Five Takeaways From Premier League Matchday Five

The international break is finally upon us after five matchdays. Matchday Five began last Friday, with Brentford blowing out Chelsea 3-0. It concluded Sunday with Fulham and Manchester United tying at one. After Arsenal’s loss to Brighton, Manchester City is now the only team to have won all their games this season and leads the Premier League by three points. 

With the international break giving teams a two-week break, Matchday Five showed us which teams head into the break with momentum and which ones may need a reset. From shocking results to impressive team performances, here are my biggest observations from Matchday Five.

1. Arsenal’s Lack of a Difference-Maker Could Cost Them the Title

Arsenal’s loss to Brighton & Hove Albion was a result no one saw coming, and it exposed what I said earlier could cost them the Champions League: a lack of a difference-maker in attack. 

It was an ugly loss for the Gunners as they lost 3-0 and were simply outplayed by a more clinical Brighton side. Arsenal had 60% possession but didn’t threaten, with 11 shots and only two on target. Brighton had five shots on target and scored three despite being outpossessed. They also had a lower expected goals rate than Arsenal, with 1.30 compared to Arsenal’s 1.57. 

Brighton deserve a lot of credit for breaking down an Arsenal defense that had allowed only one goal before the game and being more clinical when their chances came. However, this result speaks more about Arsenal’s lack of a difference-maker in the attack, as Kai Havertz struggled as the main striker. He finished the game with two shots and only one on target, and Victor Gyokeres didn’t make an impact after coming off the bench in the 73rd minute. It also became clear that Arsenal has no difference-maker on the bench, as Mikel Arteta waited until his team was down by three to make his first substitutions despite being down 2-0 at halftime. 

Over the years, this team has relied heavily on its defense and midfield. However, this formula may be starting to catch up to them. They got away with it in their comeback win against Chelsea, but Brighton showed what happens when that formula fails. Arsenal can dominate in midfield and defend well, but if they fall behind and need a goal, it becomes a huge struggle for the Gunners to take over a game without a clear difference-maker in attack. The international break couldn’t come at a better time for Arsenal, as they have to address their attacking concerns and figure out how to win games without a difference-maker until the January transfer window. 

2. Michael Carrick Is On The Hot Seat

Things keep spiraling at Manchester United as they head into the international break with one win in their first five Premier League matches. 

After losing to 10-man Manchester City last week, the Red Devils had a great opportunity to head into the international break with momentum as they took on a Fulham side at the bottom of the table with just one point. However, they failed to come away with three points and were fortunate to leave with a point thanks to an 89th-minute goal by Matheus Cunha that was deflected off a Fulham defender. This leaves them in 12th place with five points heading into the international break. 

Manchester United’s performance was uninspiring, as Fulham’s goal came from an own goal caused by a terrible touch from Lisandro Martínez. While it was an evenly matched game, the Red Devils will rue not taking advantage of their chances: they had 29 shots, with six on target and two that hit the post. They also had 13 corners and were little of a threat on set pieces. There were a lot of things not to like about Manchester United’s performance, but their depth remains a major concern. 

It wasn’t until the 77th minute that Michael Carrick made a substitution, despite Fulham regularly threatening in the first half. He then waited 14 minutes after Fulham’s goal to make a change. In the end, he made only three substitutions and didn’t give his players enough time to make an impact because he made them so late. While they managed to get a point, it’s concerning that Bruno Fernandes and key players from last year’s team aren’t having the same impact as they did last season when they finished third. Fortunately, the international break is coming at a good time for Carrick to make adjustments, but he will need to make them quickly because his job could be on the line if the Red Devils don’t improve soon. 

3. Chelsea’s Defensive Issues Keep Getting Worse

After starting the season with back-to-back wins, Chelsea have hit a rough patch in their last three games. Their latest loss to Brentford has highlighted just how concerning their defensive issues have become. 

Chelsea’s defensive fragilities have been a major talking point for Xabi Alonso’s team, which had conceded nine goals in four games before the Brentford match. Alonso switched to a back three against Brentford after using a back four in their draw against Hull City, which backfired when Hull City scored two goals in the first half. It looked to have worked, as Chelsea’s defense held strong in the first half, making it the first time this season they didn’t concede a goal before halftime. However, the second half brought them back to reality as they conceded three goals and finished 3-0 down. 

While Alonso had to adjust his lineup due to Joao Pedro’s absence, Chelsea looked stymied in attack. They had 12 shots, with only two going on target and an expected goals rate of 0.85. This was the first time this season the Blues were shut out, and with their attack ineffective, it was inevitable this game wouldn’t end well for them given their defensive struggles. This was the first time Chelsea ever lost to Brentford in the Premier League, signaling how concerning things have been for the team lately. 

Now, the Blues head into the international break in 10th place with seven points and just one point from their last three matches. They’ve also conceded 12 goals, the most in the Premier League behind only Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace at 11. Brentford deserve a lot of credit for blowing out Chelsea, but Chelsea have more talent and should’ve at least made it competitive. Now, Alonso has a lot to address during the international break; the defensive issues could be the reason Chelsea fail to meet expectations this season.

4. Aston Villa Is Back On Track

Aston Villa hasn’t had a good start to the season. However, they can go into the international break with momentum after getting their first win of the season last week against Tottenham. 

Aston Villa went into this game knowing they needed a result after three losses and a draw in their first four games of the season. The perfect medicine came in the form of a Tottenham team that hasn’t won a game or scored a goal this season. Villa didn’t let this opportunity slip away, defeating Spurs 3-2 away from home. With this win, Aston Villa are now out of the relegation zone and in 16th place with four points.

While the scoreline suggests a close game, Aston Villa delivered a clinical performance, scoring three goals on six shots on target. After a slow start, Villa took advantage of a mistake by Tottenham’s Andy Robertson to score the first goal in stoppage time of the first half. This allowed Aston Villa to take over the game as they went on to score two more goals to take a 3-0 lead and put the game out of hand by the 79th minute. Even though Tottenham scored two goals late in the game, it was already too little, too late. 

It hasn’t been an easy season for manager Unai Emery as he has had to rebuild this team after so many departures in the transfer window. However, his new signings are starting to click, as Johan Manzambi and Nicolas Jackson got their first goals of the season against Tottenham. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki also played a great game, making five saves. The pressure on Emery has eased a little, and his team now has a great opportunity to build on this win after the international break.

5. There Are A Lot Of Good Teams In The Premier League 

The Premier League has been one of the most entertaining leagues for years because of the strong teams and the unpredictability it brings. However, after five matchdays, it’s clear that many teams in the league can compete with anyone on any given day. 

Matchday Five was a perfect example, starting with Brighton’s blowout win over the defending champions, Arsenal. Despite one win in their last three Premier League matches, Brighton dominated the Gunners from start to finish and are now third place in the Premier League table heading into the international break. Now, after five matchdays, it’s fair to consider Brighton as a team that could fight for a Europa League or possibly Champions League spot this season. 

Another shocker came from Brentford, who blew out Chelsea to win for the first time ever against them. Now, they head into the international break in fourth place with nine points and as one of the remaining five unbeaten teams. Brighton and Brentford haven’t been the only surprises, as Leeds United and Everton go into the international break unbeaten with nine points. Leeds is in 5th place, and Everton is in 7th place despite having 18 men and one striker on their roster due to their limited transfer window activity. 

Lastly, Coventry City, who hadn’t won a game or scored a goal this season, got their first win of the season away from home against a Nottingham Forest team that tied with Liverpool earlier in the season and beat Aston Villa in their last game. While Manchester City and Arsenal are the clear favorites to win the Premier League title right now, the first five matchdays have shown that anything can happen in the league. Last season, we saw the shocks of Bournemouth and Sunderland earning spots in the Europa League while Chelsea and Newcastle fell out of Europe despite being in the Champions League last season. Given the Premier League’s unpredictability, we shouldn’t be shocked if a surprise team makes a run for European football this season.