question there about the positioning of Breuer.
00:45:30Was he offside?
00:45:31It was his help on to Josh Laurent who has done what he needed to do.
00:45:37The check is complete.
00:45:40Laurent has scored.
00:45:40And it is Burnley 1.
00:45:42Newcastle 2.
00:45:45Gordon.
00:45:49Where's Gordon going?
00:45:51Nowhere fast is the answer.
00:45:53Here's Breuer.
00:45:55Breuer's shot deflected.
00:45:58Schauner.
00:45:59Schauner finds Edwards.
00:46:02And Edwards!
00:46:03That's his shot cleared off the line.
00:46:06Fabian Scher getting back to crucial effect for Newcastle.
00:46:11Burnley keep coming.
00:46:12Edwards has another go.
00:46:15Well wide.
00:46:18Newcastle and Anthony Gordon in particular have Fabian Scher to thank for still being in front.
00:46:26Laurentino.
00:46:28Schauner.
00:46:29Nicely touched through to Breuer.
00:46:31Edwards is with him.
00:46:34Breuer's pass is a good one.
00:46:36Marcus Edwards for Burnley.
00:46:38Straight against the leg of Nick Pope.
00:46:40Big chance goes.
00:46:43Burnley have started the second half the better team here.
00:46:50Humphreys.
00:46:52Humphreys again.
00:46:54Breuer.
00:46:55Trying to battle through with Humphreys' help.
00:46:59Lucas Pires.
00:47:00That's not a bad ball.
00:47:04And it's off the woodwork with Pope stranded.
00:47:08Laurent nearly got himself another.
00:47:11Lovely chip this from Lucas Pires.
00:47:15Laurent's header.
00:47:16Pope had given it up.
00:47:17And it nearly dropped in.
00:47:20Nick Pope is increasingly a busy goalkeeper.
00:47:27Edwards.
00:47:29Dummies Gordon.
00:47:29takes on Hall.
00:47:30And gets the crossover to Schauner.
00:47:35Once again.
00:47:36Burnley have had their chances.
00:47:39Once again.
00:47:41They have largely failed to convert.
00:47:43Murphy.
00:47:49Bruno Gimeraj.
00:47:50Corner.
00:47:53Right in front of the Newcastle fans.
00:47:55Hannes Hall.
00:48:00Dubravka.
00:48:01That's two hands on it.
00:48:03Joe Linton happy to let it bounce.
00:48:05And Dubravka's beaten to it.
00:48:07Humphreys off the line.
00:48:11That one was dipping under.
00:48:12Bashir Humphreys with some good defensive work.
00:48:15Just wonder if Burnley have had their chances now.
00:48:21They could.
00:48:22And probably should have drawn themselves level.
00:48:25Hall.
00:48:26Gets past Ekdahl.
00:48:28And gets it back from Wissar.
00:48:29Here's Jacob Murphy.
00:48:31Oh goodness.
00:48:32The three points were there on a plate for him to win.
00:48:36Jacob Murphy.
00:48:38Really ought to have dispatched that.
00:48:41Pretty much in his sleep.
00:48:45Miley to Murphy.
00:48:50To Nali.
00:48:52Ekdahl has Voltemada breathing down his neck.
00:48:55And Dubravka has given it straight to Bruno Gimeraj.
00:48:58And Newcastle have won the game.
00:49:02It ends as it begun.
00:49:05With Burnley all over the shop at the back.
00:49:09Bruno's sixth goal this season.
00:49:11His first one that's come away from St. James' Park.
00:49:15And it's put the seal on what will be only Newcastle's second Premier League away win of the season.
00:49:23It's Burnley one.
00:49:25Newcastle three.
00:49:27The positives are that we showed a real spirit, a real commitment, a real fight.
00:49:34And sometimes in these moments, like anything in life, in adversity and certain hardship, which that was the case tonight.
00:49:41That's something that can go disappearing very, very quickly.
00:49:44Default position can be hiding and certainly not stand up to the challenge.
00:49:48My team never did that.
00:49:50And I don't think they ever will.
00:49:51I think that's been proven over some time now.
00:49:53In the second half, we controlled the game well.
00:49:56We managed to the time and play well and still create chance.
00:50:01I think we could have more goals today.
00:50:03But at the end, I'm really, really happy with the three points because that's the most important.
00:50:08We needed to win.
00:50:09We know we were under pressure today.
00:50:12I thought the lads responded really well.
00:50:13I thought it was a really fast start.
00:50:15I thought we scored some really good goals.
00:50:18And then us being us at this present time, we made it difficult for ourselves.
00:50:22You know, there's a couple of moments there where Nick made massive saves for us.
00:50:25But overall, I thought we showed real resilience and character in that second period to get over the line.
00:50:30Eddie Howe said Newcastle made it difficult for themselves.
00:50:33In the end, it looks like a relatively comfortable scoreline.
00:50:36But it wouldn't be fair to say that Burnley put up no resistance to them.
00:50:40No, it wasn't routine.
00:50:41And you think here, Newcastle, away from home, they've been poor this season.
00:50:45Guy touched on it in commentary, just a second away win.
00:50:48They were rocking at times.
00:50:50And Joel Linton can say what he likes after the game.
00:50:52They were in trouble at moments.
00:50:53And you look at the chances that they had at Burnley.
00:50:56And you think about all the good play that they had.
00:50:58It's just critical moments.
00:51:00And then players, you know, the instincts of share.
00:51:02A momentary lapse in concentration at the back for themselves.
00:51:06But when they did attack, they attacked with conviction.
00:51:09They came up against Nick Pope, who came back and was in good form.
00:51:12And Eddie Howe, who said it himself, he said, you know, he came up with big moments.
00:51:17That was key tonight.
00:51:18And you're looking, thinking, well, is he going to come back and play?
00:51:22Because A, Ramsdale had done okay.
00:51:24Was he still the number one?
00:51:25I think now we know Nick Pope's back and he's playing well.
00:51:29Really sharp at moments.
00:51:31But around this, Burnley created opportunities in and amongst congested area, in and amongst when they could break.
00:51:36See, coming away from it, Scott Parker's thinking, it's pretty much everything we can do in a game.
00:51:42And from here, you look at these chances, you've got to score them.
00:51:46You've got to take these moments because things like this happen.
00:51:49A moment's indecision.
00:51:50The game's still in the balance.
00:51:52It's horrible for Dubravka.
00:51:54He's up against his former club.
00:51:56Nick Pope was up against his former club.
00:51:58One rule for one keeper, one rule for the other.
00:52:00It's a tough night again for Burnley.
00:52:02Having said everything that you have in sort of defence of Burnley, if you like,
00:52:06the fact is that they haven't won in the last ten games.
00:52:09There are more than grumblings around turf more about where the club is heading this season.
00:52:16Where do you think we stand in terms of the amount of pressure that's on Scott Parker at the moment?
00:52:20I don't think they can stay up.
00:52:22I don't think they can survive.
00:52:23That's first and foremost.
00:52:25It's then you're saying, where do you take the club?
00:52:27Much like Wolves, they're in a better position than the Bulls.
00:52:29But where do you take them from now?
00:52:31What's the vision?
00:52:32How much damage can they sustain for the rest of the season?
00:52:35If runs continues, it's got to stop at some point.
00:52:38What about from Newcastle's point of view?
00:52:40Eddie Howe talked about the problems that they've caused themselves at times this season.
00:52:44But in terms of their attacking prowess, how much does the return, the full return of Wyssa make to that?
00:52:51I think it's really positive for them.
00:52:53Great stats.
00:52:53Look, they're first in all of those.
00:52:55Scored when he came back into the team in the League Cup against Fulham.
00:52:58Scored today.
00:53:00He's reliable in the build-up.
00:53:01He's quick.
00:53:01He's got different attributes to Volta Marder.
00:53:03Of course he has.
00:53:05But it gives Eddie Howe an option to change them or mix them.
00:53:07They've got good options in wide areas, actually.
00:53:09So I think for Newcastle fans, that's something exciting for them to look forward to.
00:53:13His impact on the team in the next few months.
00:53:16To the city ground now.
00:53:17Nottingham Forest coming off back-to-back defeats against Everton without a win or a goal in their last three.
00:53:24Chris Wise was at this one.
00:53:25Outside of the bottom club, Wolves, these two are the lowest scorers in the league.
00:53:32And between them, they have strikers that are either out-injured, out of luck, or bang out of form.
00:53:39Nottingham Forest will finish 20-25 above the relegation zone.
00:53:42The steady signs of encouragement are there.
00:53:45Sean Dyche freshens it up at full-back.
00:53:48Oleksandr Zinchenko comes in for Nikolo Savona.
00:53:51Everton's 3-0 win over Forest at the start of the month remains their biggest victory of the year.
00:53:55But the absentee list is getting long.
00:53:58The latest to join it, Michael Keane and Carlos Alcaraz, neither in the Everton squad tonight.
00:54:04Income Patterson and Ruel, and Grealish is back on the bench.
00:54:09So a very different challenge for Nottingham Forest tonight compared to the visit of swashbuckling Manchester City three days ago.
00:54:17It is David Moyes' Everton.
00:54:20Garner.
00:54:21He managed to find the out-ball as well.
00:54:24There might have been a little touch on roll, but Klay's going to go on with Everton anyway, because Barry's got it.
00:54:31Dibbling one of the supporting cast.
00:54:34Here he is, Tyler Dibbling.
00:54:35Patterson for Iribunum.
00:54:44He has the power to keep Dominguez away from here.
00:54:48McNeil for Garner.
00:54:50It's in!
00:54:50James Garner against his former club for Everton.
00:54:56Well, out of respect, he doesn't celebrate, but the Everton fans do.
00:55:02James Garner taking it quickly and striking it low across John's goal, who got the merest fingertip to it, but nothing more.
00:55:11There's only two players on the pitch for Everton tonight that have scored Premier League goals this season, and he's one of them.
00:55:19That's number two for James Garner.
00:55:22And in terms of Everton's night, that's number one.
00:55:24Nottingham Forest nil, Everton one.
00:55:26Williams.
00:55:31It's a great ball, and it is a fluff finished at the back of the queue from Callum Hudson-Odoi.
00:55:38Really good opportunity, that, for Nottingham Forest.
00:55:4213th time that these two managers have pitted their extensive wits against one another.
00:55:47The very first time, actually, nine years ago tomorrow, when Dutch's Burnley beat Moises Sunderland by four goals to one.
00:55:57Maybe just the touch initially from Garner.
00:56:00Sent Anderson into Iribunum, and Iribunum giving away the free kick.
00:56:04They've almost sent Anderson off course, that initial challenge by Garner, and into the path of Iribunum.
00:56:12So Forest's free kick, and their two full-backs are over this.
00:56:16Nico Williams and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
00:56:19It's Zinchenko, it was on target.
00:56:21I think on most occasions, Jordan Pickford probably would have caught that.
00:56:26The last Forest win against Everton here, more than 30 years ago.
00:56:29Steve Stone plays, and Ian Woen scored what would prove to be the winner in that game.
00:56:34Nottingham Forest beating Everton by three goals to two.
00:56:38Coming up to the hour then at the city grounds.
00:56:40Forest continue to probe.
00:56:42Gibbs-White.
00:56:42Brian was too strong for him, but then he's given the ball away.
00:56:47Igor Jesus.
00:56:49Has he got hold of it?
00:56:50He has.
00:56:50He nearly scores a special goal.
00:56:53It was a poke towards Pickford's goal from Igor Jesus.
00:56:56And it ends up whistling past the right-hand post of the Everton goalkeeper.
00:57:08Garner.
00:57:11Corner is the call.
00:57:12And in the second corner of Everton's night.
00:57:20But right in front of their feverish supporters.
00:57:28Now a knee there to clear the corner away.
00:57:33Back in it goes.
00:57:34That's a better ball.
00:57:35That was nearly 2-0.
00:57:36Tarkovsky heading it wide of the post.
00:57:42Really was close, wasn't it?
00:57:43That header from Tarkovsky.
00:57:48And now Everton are coming at Forest.
00:57:50And Jack Grealish has got a lot of space here.
00:57:56Grealish still.
00:57:58Dwight McNeil.
00:58:02Back to Grealish again from Garner.
00:58:04Barry and Dibleem patiently waiting.
00:58:08Garner's hit.
00:58:10Was travelling.
00:58:11Really was travelling.
00:58:13Scored one very nicely taken goal tonight already, James Garner.
00:58:25Squeezed for room, Douglas Luiz.
00:58:27He's lost it.
00:58:28And all of a sudden, the gaps are beginning to come a bit more frequently for Everton.
00:58:32Garner, what a spin that is.
00:58:37And the ball as well.
00:58:39For Barry.
00:58:40For 2-0 Everton.
00:58:46Tiano Barry scores against Nottingham Forest again.
00:58:50And while he takes plenty of praise, plenty more needs to come the way of James Garner.
00:59:00What a fabulous assist from the Everton midfielder.
00:59:03And the relief etched across the face of Tiano Barry to add another to his Premier League tally.
00:59:14Most Nottingham Forest fans are still in here, but there are one or two red seats that are beginning to appear.
00:59:20Backward.
00:59:24Oh, he's got the room.
00:59:25Backward.
00:59:25Oh, it's gone all the way across.
00:59:27It's an Everton away win that will rejuvenate hopes of a European charge this season.
00:59:35And they have done the double over Nottingham Forest in the space of a few weeks.
00:59:39That is three straight defeats now for Sean Dyche's side.
00:59:43I always saw tonight have been a really difficult game because Nottingham Forest are probably pushing really hard for the points.
00:59:50I thought they played really well against Manchester City at the weekend and were a bit unlucky not to take something from the game.
00:59:56So it was never going to be an easy game for us.
00:59:58And then, obviously, with the players we have missing.
01:00:00But great credit to the ones who come in.
01:00:02They've done a great job.
01:00:03Really did.
01:00:04We've dominated the game in many ways tonight, but not with that real edge and that cutting edge.
01:00:07And certainly, if you're going to dominate, don't lose the game to two really poor goals defensively.
01:00:12Like, not enough edge from us, you know, and I think that's the next step.
01:00:15You know, when the expectation grows, what about us growing?
01:00:18I think that's the next step.
01:00:19This club's played a massive part in my career, so I was never going to celebrate if I scored.
01:00:25I definitely enjoyed the second goal way more.
01:00:28You know, the work that I did and then the pass.
01:00:31I was just praying that he put it in the back of the net and he did.
01:00:34So I was really happy.
01:00:36And, you know, that makes it a lot easier going into the final five or ten minutes, two up rather than one.
01:00:42Well, no wonder James Garner was happy with a goal and an assist against his old club.
01:00:47Well, he goes under the radar a little bit.
01:00:49I mean, Dewsbury Hall, Grealish and Jai tend to get a lot of the headlines whenever they've done well this season.
01:00:54But he's been terrific.
01:00:55And today was arguably his best performance of the season.
01:00:58He's filled in in various positions.
01:01:00He's playing in midfield at the moment.
01:01:02He's enjoying it.
01:01:02He's technically very good.
01:01:03We know that.
01:01:04This is a brilliant finish.
01:01:05First chance Everton had in the game.
01:01:08Really, really good finish, that is.
01:01:10I like the fact he can play quick.
01:01:12He knows when he's got time on the ball.
01:01:14He travels with the ball nicely.
01:01:16He can get Everton up the pitch at times and just release that pressure.
01:01:21He's a clever footballer.
01:01:22He's not physically that big and doesn't rely so much on the aggressive side of the game.
01:01:27But this, this is what he's capable of.
01:01:30We've seen him score a few long ranges.
01:01:31That's a close effort.
01:01:33And he does the hard work.
01:01:34You can't play in the middle of the park unless you're prepared to do that.
01:01:36Get back into defensive areas and block crosses and stick with your runners.
01:01:41And this is the highlight for me.
01:01:42I mean, as a midfielder, this type of assist is the most pleasing.
01:01:46Lovely bit of skill.
01:01:48And then can you find a way to the pass?
01:01:49Beautiful.
01:01:51Into Barry.
01:01:51He gets his second goal and pleases those Evertonians who go more.
01:01:57But this is, this is top midfield play.
01:02:00And it deserved a goal for the brilliance of the Panthers.
01:02:04Yeah, it's his fifth game.
01:02:05It's centre midfielder in a row now.
01:02:07Yeah.
01:02:07And you're looking at, you touch on it there.
01:02:09Keenan Drewsby Hall stepping out through injury.
01:02:11They've been a depleted side.
01:02:13Who's going to step up?
01:02:14He's stepped up now.
01:02:16And Everton fans are looking at him kind of over the course of this season.
01:02:19How good are you?
01:02:20What are you?
01:02:21I think we're starting to see the picture.
01:02:23And he's got to get his contract.
01:02:24So he's out of contract, but apparently for the end of the season, which is unbelievable, really.
01:02:28Talking about a plan for the game, it was very clear what Nottingham Forest and Sean Dyche intended.
01:02:3446 crosses from Nottingham Forest in this game.
01:02:38But it says here only eight successful.
01:02:41But you would read it slightly differently, Danny.
01:02:43Obviously, watching the game, you see the quality of the crosses.
01:02:47And the only reason the successful number there is low is because of the performance of O'Brien and Tarkovsky, who were absolutely outstanding.
01:02:54There was a couple of poor headers from Forest when they did get the first contact.
01:02:57But a lot of quality from Forest in wide areas.
01:03:00And something, I think, is a positive for them moving forward.
01:03:03I wouldn't see that stat as a negative.
01:03:05Just keep getting it in there.
01:03:06And, of course, they'll be having Chris Wood back sooner rather than later.
01:03:09Now, Manchester United beat Newcastle in the only game on Boxing Day.
01:03:15They were back at Old Trafford for the visit of Wolves, who are still yet to win and on a run of 11 straight defeats.
01:03:21Your commentator, Steve Bauer.
01:03:25Manchester United have lost just twice in the last 12 games.
01:03:29They're there without Mason Mount due to a muscle problem.
01:03:32It takes the unavoidable list of Ruben Amrim to eight players.
01:03:36So, Joshua Zertzky starts for only the fourth time in the Premier League this season.
01:03:41Wolves, who are on the third longest run without a victory in Premier League history,
01:03:45are missing the suspended Andre and the injured Santiago Bueno.
01:03:50So, Tachua and Arias both come in.
01:03:53And it has been pointed out quite correctly that Wolves have pushed Arsenal and Liverpool away from home very closely indeed recently.
01:04:05And their last away Premier League win was here at Old Trafford in April.
01:04:12Dorkin over Szczesko.
01:04:13Now, I can't go back for Cezo-Saar.
01:04:16He immediately finds Hwang.
01:04:19Brilliant from here.
01:04:20Now, can he set something moving?
01:04:26Zertzky.
01:04:27And they go again.
01:04:28Joshua Zertzky deflected.
01:04:31And Manchester United get the break and they get the lead.
01:04:36And that's a tough one on Wolves, the way they've started this game.
01:04:40It was congested in those central areas.
01:04:43But when it came back to Zertzky,
01:04:46it hits Krejci.
01:04:47And deflects off the Czech Republic International.
01:04:51Past Jose Sarr.
01:04:53And into the back of the net.
01:04:56His goal has given his team a 1-0 lead.
01:04:59Vigate.
01:05:03And to Zertzky.
01:05:05Kenya demanding it.
01:05:06He's going to go the other way instead to Dorgun.
01:05:09He's up against Chachua.
01:05:11And he's got Shaw bursting forwards.
01:05:15Deflected along the way.
01:05:17Well, after his first ever goal.
01:05:18From Manchester United on Boxing Day.
01:05:22He fancied another go.
01:05:23And Chachua.
01:05:28Just managed to deflect that wide.
01:05:31From Manchester United's second corner.
01:05:35Off the post from the Slovenian.
01:05:38Jose Sarr beaten.
01:05:40Almost 2-0.
01:05:42His eighth game in charge tonight.
01:05:44Two of them against Manchester United.
01:05:46And he's lost all seven.
01:05:48The Wolves have lost their last 11 in a row.
01:05:52Mane.
01:05:54And he's found.
01:05:56Maracadoa.
01:05:58In turn finds Bueno.
01:06:01And Lammens denies him.
01:06:04With a save with his legs.
01:06:06Here's Mane.
01:06:08And that's taken by the Belgian cleanly.
01:06:12Decent contact from Bueno.
01:06:14It's not with that left leg from Lammens.
01:06:17No room for Bueno to deliver as yet.
01:06:21But there is now.
01:06:23No chances taken by Dorgut.
01:06:26And that is Wolves' first corner of the game.
01:06:31Manchester United's turn to have everybody back.
01:06:33It came off Zertski.
01:06:34What an excellent header.
01:06:351-1.
01:06:38And it's Creighton.
01:06:39Who the goal deflected off.
01:06:42For Manchester United.
01:06:44To equalise for Wolves.
01:06:47Right on the stroke of half-time.
01:06:50Inadvertedly flicked on by Zertski.
01:06:52But what a perfect header.
01:06:55From Creighton.
01:06:57Right in the corner.
01:07:00And that was a sweet moment for him.
01:07:05Manchester United's half-time change.
01:07:07Which is the introduction of Jack Fletcher.
01:07:10In place of Joshua Zertski.
01:07:14But apart from Dallon.
01:07:16Now Fletcher.
01:07:19It's heaven again.
01:07:21And he's off a block by Doherty.
01:07:22Now Casemiro.
01:07:25That's nice.
01:07:26Cescco.
01:07:28He was offside anyway.
01:07:31And he'd be relieved.
01:07:32Because he should have done better.
01:07:36Who was he?
01:07:36And that's a nice in the end.
01:07:41And that's the first winning.
01:07:44Eight Premier League games without Bruno Fernandes on Boxing Day.
01:07:47Manchester United.
01:07:49But he's pegged back tight without their skipper.
01:07:53It's direct towards Dallo.
01:07:56Doherty's head out.
01:07:57Oh.
01:07:57And it's going to be an own goal is it?
01:08:01Jose Sartre has prevented it.
01:08:04With a miraculous recovery.
01:08:07The GDS watch hasn't gone off.
01:08:10And it looked as though it was going to beat Jose Sartre.
01:08:13With the determination.
01:08:14The flexibility.
01:08:16To get back and recover that situation.
01:08:19Outstanding.
01:08:20This is how close it was.
01:08:23To 2-1.
01:08:24Look at that.
01:08:25Goodness me.
01:08:31Jean Gomez.
01:08:38Peter Byrne.
01:08:39Didn't get there.
01:08:41Brilliant from Lammans.
01:08:42And somehow.
01:08:44The follow-up.
01:08:46From Mascara.
01:08:48Didn't go in.
01:08:50Well this is a real let-off for Manchester United.
01:08:53Crecci's effort denied.
01:08:55And Ammonster's well on the floor you know.
01:09:00Recognising.
01:09:01From Mascara.
01:09:02And indeed his manager.
01:09:07Crecci.
01:09:09Mascara kept it in.
01:09:18Mascara kept it in.
01:09:20Mascara has beaten Shaw here.
01:09:23And it's back towards Arias.
01:09:26And it's back towards Arias.
01:09:29He was under excellent pressure.
01:09:31Mascara.
01:09:32Mascara from Dala.
01:09:32ansen qua.
01:09:36And under excellent pressure.
01:09:36score for Wolves. I saw the headlines there, Shashko, get it back from Cunha, trying to
01:09:51go around Doherty, Cunha to keep things moving, Casemiro, Shashko, and the follow-up's in
01:10:00from Dorgo, but he's offside, the flag is up, the celebrations will be cut short, and the
01:10:11Boxing Day hero, who was hoping to write another script, looks like he's going to be denied,
01:10:17yes he's off, no goal, still 1-1, another night of frustration for him, more drop points,
01:10:28when they were least expected. Rob, well done, your first point, I mean, if you're getting
01:10:35greedy, could it have been more? Potentially, I think it's the least we deserved, you know,
01:10:39it's another good performance, it's progress, you know, I know that's been slow in terms
01:10:44of results, but our performances, especially away from home, have warranted, I think, more
01:10:48than the points and what we've got, so it's nice to take something away from the game,
01:10:53I feel we deserve that. Ruben, just a point in the end, how did you see that? I think it
01:10:57was a strange game, we already knew it, that would be a different game, if you compare
01:11:04to Newcastle, we needed more imagination today, but we tried, but the quality was not there,
01:11:12also because the characteristics is not the right characteristics in this moment, but we
01:11:17tried, we need to recover to the next one.
01:11:20If Manchester United had one, they would have moved up to fourth in the table, but Wolves
01:11:25losing one comes to an end at Old Trafford, just their third point of the season, and
01:11:31Amorim looks as though he was reverting to type, going back to that 3-4-3 rather than
01:11:36the back four he tried against Newcastle.
01:11:38Yeah, I mean, you can put the formations up, you can put the personnel up for me, Laman's
01:11:42played well, you're looking at a continuation of a problem in consistency, in terms of just
01:11:48an overall performance of intensity that's there, and there's two managers from tonight
01:11:53for me, and one that's worked with the team for a short period of time, and you can see
01:11:58small grains of improvement for Wolves, and small crumbs of comfort and energy to come from
01:12:04the results, and then you're looking at Manchester United, and Amorim has spoken at length over
01:12:08a period of time, saying, last season, there were too many games for us to work on the manager,
01:12:14on the training pitch for the manager. Now, he's had half a season on this, and he's gone
01:12:19back from one formation to another, and back again, I've just not seen the positional, the
01:12:24formational improvement, or the performance improvement.
01:12:28And they didn't get the result. Zerxi did get the goal, but came off at half,
01:12:34half-time, tactical substitution. Is he just someone who's waiting to be sold?
01:12:41I think so, yeah. He's had enough chances. The fans haven't really taken to him. He'll
01:12:45probably say he's not been given as many opportunities as he thinks he deserves, but
01:12:49for the quality United need, he's probably not up to, and I think we'll see him go in
01:12:53this window, probably.
01:12:55Let's take a look at the last table of the year. Arsenal begin the new year, five points
01:12:59clear at the top. Manchester City not in action until the 1st of January, when they travel
01:13:03to Sunderland. Aston Villa's run of eight Premier League wins comes to an end. Bournemouth's
01:13:0810-game winless run is their longest in the Premier League for more than two years. Wolves
01:13:13end a run of 11 defeats by earning a 1st point since the 5th of October.
01:13:19Thank you very much to Rob and to Danny for your company. So, Arsenal end 2025 top of the
01:13:25Premier League table. But however you're celebrating this new year, have a wonderful new year, and
01:13:31we'll see you on year's day. Bye bye.
01:13:32I'm
01:13:52I'm
01:13:54You
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