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Arsenal serve cold vengeance on Sunderland, Chelsea's 'hat-trick king' Palmer ruthlessly kills Wolves
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Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 07.02.26. | 20:03
Zubimendi and Gyokeres smashed the Black Cats (3-0), while the Blues' #10 single-handedly dismantled the relegation-strugglers (3-1)
No problem for Londoners! Either North or South London teams, it makes no difference, as both Arsenal and Chelsea were successful in their Premier League clashes today.
The table-toppers served a cold vengeance on Sunderland, brushing them aside 3-0 thanks to Martin Zubimendi’s opener and Viktor Gyokeres' brace, and gave a new task to Manchester City, who will have to respond tomorrow against Liverpool.
🏆 FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland.
— Tactics HUB (@TacticsHUB) February 7, 2026
With a nine-point lead over Manchester City, the Premier League title is now undeniably in their hands. No one looks capable of stopping them. 🔴⚪️#ARSSUN pic.twitter.com/vT5vpppD0t
On the other hand, Chelsea demolished the bottom-placed Wolverhampton, earning a 3-0 lead already after the opening 45 minutes, while Cole Palmer bagged his third first-half EPL hat-trick, becoming the first player with such an accomplishment.
After the break, the Wolves responded through Tolu Arokodare’s goal, but it was a small comfort for a team that’s slowly but surely getting ready for life in the Championship.
Cole Palmer moves up to eighth in our top #PL goalscorers list. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/87vV4eeqBI
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 7, 2026
Most of the first half of the duel at Emirates Stadium reminded everyone of the clash from three months ago at the Stadium of Light when Sunderland salvaged a 2-2 draw. The match was pretty physical, with little creativity and few interesting moments.
Sunderland mainly threatened after set pieces, and after one long-range free kick, and David Raya's poor reaction in the eighth minute, Brian Brobbey was close to breaking the deadlock, but Kai Havertz made a terrific goal-line clearance.
The Gunners didn't play their well-known pressing on the rivals' defensive line, leaving the Black Cats too much room to organize their attacks.
As the break approached, the home team took control, but apart from Declan Rice and Havertz's dangerous long-range efforts, they failed to create a notable chance.
However, ultimately, one ball sneaked into the visitors' net in the 42nd minute, when Martin Zubimendi perfectly found the bottom-right corner of Robin Roefs' goal from the edge of the box, putting Arsenal in front in the nick of time.
That’s 9 goal involvements for Arsenal in all competitions for Martin Zubimendi (6 goals, 3 assists) in 33 games. That’s more than his last 2 seasons at Sociedad combined.
— Mo J (@MoStaySharrp) February 7, 2026
There’s a reason he waited a year to join Arsenal. Arteta had a vision for him.#AFC pic.twitter.com/98GWuhsTet
Although they had the lead, the game was by no means over. Still, Mikel Arteta's men pulled back too much, allowing Sunderland to weave a web around their box. The Spaniard reacted with a double sub after an hour, subbing on Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres, and the Swede repaid his manager's trust in the 66th minute, doubling the Gunners' lead and paving their way towards another triumph!
That goal completely anaesthetized the Black Cats and disheartened them, as they barely even tried to threaten the North London crew and score at least a consolation goal. Arsenal didn't let that happen and even scored the third goal, again through Gyokeres in added time. After a new clean-sheet win, they have a nine-point advantage over Manchester City, who face Liverpool tomorrow (19.30) in a derby duel.
On the other hand, Chelsea expectedly had significantly fewer troubles against the bottom-placed Wolverhampton than their northern neighbours. Better said, the Wolves decided to beat themselves, conceding two penalty kicks in the 13th and 35th minutes, which Cole Palmer sent home, sealing the deal for the Blues early in the game.
Nevertheless, that wasn't the end of the Englishman's show, as he completed a hat-trick in the 38th minute, proving that he was slowly but surely getting back into his recognizable form.
3 - Cole Palmer is the first player in Premier League history to score three hat-tricks in the first half of a match (also vs Everton and Brighton). Ice. pic.twitter.com/lDHS4SGLq6
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 7, 2026
Naturally, the Blues took their foot off the gas after earning a comfortable lead in the first period, which the home crew exploited to reduce the gap over the Nigerian Tolu Arokodare in the 54th minute. At the hour mark, Liam Rosenior subbed off Chelsea's hero Palmer and replaced him with Alejandro Garnacho.
The Blues boss exploited a comfortable situation to give some rest to several key players, as they play their next game in just three days against Leeds at home (22.30). Chelsea are still only a point behind Manchester United, as the race for the Champions League is far from over. Every point won can be crucial.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 25
Friday
Leeds - Nottingham Forest 3-1 (2-0)
/Bogle 26, Okafor 30, Calvert-Lewin 49 - Lucca 86/
Saturday
Man.Utd. - Tottenham 2-0 (1-0)
/Mbeumo 38, Fernandes 80/
Arsenal - Sunderland 3-0 (1-0)
/Zubimendi 42, Gyokeres 66, 90+3/
Bournemouth - Aston Villa 1-1 (0-1)
/Rayan 55 - Rogers 22/
Burnley - West Ham 0-2 (0-2)
/Summerville 13, Castellanos 26/
Fulham - Everton 1-2 (1-0)
/Mykolenko 18 og - Dewsbury-Hall 76, Leno 83 og/
Wolverhampton - Chelsea 1-3 (0-3)
/Arokodare 54 - Palmer 13 pen, 35 pen, 38/
20.30: (2.15) Newcastle (3.50) Brentford (3.60)
Sunday
17.00: (2.00) Brighton (3.60) Crystal Palace (4.10)
19.30: (2.35) Liverpool (3.80) Man.City (2.95)
***odds are subject to change***
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