What have we learned from the Premier League so far?
BBC Sport takes a look at the opening weeks of the Premier League season as a long international break arrives.
The Premier League has taken a brief four-game international window break, leaving fans and analysts to ponder what they have learned from the opening five matches. Arsenal, the reigning champions, had been on a streak of eight consecutive wins in all competitions at the start of the season. However, their perfect run came to an end with a 3-0 loss to Brighton at Amex Stadium.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, acknowledged the significance of this loss, stating that it is a "big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level."
Manchester City, under the leadership of Pep Guardiola, defied expectations when he left the club after a decade. Despite a poor Community Shield defeat, they have won all subsequent matches in the Premier League, drawing three points ahead of Arsenal. Brighton and Brentford, two clubs without major trophy wins, have also impressed this season, sitting third and fourth respectively in the table.
Leeds United, Brentford, and Hull City are also performing well, sitting ninth, fourth, and eighth respectively. Meanwhile, struggling Manchester United, after appointing Michael Carrick as their manager, has only won once in the league, its fewest wins at this stage of a Premier League season. The underperforming Red Devils find themselves on the back foot as they welcome Tottenham, another club with mixed fortunes this season, to Old Trafford on October 10.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
