Arsenal clinched a crucial 2-0 win against Brighton on Sunday, propelling them to the summit of the Premier League and displacing Liverpool ahead of their much-anticipated clash with struggling Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta's side dominated at the Emirates, with Gabriel Jesus opening the scoring in the 53rd minute, capitalising on a defensive lapse. Kai Havertz sealed the victory in the closing minutes, converting a chance created by Eddie Nketiah.
Aston Villa, riding high from pivotal wins against Manchester City and Arsenal, overcame a halftime deficit to beat 10-man Brentford 2-1. Despite falling behind to Keane Lewis-Potter's goal, Villa rallied after Ben Mee's red card, levelling the score through Alex Moreno and completing the turnaround with Ollie Watkins heading in a Boubacar Kamara flick-on.
Meanwhile, West Ham bounced back from their previous 5-0 defeat, trouncing Wolves 3-0 at the London Stadium. Mohammed Kudus starred with two goals, and Lucas Paqueta provided all three assists, redeeming the Hammers from their previous setback.
In other Premier League action, Manchester City squandered a 2-0 lead, settling for a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday before heading to the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Liverpool now has the opportunity to extend their lead by six points if they can overcome struggling Manchester United later in the day.
United faces a daunting task, considering their recent poor record against Liverpool, having lost four of the past five meetings. The absence of suspended captain Bruno Fernandes and the decision to bench Marcus Rashford add to the challenges for Erik ten Hag's side.
The weekend's Premier League events were marred by a shocking incident at Bournemouth, where Luton captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, leading to the abandonment of the game. Lockyer is responsive and in stable condition, undergoing tests and scans, according to the latest update from the club on Sunday.
