EPL Weekly Wrap | All the Headlines – Gameweek 36

I thought Gameweek 36 might pass without incident, but this league won’t allow it. Arsenal survived a massive scare at West Ham, Manchester City put three past Brentford only to watch the gap stretch right back out, and the relegation picture narrowed to a straight fight between West Ham and Tottenham. Here’s a breakdown of all the Premier League news you may have missed last week.

Arsenal’s 1-0 win at West Ham was ugly and absolutely vital. Leandro Trossard fired in from Martin Odegaard’s cutback in the 83rd minute after David Raya had denied Matheus Fernandes at the other end moments earlier. Callum Wilson bundled the ball home deep into stoppage time, but VAR disallowed it after Pablo fouled Raya in the process.

I thought it was the right call.

That restores a five-point lead over City, who still have three games left to Arsenal’s two. Two more wins from Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away would clinch Arsenal’s first title in 22 years. Ben White’s knee injury is a concern, though, with the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain less than three weeks away. Arteta admitted it “doesn’t look good” and Jurrien Timber is already sidelined, leaving right-back cover very thin.

City did their job earlier in the weekend, dispatching Brentford 3-0 at the Etihad.

Jeremy Doku opened the scoring on the hour with a curling effort - his fifth goal in six games. Erling Haaland added his 26th league goal of the season before Omar Marmoush sealed it in stoppage time. I’ve said it before - if City had been this clinical all season, the title race might already be over. They’ve also got a game in hand, hosting Crystal Palace on Thursday morning NZT.

Liverpool drew 1-1 with Chelsea at Anfield in a match that summed up both clubs’ frustrations this season. Ryan Gravenberch curled in a beauty after six minutes, but Liverpool retreated into their shell and allowed Chelsea - under caretaker Calum McFarlane after Liam Rosenior’s sacking - to equalise through Enzo Fernandez’s free-kick on 35 minutes. 

The Kop booed Slot’s substitution of teenager Rio Ngumoha, and for anyone following football betting tips, Liverpool’s inconsistency is a real factor. Manchester United drew 0-0 at Sunderland without injured striker Benjamin Sesko.

I’ve got to give Bournemouth credit. They ground out a 1-0 win at Fulham despite going down to 10 men after Ryan Christie’s red card. Fulham’s Joachim Andersen was also sent off before the break, and Rayan’s 53rd-minute strike from 25 yards proved decisive. 

That’s 16 league games unbeaten now, and at 55 points they’re in firm control of sixth place.

Brighton’s 3-0 demolition of relegated Wolves - two headers inside the first five minutes from Jack Hinshelwood and Lewis Dunk - moved them into seventh. If Aston Villa win the Europa League final, sixth could mean Champions League football. 

I wouldn’t bet against Bournemouth finishing the season there.

West Ham’s loss to Arsenal confirmed what most people suspected. They’re four points adrift of Tottenham with two games left, and Spurs have a game in hand against Leeds tomorrow morning NZT. Even if Tottenham lose that, the maths is grim.

Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle all but confirmed their survival. Elliot Anderson, sold by Newcastle for PSR reasons in 2024, scored an 88th-minute equaliser to cancel out Harvey Barnes’ opener. That moves Forest seven points clear of the drop zone. Crystal Palace also secured safety through their 2-2 draw with Everton, where Ismaila Sarr and substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta both cancelled out Everton leads from James Tarkowski and Beto.

Wolves and Burnley are already relegated. For NZ punters checking NZ betting sites ahead of Gameweek 37, I’d circle Aston Villa vs Liverpool on Saturday at 7:00am NZT and the Newcastle vs West Ham relegation clash the following day at 4:30am NZT on the best betting apps.