Premier League early season takeaways: Same old Haaland, Spurs shambles, Carrick questions

The English Premier League has paused for three weeks as players participate in international duty. Manchester City and Arsenal currently lead the table, while Brighton, Brentford, and Leeds United have joined them. However, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham, both without a win from five matches, sit at the bottom of the league.

Manchester City's new manager, Enzo Maresca, has overseen an impressive start to the season. City has won all seven matches in all competitions since the Community Shield defeat against Arsenal. The Norwegian striker Erling Haaland continues to dominate, scoring seven goals in seven games and against all 25 Premier League clubs he has faced. His tally stands at 169 goals in 205 games.

Arsenal, however, experienced a significant setback against Brighton. The Gunners, led by manager Mikel Arteta, conceded three league goals for the first time since losing to Manchester United in January. Arteta expressed disappointment, stating that the team needed to work on basic aspects of the game and improve their performance.

Manchester United, managed by Michael Carrick, continues to struggle. Their latest match against Fulham ended in a draw, leaving United in 12th place on five points. Carrick acknowledged the team's poor performance, describing it as "the worst 15 minutes" he had ever witnessed. The manager emphasized that the season is long and that United will inevitably face challenges.

Tottenham Hotspur, who spent over £300 million on new players over the summer, currently sits at the bottom of the table with only two points. The team's defeat to Aston Villa, with Villa scoring three goals in the 79th minute, highlights their struggles. Manager Roberto De Zerbi called for improvement, acknowledging that Tottenham's attack was lackluster and their defense was vulnerable.