Barely a week after the World Cup final was played, the self-proclaimed best League in the world returned with a feast of Boxing Day fixtures that produced a 25 goals, and left a couple of managers in search of a holiday miracle.

League leaders Arsenal continued where they left off 40 days ago with a 3-1 win over West Ham. The win meant that Mikel Arteta’s men extended their lead to seven points although the Gunners did trail at half-time before second half goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah secured all three points.

“Once we got one, we could all feel the atmosphere in the stadium,” said Nketiah.

“There is that real unity and connection with the fans.”

Arsenal lie seventh points clear of second-placed Newcastle, but Pep Guardiola’s City, who are in third, can claw the deficit back to five points with victory at Leeds on Wednesday.

With City not playing until Wednesday, Newcastle moved a point above the Premier League champions into second place with an impressive win at Leicester.

The Magpies dominated and went 3-0 up with only 32 minutes on the clock. A Chris Wood penalty, plus goals from Miguel Almiron and Joelinton, made it a Boxing Day to savour for the travelling fans.

The Newcastle supporters were heard chanting “we’re gonna win the league” but does manager Eddie Howe think the same?

“We can do anything,” said Howe. “The season is still young enough for all possibilities to exist for us.”

The defeat, and the nature of it, will heap even more pressure on Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers. Another manager under heavy pressure is Frank Lampard.

Lampard said Everton “deserved” to win against Wolves but the fact remains the Toffees are firmly in the relegation fight once again following their disappointing defeat.

Former West Ham striker Carton Cole said on Final Score:

“I kind of feel sorry for [Lampard] because he knows what he wants from his team.

“But he needs to brush up and get a bit more stability in midfield – then they can start scoring more goals. Once they do create – which is once in a blue moon – they don’t put it in the goal. That’s where you need a ruthless striker.”

There are managers still trying to find their feet with their new clubs in the Premier League and the Boxing Day fixtures brought up differing results for Julen Lopetegui, Nathan Jones and Unai Emery.

Lopetegui got off to a dream start after Rayan Ait-Nouri scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Wolves came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park.

The victory for the Spanish boss lifted his side off the bottom of the table and into 18th place, one point behind Frank Lampard’s Toffees.

While Lopetegui soaked up the adulation from the away fans, Southampton boss Nathan Jones, taking charge at St Mary’s Stadium for the first time in the Premier League, had to suffer boos from the home supporters after his Saints were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Brighton in a local derby.

The relegation scrap has become even harder for Jones as his side now prop up the league table following Wolves’ victory.

Aston Villa failed to bring Christmas cheer to Villa Park as Emery experienced his first league defeat as Villa manager after Liverpool picked up a 3-1 away victory.

Brentford and Tottenham had set the tone for the day with a four-goal thriller in the early kick-off.

Vitaly Janelt and Ivan Toney put the Bees on course for a first win over Spurs since 1948 before Harry Kane launched the fightback in his first match since missing a penalty in England’s 2-1 defeat by France in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made it 2-2 with a curling finish – and neither side was able to find a winner, with Kane heading a chance against the crossbar.

“What a game to reopen the Premier League with,” said Brentford boss Thomas Frank, while Spurs boss Antonio Conte added: “It was an exciting game.”