Premier League November Review: Arteta, Emery, and Guardiola Battle for Manager of the Month as Amorim Faces Pressure

The Premier League landscape is buzzing as six managers vie for the coveted Barclays Manager of the Month award for November 2025. Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler, Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca, and Fulham’s Marco Silva each delivered compelling campaigns last month, making the choice a fascinating one.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side remained unbeaten in November, securing two wins and two draws while holding a +5 goal difference. Their run featured commanding victories, including a 4-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur and a resilient 1-1 draw at Chelsea despite being down to 10 men late in the game. Arteta’s leadership continues to fuel the Gunners’ relentless pursuit of their first Premier League title since 2004.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa overcame an early setback with a 2-0 loss at Liverpool to string together three consecutive wins. Their 4-0 home rout of AFC Bournemouth and a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers secured their position inside the top four by the end of November. “Emery’s men bounced back impressively, showcasing mental strength and tactical discipline,” analysts noted.

Over at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola’s team dazzled by netting a league-high 10 goals in November, including a notable victory over arch-rivals Liverpool. City’s dramatic 3-2 stoppage-time win against Leeds United kept them firmly in the title race. Guardiola’s attacking philosophy has once again made City the Premier League’s entertainers.

Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler and Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca enjoyed unbeaten months with three wins apiece, both boasting a +6 goal difference. Meanwhile, Fulham’s Marco Silva impressed by securing a landmark 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—the club’s first victory at that venue—completing three wins from four November matches.

Off the pitch, Ruben Amorim’s position as Manchester United manager remains precarious. After a mixed 2025/26 campaign marked by inconsistency (six wins and four defeats in 14 league matches) and a 15th-place finish last season, speculation mounts about his future. United’s heavy summer investment of over £200 million has yet to translate into sustained progress.

The spotlight now turns to Oliver Glasner, whose transformative work at Crystal Palace has propelled the Eagles to fourth place in the Premier League after 15 games. The Austrian’s adept use of a 3-4-3 formation has impressed widely, with both Manchester United and Liverpool reportedly monitoring him as a potential managerial replacement should Amorim’s fortunes not improve.

While rumors of Glasner’s move to United surfaced earlier, recent poor results—especially a 10-man draw against Everton and a disappointing stalemate with West Ham—have reignited interest. Liverpool, dealing with their own struggles and uncertainty over Arne Slot, are also exploring Glasner as a candidate. With Glasner’s contract expiring soon, a managerial tug-of-war is shaping up between two Premier League giants.

Matchweek 15 is scheduled to proceed with a team of experienced officials led by Peter Bankes, ensuring the continued smooth running of high-stakes fixtures this weekend.

In individual stellar performances, the Premier League Player of the Matchweek awards highlighted a range of talents with notable contributions from Alphonse Areola, Eberechi Eze, and Morgan Rogers. Eze’s remarkable hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur not only secured victory for Arsenal but also etched his name as the fourth player to score a derby hat-trick and the first in the Premier League era.

The Premier League Team of the Week featured the likes of Robert Sanchez in goal for Chelsea, Matty Cash for Aston Villa, and dynamic midfielders such as Bruno Guimaraes and Xavi Simons, illustrating the depth and diversity of talent across the division. Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike’s return from the bench to score twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds served as a reminder of the emerging threats in the title race.

As the Premier League season progresses, narratives of managerial battles, player brilliance, and tactical innovation continue to unfold, setting the stage for an intense run-in to the year-end fixtures and beyond.