Scott McTominay rescues Man United at Old Trafford, Kai Havertz’s goal scoring form continues and James Ward-Prowse strengthens his claim for an England spot – but who takes top spot in this week’s POWER RANKINGS?

• Arsenal managed to hold onto their lead at the top of the table by beating Luton
• Everton dragged themselves out the bottom three with win over Newcastle 
• It will do Arsenal no harm at all to have Arteta out of sight at Villa Park – It’s All Kicking Off 

As we hurtle towards the festive period in the Premier League, the games continue to come thick and fast.

The most recent run of midweek fixtures have seen some seismic results at both ends of the table, with plenty of late drama, big challenges and a whopping 30 goals across all 10 games. 

Arsenal maintained their lead at the top with a 97th-minute winner over Luton, Tottenham made history in dropping points from a leading position again, and Aston Villa laid down their own title credentials by beating Manchester City. 

Everton managed to move themselves out of the bottom three despite that hefty 10-point deduction, while Sheffield United became the first side to pull the trigger, sacking Paul Heckingbottom in favour of former boss Chris Wilder. 

Here, Mail Sport takes you through our latest Power Rankings as we take a look at the most in-form players from across the Premier League.  

Declan Rice sealed a late win for Arsenal at Luton in a dramatice seven-goal thriller

Everton climbed out of the bottom three after their impressive 3-0 win at home to Newcastle

LAST WEEK’S TOP 10 RANKINGS

10. Luca Koleosho

9. Dominic Solanke

8. Ollie Watkins

7. Giovani Lo Celso

6. Erling Haaland

5. Enzo Fernandez

4. Mohamed Salah

3. Mohammed Kudus

2. Trent Alexander-Arnold

1. Anthony Gordon

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10. Mohammed Kudus (down seven)

In our last list the Ghanaian star was up in the top three, but such is the quality of the list this week that the ex-Ajax forward finds himself in 10th spot. 

Kudus was unable to get on the scoresheet this week, nor did he provide an assist for either of West Ham’s goals against Tottenham, but Kudus was still his normal thorny, slippery self through the middle of the park on Thursday night. 

On numerous occasions he was a threat to Ange Postecoglou’s trademark high line, his pace difficult for Spurs to match in the absence of speedster Micky van de Ven, and was able to drop deep and help get the Hammers out of a hole with regularity. 

He failed to add to his tally of five in all competitions against Tottenham, but proved how valuable he is to David Moyes’ side’s good fortunes nonetheless. 

9. James Ward-Prowse (new entry)

One man who was on target for the Hammers, though, was James Ward-Prowse, who gave the London club the lead after Jarrod Bowen’s opener earlier in the game. 

The England international proved once again that he is so much more than just a set-piece merchant, scoring into an open goal at the second attempt after fantastic work by Bowen to pounce on a defensive error.

James Ward-Prowse fired home the winner for the Hammers after his first effort hit the post

It was just reward for what was a fine performance by the central midfielder, who was the best player on the pitch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

He made two tackles and two interceptions as well as a clearance as he contributed to his side’s impressive defensive efforts, while also making five crosses and two accurate long balls as he helped his side move from one end of the pitch to the other. 

Continue like this, and it will become impossible for Ward-Prowse to be left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, especially with his rivals not playing.  

8. Kai Havertz (new entry)

There was a fair amount of scepticism aimed Arsenal’s way after splashing £60million on the Chelsea flop over the summer, and if his form in west London was anything to go by it was perhaps fair enough. 

After a shaky start at the Emirates, the German international looks to be hitting form for the Gunners at just the right time, cropping up with three important goals now in his last four appearances. 

Against Luton he oscillated brilliantly between a striker, central midfielder, and attacking midfielder, switching places with Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus like he had been playing with them for years rather than months. 

His striking instincts have been criticised, but he was in exactly the right place at the right time to equalise for Arsenal and make it 3-3, arriving late in the box like Gunners great Aaron Ramsey. 

He’s been quick to form a bond with the fans, too: ‘£60m down the drain, Kai Havertz scores again’ they sing affectionately whenever he hits the target, and it is a song north Londoners are getting very used to belting out these days. 

Kai Havertz continued his brilliant form with a third goal in four games in all competitions

7. Anthony Gordon (down six)

Last week’s pole-sitter is down to seven this time round after a goalless performance against Everton on Thursday night, his current side losing to his former in a surprising night at Goodison Park. 

It wasn’t quite the homecoming that he will have been hoping for, as he was dispossessed twice and struggled to make an impact at either end with just one shot on target. 

In the England youth star’s defence, he has played 90 minutes in all five of the Magpies recent Premier League games, as well as the trip to PSG in the Champions League as Eddie Howe’s side contend with numerous injuries. 

For a player who has been so in form, performances like his latest are only to be expected, but at least Howe will know that his star can bounce back – he’ll have the opportunity to do just that on Sunday when the Toon travel to struggling Tottenham.  

6. Leon Bailey (new entry)

Who else but Aston Villa’s goal scoring hero would make the list from that oh-so impressive performance at Villa Park on Wednesday night. 

The hosts absolutely out-classed Manchester City in a way that no team every has to Pep Guardiola, but the key to that historic result was the goal scorer Bailey. 

Yes, he got a big slice of luck after it cannoned in off Ruben Dias, but the Jamaican was constantly a thorn in City’s side. 

He managed three shots on target, two key passes, three dribbles, and ran the show in attack for a Villa side that closed down City with a ferocity in the attacking third that the champions simply couldn’t handle. 

Playing slightly deeper out wide in a 4-4-1-1 formation, Bailey adeptly exposed the holes on the left of City’s defence and created mayhem for the hosts, who duly made it 14 in a row. 

Leon Baily was Aston Villa’s most vibrant attacking threat against Manchester City and scored the only goal in the game

5. Gabriel Jesus (new entry)

The striker that doesn’t seem to score goals – nor does he think it’s his strong suit – has a weird way of showing it, netting his second in three games against Luton on Tuesday night. 

It’s true, the Brazilian has never been and out-and-out goal scorer, but that’s why he works in Arsenal’s system, coming deep to crowd out the midfield, and utilising his impressive dribbling and passing attributes to create space and chances for his team-mates. 

Against Luton in the first half Jesus was exceptional; swapping places with Havertz he was impossible to pin down, and he kept the ball brilliantly under the high ball against a physical Hatters back three, his interplay with Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard as strong as always. 

Jesus made his mark in the 45th minute, latching onto an inviting cross at the back post from Ben White, before standing his ground under the challenge of Teden Mengi to slip in Havertz to create the third goal. 

There is talk of Arsenal dipping into the transfer market, with Ivan Toney’s name floated consistently, but paying the way they are now, and in the style that they have been, Jesus seems the perfect choice for Arteta, bringing out the best in his team-mates as well as excelling himself.  

Gabriel Jesus scored and assisted in Arsenal’s 4-3 comeback win over Luton at Kenilworth Road

4. Alex Iwobi (new entry)

Nottingham Forest were very poor on Wednesday night, but take nothing away from the attacking play from Fulham, with two players in particular impressing most in west London. 

The first of the Cottagers duo, Iwobi, has now scored more goals this season than he ever managed in a single campaign with Everton, and the most since his Arsenal days in 2018-19. 

After struggling to make a name for himself at Goodison Park despite a strong run of form in 2022-23, a move to Fulham looks to be bringing the best out of the Nigerian international, who was at his vibrant best against a beleaguered Forest outfit. 

His first was a deceptively difficult yet coolly-taken side-foot on the half volley in front of Odysseas Vlachodimos’ goal, before ghosting in un-marked to finish from the centre of the box at the back post on the bounce. 

Iwobi is at his best when playing with confidence, and with Fulham putting five past Forest, that is definitely not going to be in short supply when West Ham come to the Cottage on Sunday.  

Alex Iwobi scored twice in a single game for the first time ever in the Premier League 

3. Scott McTominay (new entry)

If Manchester United do manage to save their season, finish in the top four and go deep in the FA Cup, then McTominay will be knocking on Erik ten Hag’s door probably asking for a new contract at Old Trafford. 

A player that was reportedly deemed surplus to requirements and linked with a move away in the summer, McTominay has emerged as arguably the first name on the team sheet in the last few weeks. 

Against Chelsea on Wednesday he saved his side for the second time, his five goals this season now counting for a staggering seven points this campaign; in short, without McTominay United would be own in 12th on 19 points, with Brentford and Chelsea both moving above them if we’re ignoring his winning goals. 

After spending most of his Old Trafford career as one of two pivots in a 4-2-3-1, he is now making a name for himself as a goal scoring midfielder, and if current evidence shows anything, it’s that he is more than suited to the role. 

Against the Blues he was mesmeric; a 95.5 per cent pass accuracy, five shots on target – both the most for his side – as well as two goals, in addition to one defensive tackle, a block and an interception in front of goal.

For all his success moonlighting as a striker, he has still not forgotten to do his 9-5. 

Scott McTominay has scored five Premier League goals so far this season – the most of any player at Man United

2. Raul Jimenez (new entry)

There isn’t a football fan alive that doesn’t want the best for the Mexican striker following his awful head injury back in November 2020, and he is threatening just that right now. 

The former Wolves man showed every bit of the striker’s nous that made him one of the most potent goal scorers in the Premier League not so long ago against Forest, and was the best player on the pitch by a mile. 

His first came with an emphatic finish straight into the top corner from inside the box as Fulham carved through a particularly buttery back line.

Jimenez’s second, though, was a goal emblematic of a goal scorer that has refound their mojo. After muscling Ola Aina out of contention, he danced away from Vlachodimos in the penalty area before, moving away from goal, back-heeling it into the open net to make it 3-0 on the night. 

It was only his third in 14 games for the Cottagers since joining from Wolves, but judging by the cathartic roar following that second goal, West Ham will have plenty to fear ahead of their trip to west London on Sunday.  

Raul Jimenez showed all the goal scoring nous that made him one of the league’s best finishers not so long ago against Nottingham Forest

1. Trent Alexander-Arnold (up one)

Liverpool’s defender-stroke-midfielder-stroke-magician takes top spot this week, moving up a place from last time round after another stellar showing against Sheffield United, keeping a clean sheet and providing a trademark assist. 

Every England player will be eyeing up next summer’s Euros as a goal this campaign; perform well and they’ll know that they have a shot at making the squad for Germany 2024. Alexander-Arnold is no different, only he is showing that he deserves to be there perhaps more than any England defender right now. 

Tret Alexander-Arnold was a constant threat to Sheffield United from corners as well as in open play

The No 2 spot has been Kyle Walker’s for a long time, and he is still probably the best right back in the country, but Alexander-Arnold is so talented that he could even make the team as a midfielder. 

After a goal against Fulham last time out, the Liverpool vice-captain put in perfect corner after perfect corner, and in truth the one assist that came from it was a disservice to the Reds No 66. 

His unerring deliveries had Sheffield United skittish every time he stood over the dead ball, but he was also a threat in open play, threading slide-rule passes in behind for Darwin Nunez and Co to chase throughout the match. 

Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, but despite the quick turnaround in games you can be sure that Jurgen Klopp will be looking to his man in form to help inspire another win and continue the title charge.  

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