Manchester United delivered a seismic blow to Arsenal's title ambitions with a dramatic 3-2 victory at the Emirates Stadium on January 26, 2026, while Aston Villa reignited their championship hopes with a crucial 2-0 win at Newcastle. The results have reshaped the Premier League table, leaving just four points separating the top three teams.
United's Matheus Cunha became the late hero with a 25-yard strike in the 89th minute, ending Arsenal's unbeaten home record this season. "A really painful one," admitted Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, whose team now leads the league by a slender two-point margin. The Gunners' reliance on set-pieces was exposed again, with Mikel Merino's 84th-minute corner equalizer briefly reviving hopes before Cunha's decisive intervention.
Aston Villa capitalized on the chaos through Ollie Watkins' brace at St. James' Park, moving level on points with second-placed Manchester City. The victory marks Villa's first win at Newcastle in 21 years, keeping alive their improbable quest for a first league title since 1981.
United's victory propelled them into fourth place, reviving their Champions League qualification hopes after a three-year absence. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest boosted their survival chances with a 2-0 win at Brentford, while Chelsea continued Crystal Palace's struggles with a 3-1 away victory.
