It was a harrowing night for fans of the two prominent North London clubs, Arsenal and Tottenham, but the former would feel more pain.

Arsenal had the chance to move back to the top of the table after Liverpool beat Burnley to usurp the Gunners, and, with West Ham visiting the Emirates, Arsenal was expected to do a number on them to regain the top spot.

A little earlier on the night, Tottenham went to the Amex to fight out three points with Brighton, but the hosts had other ideas. It was a battle of two injury-ravaged sides; both managed to field eleven players each with a very thin bench.

Tottenham fans who monitored the game online would not believe their eyes as Brighton raced to a 4-0 lead. Two Joao Pedro penalties and two other well-taken goals saw Ange Postecoglou fuming on the touchline even as Brighton threatened to make it worse for them.

Spurs clawed things back a little bit with two goals, but it was too late for them to get a point. The win helped Brighton stay just three points away from the top six, while it denied Tottenham the chance to move into the top four.

Arsenal had just one job: to beat Westham and regain the lead. West Ham stayed compact in the face of pressure, and with Declan Rice in the middle of the park, Arsenal had someone who knows how West Ham sets up for a game like this.

Arsenal dominated the early exchanges; however, it was West Ham that scored the opener against the run of play. There’s a bit of controversy over West Ham’s first goal. The ball appeared to have gone out before Jarrod Bowen cut back for Soucek to stab home, but VAR couldn’t ascertain that, and the goal stood.

Bukayo Saka struck the woodwork, Gabriel Jesus had a penalty shout turned down, and Gabriel Martinelli shot wide all after West Ham scored.

The second half was largely dominated by Arsenal, but the Gunners failed to put the ball in the back of the net. Old boy Mavropanos scored from a James Ward Prowse corner to make it 2-0. It could have been worse for the hosts, but David Raya saved Said Benrahma’s penalty at the death.

Up next for the Gunners is a trip to Fulham to round off the festive rush of games, while Tottenham will be home to high-flying Bournemouth.