EPL round up: City slips, indestructible Everton and other stories

Premier League December chaos: Injuries, upsets, and battles for the top and bottom spots.

Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins celebrate after the former put Villa ahead against Manchester City on Wednesday. Aston Villa won 1-0. (Photo credit: Sporting News)

Fans will be spoilt for choice in the month of December. Teams will play too many games, and we’re already seeing the results of this, with teams losing players to injuries.

It has gone from bad to worse for Tottenham now, but West Ham would feel great for the result they got away from home. Tottenham hasn’t won a game since game week 10, losing four of their last five and tumbling from the first position to fifth.

Heung Min Son appeared injured at the tail end of the game, and that suggests more woes for Ange Postecoglou’s side. Christian Romero returned to the defense to offer some comfort; however, that didn’t halt their run of horrible results.

Manchester United won big in Game Week 15. The Red Devils beat Chelsea through an unlikely hero, Scott McTominay. Scott has been an important player for United in the absence of big names; it will be interesting to see what they do with him in the summer.

Chelsea’s season has been a mix of everything. The purple patch against the top sides, where they earn at least a draw, got them thinking they’re on the right path, but the loss to United has completely thrown them into the midtable scraps; they can forget about the title race until next season.

Step forward, Aston Villa. The greatness of Unai Emery is about to be televised; with Arsenal up next for Aston Villa, a win over the Gunners would take them within one point of Mikel Arteta’s men. That will be sensational.

Jarrod Bowen is in good company; he has scored in seven consecutive away games. The record is nine, set by Robin Van Persie of Arsenal from January to May of 2021. Bowen returned from injury to help the Hammers past Tottenham; they’re not far apart on the log as well.

It’s clear as day that Manchester City would have to find creative ways to find results whenever Rodri is unavailable. The three league games they have lost this season were games in which they didn’t have the Spaniard. Aston Villa blew them out of the water on Wednesday; something must change.

The relegation battle is heating up, but one team that won’t be going down that lane this season is Everton. Despite the point deductions, the Toffees continue to impress, and beating Newcastle 3-0 is not a fluke; they deserve respect.

Arsenal sits two points clear at the top, but they enter a weekend that could change a lot of things. The Gunners have to find creative ways to stop Unai Emery’s side on Saturday; however, they will look back at Declan Rice’s winner at Luton and realize how big it was considering how City slipped up at Villa.