Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca warned that the Premier League summit is unsettled and insisted several clubs must be treated as genuine challengers after recent results tightened the table.

Manchester City moved to within two points of leaders Arsenal with a third straight win, while Aston Villa sit third, three points off the top. Fourth-placed Chelsea are eight points behind the leaders. Maresca, speaking after a frustrating outing on the south coast, said: “The table is so tight,” he told assembled media. “You win two games in a row and you are there. Lose two and you drop. I still think four, five, six teams that are at the top, [can win two] and will all be close.”

The standings, correct as of end of Dec. 6, 2025, show Arsenal top on 33 points with a +19 goal difference, Manchester City second on 31 (+19) and Aston Villa third on 30 (+7). Chelsea are fourth on 25 (+10). Everton sit fifth on 24 (+1) with Crystal Palace and Sunderland level on 23, and reigning champions Liverpool eighth on 23 (0 goal difference).

Liverpool were held to a 3–3 draw after a late equaliser from Leeds condemned them to one point. Dominik Szoboszlai conceded the uncertainty: “Last year we became champions, now I don’t even know which position [in the table] we are.”

Villa sit a single win behind Arsenal, yet manager Unai Emery urged caution. “After 15 matches it’s very difficult,” he said. “We are not contenders. If we are still [in the race] in game 35 then maybe I can speak about it.” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta disagreed: “They are [in the title race],” he declared. “When you look at where they are, the way they play, they have beaten some big teams, especially at home. Everybody is going to have to play everybody, so at the moment they are where they are and we are there as well.”

Manchester City collected nine points across a testing week, recovering from nervy moments including Leeds overturning a two-goal deficit at the Etihad and a wild win at Fulham, before a 3–0 victory over Sunderland. Pep Guardiola reflected: “Many things are going to happen still,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s down to the way we play, not how many points behind we are. It’s the way you perform. The players are not stupid, consistency doesn’t come from one result. ]”

Axel Disasi is reportedly in discussions over a January return to France as Lyon monitor the situation. The centre back, a former Monaco man, has been left on the periphery at Chelsea after an exit failed to materialise and is described as stranded at the club.

Alongside fellow struggler Raheem Sterling, the France international was exiled and forced to train with the club’s Under-21s. He was recently reintegrated into the first-team picture and is an occasional feature in competitive academy games, but sources believe it remains highly likely he will not play for the Blues again this season and that a winter move will be explored.

As per L’Équipe, Lyon are looking to add a central defender in January to cover for the absence of their starting partnership. Manager Paulo Fonseca will be without Clinton Mata and Moussa Niakhaté while both are going to the Africa Cup of Nations, creating an immediate need at centre back.

Lyon, who are already set to sign Endrick on loan from Real Madrid at the other end of the pitch this January, have been “in contact for several days” with Disasi and understand he could depart Chelsea either on loan or permanently in the winter window. The Ligue 1 club have made their interest clear but remain focused on sourcing a player who can step straight into the starting lineup.

There are no guarantees that Disasi will be that profile. He has yet to feature at senior level for Chelsea this season and would likely require time to recover full match sharpness. That uncertainty, combined with Lyon’s desire for an immediate solution, means negotiations may be cautious and the outcome is far from certain.

Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth as a patchy attacking display and a first-half injury hindered their response after the Leeds defeat. Robert Sánchez produced the standout performance, his 8.5 rating reflecting a crucial save shortly before the break that kept Chelsea level.

The Blues showed some life after the interval, Alejandro Garnacho heading against the post and Cole Palmer testing Đorđe Petrović with shots that briefly threatened to change the game. Overall, though, Chelsea offered too little to deserve more than a point away from home.

Player ratings (out of 10)
GK: Robert Sánchez — 8.5
RB: Malo Gusto — 8.1
CB: Trevoh Chalobah — 7.5
CB: Wesley Fofana — 7.9
LB: Marc Cucurella — 7.2
DM: Reece James — 7.1
DM: Enzo Fernández — 7.0
RM: Pedro Neto — 7.1
AM: Cole Palmer — 7.6
LM: Alejandro Garnacho — 6.7
ST: Liam Delap — 5.7

Substitutes
Marc Guiu (31’ for Delap) — 6.6
João Pedro (58’ for Palmer) — 6.5
Estêvão (77’ for Garnacho) — 5.7
Subs not used: Filip Jörgensen (GK), Benoît Badiashile, Jorrel Hato, Josh Acheampong, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens.

Liam Delap left the field after 30 minutes with a shoulder injury sustained in a physical duel with Marcos Senesi, forcing an early change. Earlier, Bournemouth thought they had taken the lead inside four minutes when Antoine Semenyo celebrated, but a lengthy VAR check ruled Evanilson offside. Defensive nerves were visible in Chelsea’s opening phase and it took time for the team to settle.

In the second half Chelsea increased their urgency. Garnacho’s header hit the post and both Enzo Fernández and Cole Palmer drew saves from Đorđe Petrović, a former Blue. The match statistics underline the story: Bournemouth generated the better expected goals and more efforts on target, while Chelsea held more possession and a higher pass accuracy but produced too little in the final third.