There's a moment in every title race when the pretenders get found out and the real contenders show they've got the minerals. Saturday afternoon at the Vitality Stadium might just have been that moment for Arsenal.
Declan Rice, dodgy knee and all, dragged the Gunners kicking and screaming to a 3-2 win over Bournemouth. Two goals, both from inside the box, both absolutely crucial. The lad missed the Aston Villa game with a swollen knee, but there he was, scoring twice like he'd just come back from a spa weekend.
Gabriel's horror show turned hero act
Let's not pretend this was pretty. Gabriel – yes, that Gabriel, the one Arsenal fans worship – gifted Evanilson the easiest goal of his career after just 10 minutes. A casual pass across his own goal that made everyone watching wince. Paul Merson called the first half "one of the worst I've seen Arsenal have." He wasn't wrong.
But here's the thing about this Arsenal side: they don't panic. Gabriel made amends six minutes later, bundling home after a Noni Madueke run that had the Bournemouth defence doing the Macarena. Then Mikel Arteta did whatever dark magic he does at half-time, and Rice took over.
Martin Odegaard, looking more like his old self by the week, threaded two gorgeous passes that Rice converted with the composure of a man who knows exactly what this season means. The skipper's been instrumental lately, and Saturday proved why Arsenal paid all that money to bring him from West Ham.
Junior Kroupi's late screamer made the final minutes uncomfortable – because Arsenal can never do things the easy way – but six points clear at the top heading into Sunday's City-Chelsea clash? That's a proper statement.
Wolves finally win – and it only took 20 games
Right, let's talk about the elephant in the room at Molineux. Twenty matches. TWENTY. That's how long Wolves waited for a Premier League win this season. It's a record. Not the good kind.
But on Saturday, Rob Edwards' men demolished West Ham 3-0 in a first-half blitz that had the home fans in tears of joy and the away end chanting about their own relegation. You couldn't make it up.
Jhon Arias opened his Wolves account after four minutes. Hwang Hee-chan converted a penalty on 31 minutes. Then 18-year-old Mateus Mane – remember that name – absolutely leathered one in from distance for his first Premier League goal. The kid's been impressive for weeks, and Edwards described him as someone they "have to look after." At 18 years and 109 days, he became Wolves' youngest ever Premier League scorer.
"We have been improving and progressing, and you saw that today," Edwards said post-match. "It was a complete performance. Big credit to the supporters – that was for them today."
As for Nuno Espirito Santo? Nine games without a win at West Ham. The fans booing their own players. Away supporters singing Nuno's name at his old stomping ground – but not in affection. It's ugly at the London Stadium, and it's getting uglier by the week.
Villa bounce back in style
After getting battered 4-1 by Arsenal on Tuesday, Aston Villa could've crumbled. Instead, they went out and put three past a wretched Nottingham Forest side who look like they've forgotten how to win.
Ollie Watkins celebrated his 250th Villa appearance with a goal – a stunning first-time finish into the top corner just before half-time that had Villa Park bouncing. Then John McGinn, dropped for the Arsenal defeat, scored twice to complete only the second brace of his entire Villa career. Both braces, bizarrely, have come against Forest.
That's 11 straight home wins for Villa now – a club record equalling streak dating back to 1990. They're back up to second, three points behind Arsenal and looking every bit like genuine title contenders.
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo – wait, different Nuno, but equally troubled – watched his side slump to a fourth consecutive defeat. The Reds are now just four points above the relegation zone. From second place in November to this. Football, eh?
Brighton end the drought, Burnley hit rock bottom
Brighton hadn't won in six matches. Burnley hadn't won in 11. Something had to give.
Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari did the damage at the Amex, both finding the net in a controlled 2-0 victory that moves the Seagulls up to eighth. Ayari's goal – a cool finish after capitalising on a horrific square ball from Burnley's Lesley Ugochukwu – summed up the Clarets' season.
Scott Parker's Burnley are now on the longest current winless run in the Premier League. Eleven games since October 18th. With Wolves finally getting off the mark, that unwanted title is all theirs.
What it all means
Arsenal lead by six. City face Chelsea on Sunday. Villa and Brighton are climbing. Wolves have hope. Burnley and West Ham are in deep trouble. Forest are sliding.
And somewhere in Birmingham, a 43-year-old named Rob Edwards finally allowed himself to smile. "With 30 seconds to go," he admitted, "I started allowing myself the chance to enjoy it."
After 20 games, you'd think so, Rob. You'd think so.
