League leaders Arsenal made no mistake in the home match against Sunderland. The team featuring Netherlands international Jurriën Timber were too strong in London, winning 3-0 against the side that includes Brian Brobbey and goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Arsenal kept their title charge firmly on track with a controlled 3-0 home win over Sunderland, a result that preserved their cushion at the top of the table and maintained the pressure on Manchester City ahead of a major trip for the champions.
After 25 matches, Arsenal sit on 56 points, 9 clear of City on 47, with City still due to play away at Liverpool on Sunday. Behind them, the battle for the Champions League places remains tight, with Chelsea in fifth and several sides trading results that could prove decisive over the final stretch of the season.
In London, Arsenal were patient early on, moving the ball quickly through midfield and repeatedly trying to draw Sunderland out of their defensive shape. Sunderland, with goalkeeper Robin Roefs and forward Brian Brobbey in the lineup, arrived with a plan to stay compact, limit space between the lines, and break when possible. For long spells it worked, with Arsenal forced into longer phases of possession and fewer clear looks than they would usually generate at home.
The breakthrough arrived late in the first half, and it came from midfielder Martin Zubimendi. Picking up the ball in a promising central area, the Spaniard shaped his body and struck a firm effort that beat Roefs, with the shot clipping the inside of the post on its way in. It was the kind of finish that looks simple in the highlights but comes from precision: enough power to beat the goalkeeper, enough control to keep it away from a block, and the angle to use the post as a guarantee.
The opening goal changed the match dynamic. Sunderland could no longer simply absorb pressure and hope to keep it level, and Arsenal were able to manage the second half with more authority. Rather than chasing every attack at full speed, Arsenal picked their moments, increased the tempo when Sunderland stepped up, and kept the visitors running with switches of play and quick combinations around the box.
The decisive blow came in the final quarter of the match, and it came from the bench. Substitute Viktor Gyokeres scored twice to turn a solid win into a convincing one. The timing mattered as much as the goals themselves: with Sunderland trying to push a little higher, spaces opened, and Arsenal were ruthless in exploiting them. Gyokeres provided a different profile in the final phase, more direct and aggressive in the penalty area, and his two finishes ended any lingering doubt about the outcome.
Jurriën Timber, the Netherlands international, was part of an Arsenal side that once again looked comfortable balancing control with efficiency. The clean sheet will also please the coaching staff, especially in a period of the season where points matter, but so does managing energy and limiting unnecessary drama. The most telling sign of a team with title ambitions is how often it wins without needing a perfect performance, and this match fit that pattern.
Sunderland also saw Lutsharel Geertruida come on during the second half, adding fresh legs and a more assertive presence as the visitors tried to find a way back. Even so, once Arsenal had established their rhythm after the opening goal, Sunderland struggled to create sustained pressure. Roefs had moments where he kept the scoreline respectable before the late surge, but the gaps eventually appeared.
In the wider league picture, Arsenal main rivals will be watching the City trip to Liverpool closely. With a 9 point gap already in place, any dropped points for City would give Arsenal an even stronger position, while a City win would keep the chase alive and add further tension to the run in. Arsenal will also be aware that the calendar can tighten quickly, and that the key now is consistency rather than statements.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa missed a chance to move closer in the top pack after a 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth. Villa did strike first through Morgan Rogers, taking advantage of a good moment to get in front. However, Bournemouth responded, and the Brazilian Rayan brought the home side level to make it 1-1. Villa introduced Lamare Bogarde and Ian Maatsen as substitutes, looking for fresh energy and a different angle late on, but they could not find the second goal that would have turned a draw into a valuable away win. With Villa on 47 points, level with City, every dropped point has the potential to become expensive as the battle for European places intensifies.
West Ham United, still positioned lower in the table than their ambitions would suggest, picked up a crucial 2-0 away win against fellow strugglers Burnley. A key moment came from Dutch forward Crysencio Summerville, who finished calmly after a well weighted through pass, nudging the ball past the goalkeeper. Beyond the immediate value of the goal, the run he is on is becoming a major storyline: it was his fifth consecutive match with a goal, a streak that can transform both confidence and results for a side trying to climb away from danger. For West Ham, the clean sheet and the ability to score at key moments will feel like building blocks rather than a one off.
Chelsea, meanwhile, strengthened their own push in the upper part of the table with a 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The match was essentially decided early, with Cole Palmer producing a hat trick inside the first 38 minutes. Two of those goals came from the penalty spot, showing both composure and authority in high pressure moments, before he completed the trio with a third finish that underlined how dominant Chelsea were in the opening phase. Later in the match, Jorrel Hato came on near the end, adding another note of interest for observers tracking emerging options within the squad. For Chelsea, the win mattered not only for the points, but for the manner: fast start, clinical finishing, and a level of control that suggests they can keep pace in the race for Champions League qualification.
Taken together, the day reinforced several themes. Arsenal are setting the standard and continue to look like a team that understands how to manage the long season. City still have a significant test to come at Liverpool, with little margin for error. Villa are competitive but not always ruthless away from home. West Ham are finding goals and momentum at a key time. Chelsea are showing they can overwhelm opponents quickly when their attacking players click. The table is tightening behind the leaders, and results like these will shape the final months of the campaign.
Updated: 05:48, 7 Feb 2026
