Posh stadium but not the results to go with it
By Tony Attwood
Yes indeed, Arsenal are top of two leagues – the Premier League table and the Champions League table. Not that anyone following the match yesterday on the media would have known, because such details are a bit too much for some to take in, but there is the truth…. Little Cup semi-finalists and top of both the leagues the first team play in.
On Christmas Day last year Arsenal were third, having played a game more than the leaders, and we actually came third in the Champions League first round (sorry I can’t find a note as to where we were after six games, but I am sure you get the general point: Arsenal are still improving.)
Now we find ourselves having to learn how to pronounce Kepa Arrizabalaga . And also make notes in the diary (about to be given as a Christmas present no doubt) for 14 January (away to Chelsea) and 3 February (the home game). Both kick off at 8pm, if you have already been given your 2026 diary and want to write it in.
But before then we have more and more games starting with Brighton at home on 27th December at 3pm and then Aston Villa also at home the following Tuesday at 8.15pm. It is, as someone once said, “all go”. (The phrae “thick and fast” can also be used).
I guess the players now have today and Christmas Day off and then return on Boxing Day for training before the game on the 27th. It’s a tough life – except I am not sure that we saw any more injuries picked up last night that might be keeping yet more players out. But two players do have possible return dates of 3 January – Ben White and Kai Havertz.
And of course, in a round up we must also take note of where the noisy neighbours have got to in their last dozen games. Taking a quick look at their matches in the League, League Cup and Champions League, it appearas that they have won three, lost seven and drawn two. These results leave them 17 points behind Arsenal in the Premier League in 14th place.
But I do think it is worth comparing the team – indeed any team – with where they were a year ago, and indeed we often do this with Arsenal. So here is Tottenham this year and last year after 17 games. And we can see that they are indeed going backwards… although to be fair, not by much.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur 2025 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 22 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur 2024 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 39 | 25 | 14 | 23 |
After 17 games this year, Tottenham are actually three places worse off in the league, having gained one fewer point, but scored 13 fewer goals, giving them a goal difference that is 11 worse than last season. Now, last season, as you might recall, Tottenham missed relegation by one place (although they won the Europa League). It will be interesting to see how they do in the rest of the season.
Looking down, it is also worth noting that at Christmas last year, two of the three teams that eventually went down were already stuck in the bottom three (Leicester were one place clear of Wolverhampton a year ago). The top three read Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal. It ended up of course, Liverpool Arsenal, and Manchester City.
However, what we rarely mention, but maybe we should, is what is happening to Arsenal in the Professional Development League – the league that contains the under-18s. And maybe we should, since last night’s losing team (Crystal Palace if you recall) are actually top of that league – or at least the southern version of it. Here is the table as far down as Arsenal
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal Pal | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 42 | 22 | +20 | 24 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 8 | +18 | 21 |
| 3 | Tottenham Ho | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 17 | +16 | 21 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 11 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 21 |
| 5 | Southampton | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 19 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 19 |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 17 |
| 8 | West Ham United | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 22 | +2 | 16 |
| 9 | Arsenal | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 15 |
Of course, positions in this league not only reflect how well the under-18s are doing but also how quickly different clubs promote their under-18s to the first team squad for training. Such players might not play in Premier League matches, but they are training with the first team and so rarely get games with the youth squad.
So Arsenal go into Christmas top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League, but only ninth in the under-21s league. Not too bad.
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 10 | 21 | 39 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 17 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 41 | 16 | 25 | 37 |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 36 |
| 4 | Chelsea | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 29 | 17 | 12 | 29 |
Have a happy Christmas!
