Top of the table: Premier League supremacy for Arsenal

It has been since December 13th, 2013 that Arsenal has held a five-point lead at top of the Premier League standings.

As a result of Brentford’s 2-1 home victory over Manchester City this afternoon, Arsenal will spend Christmas Day at the top of the Premier League standings.

When the Bees visited the Etihad, the champions, who had won their last 11 home league games and hadn’t lost a Premier League match in front of their own supporters since February, had the opportunity to temporarily overtake Mikel Arteta’s team. Brentford managed to defeat Man City for the first time on the road since 1937 thanks to a brace from Ivan Toney, including the game-winning goal in the 98th minute.

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After this weekend, Premier League play won’t resume until December 26, leaving Arsenal still two points ahead of Man City in the final gameweek before the World Cup break. Therefore, regardless of what happens against Wolverhampton Wanderers later on Saturday, the Gunners will be in first place on Christmas Day. With a win in that game, they could pull five points ahead of their closest rivals. Despite the fact that Arsenal has not led the Premier League at Christmas since the 2007–08 season, they have proven this year that they are truly title contenders by dropping just five points out of a possible 39.

The North Londoners have been in first place at Christmas for the last five seasons, dating all the way back to 1947–48, but they have failed to go on to win the championship in any of those years.