Thoughts and analysis from telling weekend of Premier League football

theScore examines the most important developments and biggest talking points from the weekend's slate of action in England's top flight.

Arsenal pass season's biggest test

At no point during Sunday's blockbuster against Manchester United did Arsenal look satisfied with a single point. They had sensed the occasion, picked up the energy of the 60,000-plus in attendance at the Emirates, and knew a win would not only restore their five-point lead atop the Premier League table but once again make clear to the chasing pack they're gunning for the title.

The opposite was true for United, who certainly seemed happy enough with a 2-2 draw, especially in the final 20 minutes when manager Erik ten Hag substituted right-winger Antony for defensive midfielder Fred. United essentially challenged Arsenal to throw whatever they had at them, and the hosts obliged. They completely dominated United in those final minutes, hoarding 75% of the ball while firing eight shots to the Red Devils' solitary attempt on goal. The Gunners had 29 touches in United's penalty area, where they buzzed around with boundless energy. United, meanwhile, managed just one. Eddie Nketiah's goal in the 90th minute was just reward for a bold performance that underlined Arsenal's title credentials.

Results vs. top-six sides

While victory may have seemed like the most likely conclusion to the game, Arsenal certainly had to fight for it. Without a doubt, Sunday's bonanza was their most challenging test of the season. The Gunners had only lost once before in the 2022-23 campaign - against United at Old Trafford in a game they controlled in similar fashion - and fell behind again Sunday.

They required an extra level here. United quite literally put their bodies on the line, with defenders Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka lunging into tackles in their own penalty area. David De Gea denied Nketiah from point-blank range. United's perseverance - their ability to stay in matches until they can strike themselves - is their best quality. They nearly weathered this storm. Arsenal really had to work to beat them.

That's perhaps the greatest takeaway from Arsenal's record-breaking start to the season: They've earned everything. They're not just benefitting from Manchester City's recent slip in form or Liverpool and Chelsea's struggles, but also setting their own standard of excellence. Mikel Arteta's side enters every game with the intention of winning and plays as if convinced it will, no matter how much time's left on the clock. That's how it felt Sunday. With clear hearts and minds, without any panic in their eyes, how could they lose?

Rashford's focus is razor-sharp

After a year and a half of professional struggles, Marcus Rashford is quite clearly in the right headspace. He scored his ninth goal in his last nine matches Sunday, and he celebrated at the Emirates as he had the others, pointing to his head with the calmness of a cold-blooded assassin.

Rashford openly spoke about the mental challenges he faced during the 2021-22 season. The adulation he received while campaigning against child hunger had long gone, and when his performances began to drop, critics used it against him, claiming his humanitarian work had become a distraction. The energy around United was toxic, and the fans insulted him as he traveled to and from matches.

Then, something changed. Ten Hag made it clear Rashford was a part of his plans, ruling out a potential transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. The 25-year-old's social work also shrunk - at least from public view. Now, he's letting his football speak for itself.

"It looks like Marcus is in a much better place in his head, and the big thing, for me, is that during COVID, he did so much campaigning work and got involved with a lot of stuff off the pitch," Wayne Rooney, United's record goalscorer, wrote in The Times in December. "His achievements were incredible, but I think it might have been a bit too much for him. Rather than being able to just focus on his football, there was a lot on his plate, whereas what we’ve seen this season is very much a focus on football first rather than anything else."

Rashford has invested most of his emotional energy in hitting the back of the net - and that's not necessarily a slight on the work he did during the pandemic. He's just now finding a balance that works for him, and that's something worth celebrating.

The Haaland debate lasts a few days

The theory wasn't shouted from the rooftops. It was said in hushed tones. Was Erling Haaland, despite all of his goals, actually detrimental to Manchester City's game plan? Were City better off with a false nine rather than a true No. 9?

The whispers became audible after Pep Guardiola's side lost back-to-back matches, with the latter fixture - last weekend's 2-1 loss at Manchester United - featuring just two key passes from City's midfielders and attackers. Haaland was anonymous for most of the game.

Comparisons were made between Haaland and supremely talented footballers past and present, but they weren't intended to be kind. Some pessimistic City supporters referred to names from the club's history who were the right players at the wrong time - like Rodney Marsh and Georgi Kinkladze. Some also cited Zlatan Ibrahimovic's ill-fated spell in Guardiola's fluid Barcelona attack.

And then, days after scoring in City's 4-2 comeback win over Tottenham Hotspur, Haaland surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo and matched Mohamed Salah with the fourth Premier League hat-trick of his career in Sunday's 3-0 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers. He's only played 19 matches in England's top flight.

Any life in that ludicrous argument must be eliminated. How could a striker with 25 goals over 19 Premier League appearances - and another five goals across four Champions League group-stage outings - not complement a team? City have scored two more league goals than at the same stage of last season. Kevin De Bruyne is relishing having a target man ahead of him; the Belgian playmaker has raced to 16 assists, with seven of those setting up Haaland finishes. Each of Riyad Mahrez's three Premier League assists since New Year's Eve has resulted in Haaland goals.

The wayward theory also indicated Haaland is a static, penalty-box striker who contributes little else. He's undoubtedly a poacher, but he's willing to drop and release his teammates and will continue to improve this side of his game while he works under Guardiola. He's level with Alexis Mac Allister and one shy of Miguel Almiron in key passes with 16, which is a strong return for a striker who's so economical with his touches.

A Haaland off day is rare, and when it occurs, it doesn't necessarily represent a wider issue - especially when he's on course to break a stream of scoring records this season.

"When he played and scored - I don't know (how) many goals - he is the solution and everything of the team. And when he does not score, he is the problem in our team," Guardiola said of those who criticize Haaland's role at City.

Newcastle need another striker

Newcastle United accomplished several things Saturday. They set a new top-flight club record with their 15th consecutive match without a defeat and collected a sixth straight clean sheet in the Premier League. On an individual level, goalkeeper Nick Pope extended his shutout streak to 812 minutes. Newcastle also gained a place, moving to third in the Premier League standings. But they couldn't beat 12th-placed Crystal Palace. When Newcastle's staff and players went to applaud their boisterous fans, they knew they hadn't accomplished the one thing they'd expected to do.

Their visible disappointment speaks to their rapid growth over the last 12 months. They conceded more goals in December 2021 alone than they have in the entire 2022-23 Premier League campaign, and they're on course to reach the Champions League for the first time in nearly 20 years. Eddie Howe's done a magnificent job changing the mentality of a team that stared at the genuine threat of relegation at this point last season. The turnaround has been amazing.

But it must keep going. Newcastle have created an incredible opportunity for themselves. They know that, and that's why they were so disappointed with the goalless draw at Selhurst Park. They've scored just once in their last four Premier League matches. If the Magpies can't find any regularity in front of goal, they could just as easily slip out of the top four in the next few weeks. A strong defense will only take them so far.

As of now, Howe's attacking options are slim. While Alexander Isak is talented, he's still raw. Callum Wilson is experienced but not nearly prolific enough for a team with Champions League aspirations. Almiron couldn't possibly continue to score every week. Chris Wood's departure also leaves Newcastle without depth.

It's clear they need someone to take the pressure off Isak and allow Wilson to provide that depth. Maybe that player is Marcus Thuram, who already has a friendship with Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin, or Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who'd offer cross-happy Kieran Trippier a reliable target in the penalty area. Whatever the club decides, it needs someone who can do a job now. It doesn't need a Championship prospect or South American prodigy who may or may not amount to anything in the future.

Leicester are at least competitive again

Though defending remains a glaring issue and individual errors continue to prove costly, Leicester City are showing signs they're up for the fight against relegation.

Their performance in Saturday's 2-2 draw with high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion was positive overall. After conceding the opening goal, Brendan Rodgers' side played with spirit and confidence on the counterattack, which had up until recently lost both its pace and potency. Jamie Vardy ran tirelessly after the ball, and Harvey Barnes, once considered worth as much as £50 million, scored for what seemed like the first time in ages. Even Marc Albrighton offered relief off the bench, prodding home a scrappy equalizer in the first half.

The Foxes just looked up for the occasion. That's a win in and of itself. Rodgers openly questioned his players' commitment after Leicester's Boxing Day defeat to Newcastle United. If he intended to stir a reaction, it failed. Leicester racked up further losses against Liverpool, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest to drop back into the relegation conversation.

Few believed they could contain a Brighton side that sliced Liverpool apart a week ago. So, it was quite clearly a blessing to see this team play with fire and intensity Saturday. Even if Leicester couldn't pull off the win - Evan Ferguson, Brighton's 18-year-old scoring revelation, leveled late on - the club still managed to earn a point from a losing position for the first time this season.

"What we had today was a real spirit and a mentality," Rodgers told the BBC. "I think the supporters would have seen that, so in terms of that side and that aspect, we put a marker down for the rest of the season in terms of what we have to do in terms of our fight and mentality."

Leicester will have to double down on the commitment they showed Saturday if they want to take anything from their next three home matches. Tottenham, Arsenal, and Chelsea are all on deck. At least they'll enter those games feeling slightly better about themselves. At this stage, little victories count.

Differing approaches to a rebuild

There's not much to say about Saturday's 0-0 draw at Anfield. Two teams earning a point apiece for such a monotonous match sometimes feels too generous.

The most interesting takeaway from Liverpool and Chelsea's meeting was to compare their work off the pitch. It's abundantly clear that both clubs need a refresh or an entire rebuild, and they're entering their respective new eras very differently.

Chelsea are barging their way into the next chapter, knocking over lamps and shattering vases. Since Todd Boehly's consortium took over the west Londoners last May, the club has spent well over £430 million on new players, including various clauses tied into the deals. Long-term contracts have been handed out to new arrivals, while other players are unceremoniously shunted down the pecking order. It's hard to envision significant roles for some players out on loan like Romelu Lukaku, Callum Hudson-Odoi, and Ian Maatsen, or even the likes of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, and Trevoh Chalobah once next season kicks off.

Boehly is going all-in, putting Graham Potter's man-management skills to the test as the tactician tries to keep his bloated squad happy.

Liverpool are more careful. Or, if you listen to their skeptical supporters, they are ruinously tentative. The acquisition of Cody Gakpo for an initial £37-million fee is good business, but it doesn't address the area in most desperate need of recruitment.

The midfield is a problem and was notably outnumbered during the first half against Chelsea. Liverpool's links with Jude Bellingham persist, and his presence would lift the whole squad. However, leaving that deal to the summer gives rivals more time to woo the midfielder and construct an appealing offer for Borussia Dortmund. The reported interest in Mason Mount has led to fears that the Reds are identifying alternatives should the Bellingham pursuit fail.

But the biggest questions are in the boardroom and dugout. Liverpool's future is up in the air while Fenway Sports Group is open to selling shares - and perhaps a controlling stake - in the club. Jurgen Klopp appears drained 1,000 games into his managerial career. Those issues may need to be solved before Liverpool can truly move forward.

Quick free-kicks

Signings don't have to be sexy

Craig Dawson's transfer to Wolves isn't going to turn many heads. It apparently cost them around £3.3 million to sign the former non-league footballer from West Ham United on Sunday. But all first-team moves should be assessed by three criteria: whether the team needed a player with that profile, whether it makes sense from a financial perspective, and simply whether the player is good enough. It's three-out-of-three for Wolves, and their low-risk arrival could be crucial in their fight against relegation. Examples of similarly sensible deals struck last summer include Brentford's free signing of Ben Mee - who, once again, was excellent in the Bees' 0-0 draw at Leeds United - and Newcastle's £10-million acquisition of Pope. The Premier League is the most lavish competition on the globe, but there are still bargains to be had. The clubs without limitless reserves of cash - anyone not named Manchester City, Chelsea, or Newcastle, really - should take note.

Things could get bleaker for Everton

Everton are a mess. While the team trundled toward its sixth defeat in seven games at West Ham United, the civil war continued as away supporters used chants and banners to express their discontent with the board. Even if someone is brought in to replace Frank Lampard in the coming days, it appears things will have to get worse before they get better as Arsenal and Liverpool await the Toffees over the next two Premier League matchdays. The boardroom seems reluctant to use the January transfer window to bring in players who could make a difference, and the fans' anger seems to hack away at the team's confidence. Arnaut Danjuma, who'll arrive on loan after losing his place in the Villarreal lineup, is wildly inconsistent, and Ellis Simms has only played around 20 minutes since he was recalled from his temporary stay with Sunderland. The Championship is beckoning.

Brighton finally have a No. 9?

Praising Brighton's style of play but ruing their lack of a cutting edge up front was a near-weekly occurrence. It felt cliched. But now, the answer may have come from an unlikely source. Eighteen-year-old Ferguson was being lined up for a loan move in the January transfer window, but he's since erupted with three goals in four Premier League outings. The Seagulls have tried and failed to find a reliable finisher in the past. Jurgen Locadia, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Florin Andone, and Neal Maupay have come and gone, while Aaron Connolly may never realize his potential. Ferguson, who was signed from Irish club Bohemians two years ago, has made a strong case to be their immovable No. 9 with his well-rounded game, which belies his tender years. His header to equalize at Leicester was emphatic.

Forest quietly moving away from bottom 3

Nottingham Forest were below their best at Bournemouth - a team the East Midlands outfit has beaten just twice over their last 12 league meetings - and were missing goalkeeper Dean Henderson after he suffered a thigh injury during their previous outing against Leicester. Still, Steve Cooper was unsatisfied after Sam Surridge's late equalizer in the 1-1 draw. "A point was the least we deserved," Cooper told the Nottingham Post's Sarah Clapson. Perhaps the Tricky Trees are recalibrating their expectations. Following Sunday's results, Forest have collected the third-most points (eight) in the Premier League in 2023. Many people mocked the promoted club's frenzied activity during the summer transfer window. But, with record signing Morgan Gibbs-White as its talisman, things may be starting to gel under Cooper. There are now four teams and four points between Forest and the drop zone.

Stat of the weekend

The Premier League is in its 31st season, and we might be witnessing the deadliest marksman to ever grace the competition.

Tweet of the weekend

Nostalgia went into overdrive as Arsenal and Manchester United revived memories of their battles from around the turn of the century.