Rice Rescues, Reed Stuns | Football Digest

Opening Note

The first weekend of 2026 delivered exactly what we've come to expect from this Premier League season: chaos in injury time. Harrison Reed's 97th-minute thunderbolt at Craven Cottage and Enzo Fernández's late equaliser at the Etihad ensured Arsenal's trip to Bournemouth — though nervy in itself — looks even more significant. Declan Rice's double means the Gunners enter Thursday's blockbuster against Liverpool with a six-point cushion at the top.

📊 WEEKEND STAT

1st ever brace in 296 Premier League appearances

Declan Rice finally registered his first-ever Premier League brace, decisive goals that hauled Arsenal to victory at Bournemouth. He's now scored more goals against the Cherries (5 in 12 games) than against any other top-flight opponent — as reported by the Premier League.

The England midfielder was a genuine doubt after missing the Aston Villa hammering with a swollen knee, but Mikel Arteta gambled on his fitness and was handsomely rewarded. Rice's two almost identical side-footed finishes — the first set up by Viktor Gyökeres' hold-up play, the second by Bukayo Saka's mazy run — transformed what had been a stuttering Arsenal performance at the Vitality Stadium. Gabriel Magalhães had gifted Evanilson the opener with a woeful pass, then atoned within six minutes by hammering in the equaliser. Eli Junior Kroupi's stunning 76th-minute strike from 25 yards made for a nervy finale, but Arsenal's defensive resilience held firm. "The manner that he competed, played and scored two goals was a really big message for the team," Arteta noted of Rice as reported by Sky Sports.

When Enzo Maresca left Chelsea on New Year's Day, few expected the Blues to travel to the Etihad and snatch anything from title-chasing Manchester City. Yet under the interim stewardship of U21s coach Calum McFarlane, Chelsea displayed the resilience that had been absent during their one-win-in-seven slump. Tijjani Reijnders' first-half strike looked set to seal three points for City, but Fernández pounced on Malo Gusto's late drive to rescue an improbable point in the 94th minute. The result leaves City six points behind Arsenal after back-to-back draws, their xG of 3.23 across both matches yielding just one goal. Liam Rosenior, currently at Strasbourg, is expected to be named Maresca's replacement imminently as reported by ESPN.

Harrison Reed's name will be remembered at Craven Cottage for years to come. With Liverpool celebrating Cody Gakpo's bundled finish in the 94th minute — the Dutchman wheeling away, shirt above his head — the match appeared won. Three minutes later, Reed collected a pass from substitute Kevin and unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard strike into the top corner, sending the home fans into raptures. Earlier, Harry Wilson had given Fulham the lead before Florian Wirtz's VAR-confirmed equaliser, but this was Reed's afternoon. "What a moment from Reed. Incredible, what a strike. Total inspiration," said Marco Silva. Liverpool remain fourth but this was another concerning display — their fourth league match in succession without a victory as reported by Sky Sports.

Aston Villa responded to their Arsenal drubbing with characteristic determination, dispatching a woeful Nottingham Forest 3-1 at Villa Park. Ollie Watkins marked his 250th Villa appearance with a stunning 20-yard strike just before half-time, before John McGinn took centre stage with a brace — including a gift from goalkeeper John Victor, who rushed off his line and was rounded with ease. Morgan Gibbs-White's delicate chip offered brief hope for Forest, but it proved merely a consolation. Villa have now won 11 consecutive home games in all competitions, their best run at Villa Park since 1990. Forest, meanwhile, have slumped to four straight defeats and sit perilously close to the relegation zone — a remarkable fall from third place in April as reported by NBC Sports.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' 3-0 demolition of West Ham at Molineux was a statement of intent from Rob Edwards' side. The Hammers, who sacked Graham Potter in September, are finding life no easier under Nuno Espírito Santo and were thoroughly outclassed. Wolves remain in a precarious position themselves, but the victory provided vital breathing room. Elsewhere, Brighton eased past Burnley 2-0, while the weekend's other results tightened the congestion in mid-table. With Forest, West Ham, and Wolves all fighting for survival, January's fixtures could prove decisive — none more so than Tuesday's Forest vs West Ham clash, live on Sky Sports.

Manchester City's move for Antoine Semenyo is in the final stages, with a verbal agreement already in place around the £65m release clause (active until January 10). West Ham have been the busiest Premier League club, confirming the signing of Brazilian striker Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente (£20m) and closing in on Taty Castellanos from Lazio (£25m) — a £45m double-striker investment to aid their relegation battle. João Cancelo's Saudi adventure is over after just 18 months; Inter are pushing hardest, though Barcelona and Juventus have also enquired. Manor Solomon has joined Fiorentina on loan with a €10m purchase option after limited game time at Villarreal.

Maresca's Messy Exit Raises Questions About Chelsea's Model

The fifth managerial departure under BlueCo ownership — following Tuchel, Potter, Lampard (interim), and Pochettino — has renewed scrutiny of Chelsea's approach. Maresca won the Conference League and Club World Cup, secured Champions League qualification, and was named November's Manager of the Month. Yet a breakdown in relations with the hierarchy, disagreements with the medical department, and alleged conversations with Manchester City about a future role combined to make his position "untenable," per sources. The club's statement avoided the word "sacked," and a legal dispute over Maresca's payoff reportedly continues. Liam Rosenior, whose Strasbourg side compete in Ligue 1, represents a continuation of BlueCo's philosophy: young, tactically progressive coaches willing to develop expensive prospects. Whether he can survive longer than his predecessors remains to be seen as reported by The Athletic.

La Liga Returns: Barcelona Seven Clear, Real Madrid Hit Five — Barcelona kicked off 2026 with a gritty 2-0 derby win at Espanyol (Olmo 86', Lewandowski 90') to extend their league lead to seven points. Real Madrid responded emphatically, hammering Real Betis 5-1 at the Bernabéu despite Kylian Mbappé's three-week knee injury. Gonzalo García's hat-trick stole the headlines, with Vinícius Jr involved in all five goals — ESPN.

Serie A: Milan Lead, Inter Win, Napoli Stay in Touch — AC Milan sit top of Serie A after 18 games (38 points), with Inter (36 points) beating Bologna 3-1 on Sunday. Napoli earned a comfortable 2-0 win at Lazio (Rrahmani, Hojlund) to stay within touching distance at 34 points. The title race remains fascinatingly tight — Sky Sports.

AFCON Round of 16: Morocco, Senegal, Mali Through — The knockout stages continue in Morocco. Hosts Morocco cruised past Tanzania, Senegal dispatched Sudan 3-1, and Mali edged Tunisia on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Monday's matches see Egypt face Benin and Nigeria take on Mozambique. Quarter-finals begin January 9 — ESPN.

Bournemouth's Winless Run Extends to 11 — Despite scoring twice against Arsenal, the Cherries have now gone 11 Premier League matches without a victory. Andoni Iraola's side remain nine points clear of the relegation zone but their slide has been alarming — BBC Sport.

Forest vs West Ham: Relegation Six-Pointer — Tuesday's clash at the City Ground pits two struggling sides against each other. Forest have lost four straight; West Ham five. Whoever loses may find the January window unforgivingly expensive — Sky Sports.

Semenyo Plays Despite Imminent City Move — The Bournemouth winger completed 90 minutes against Arsenal on Saturday, a remarkable show of professionalism given his £65m move to Manchester City is expected to be confirmed this week — Sky Sports.

Closing Note

Thursday's Arsenal vs Liverpool showdown looms large — a clash between a side that cannot stop winning and one that cannot find the net. The Gunners haven't beaten Liverpool at the Emirates in the league since 2020, but Slot's creaky visitors look there for the taking. Meanwhile, AFCON's quarter-finals kick off this week with Morocco vs Cameroon a tantalising prospect. Until Wednesday's Midweek Spotlight, enjoy the chaos of the relegation dogfight — Forest vs West Ham on Tuesday is essential viewing for anyone who enjoys stress.

See you Wednesday for the Midweek Spotlight — full Champions League and Europa League coverage.

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