The international break is upon us, calling a brief halt to a thrilling new Premier League campaign. The first five weeks have seen a flood of goals, plenty of upsets and many contentious moments.
With that in mind, Daily Mail Sport have compiled report cards for all 20 sides so far. Here are the first ten to go under analysis….
ARSENAL
Position: 2nd. Points: 12
As expected the reigning champions hit the ground running proving early on that they will be hard to dethrone by earning four wins from five.
The Gunners picked up where they left off last season, beginning the campaign with an emphatic 3-0 home win against newly promoted Coventry to set the tone for their first title defence in 22 years.
Since the opening day, Mikel Arteta’s men have won a number of extremely testing fixtures. The Gunners claimed three points away at Aston Villa, who have caused them trouble in previous seasons, as well as beating London rivals Chelsea at home and winning at the ever hostile Stadium of Light where big money signing Bruno Guimaraes scored his first goal for the club.
But it has not been a flawless start for Arsenal as they endured a miserable afternoon on the south coast losing 3-0 to Brighton – the first time they have failed to score in a Premier League game since January.
Nevertheless the Gunners still look formidable and are poised to challenge for the title again and perhaps seek the European glory they missed out on in Budapest in May.
Grade: A-
Despite a small blip Arsenal’s start indicates they will be tough to dethrone and are after more silverware this time around
ASTON VILLA
Position: 16th. Points: 4
After a standout season last year where they finished fourth and won the Europa League, the Villains have not carried their excellent form from last season into this.
Unai Emery, now in his fifth season at Villa Park, has been unable to get his new-look side to tick yet despite some promising signs. Villa started the season on a whimper losing 4-0 at the hands of Brighton, conceding all four goals in the first 31 minutes of the game.
Since their opening day thrashing, Villa have lost to both Arsenal and midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, while they failed to score against new boys Hull in a bore draw.
Villa can be somewhat excused for a slow start with this season being a slight transition year for the club after losing several key players over the summer including their two top scorers Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers as well as star centre-half Ezri Konsa. But even the most pessimistic of supporters would not have envisaged a start such as this.
They did manage to pick up their first three points of the season just before the break in a well-deserved 3-2 victory away at Tottenham and beat Club Brugge away from home in their Champions League opener. Big money signings Nicolas Jackson and Johan Manzambi have also looked to be finding their feet in the side.
After the first five games Villa sit two places from the drop, and will need Emery to mastermind a turnaround in form quickly if this season is to end with more success.
Grade: C-
Unai Emery has worked wonders during his time at Villa Park but how will he manage this transition?
BOURNEMOUTH
Position: 17th. Points: 3
Another side that overperformed last season and have not been able to keep up the pace is Bournemouth, with the Cherries winless under new manager Marco Rose going into the international break.
Bournemouth seem to have suffered the same fate many mid-table sides do when playing in Europe as they won their first ever European bout away at Real Sociedad but are yet to get off the mark in the Premier League.
The South Coast side managed their highest ever finish in English football last season by placing sixth, only three points off the Champions League places, and did very well to hold onto to almost all of their top talents in the summer.
But the Cherries have clearly had one very costly loss with head coach Andoni Iraola upping sticks for Liverpool. His replacement Marco Rose arrived with a glittering resume having coached some of Germany’s biggest sides but has yet to realise his vision at the Vitality.
A harsh run of fixtures have made this a tough first month of the season for Bournemouth, having to face Man City, Liverpool and Newcastle already, but there is no excuse for not winning a single game yet and the pressure will be on Rose and his side to deliver when they return.
Grade: D
Bournemouth will have to pick up form quick if they want to avoid a spiral into a relegation scrap
BRENTFORD
Position: 4th. Points: 9
From one extreme to the other Brentford have been marvellous in their opening fixtures as Keith Andrews continues to prove people wrong with his high-octane pressing machine churning out results every week.
As one of five unbeaten teams, the Bees are buzzing with two wins and three draws to kick off the season.
A strong transfer window saw Brentford hold onto key players, including Caoimhin Kelleher and Igor Thiago, and add some excellent young players which has helped create a free-scoring team that looks so hard to beat.
The 3-0 drubbings of Chelsea and Tottenham demonstrated the lethal nature of this Brentford attack, with five of the six total goals coming in one half of each game.
Three score draws in between these two London derbies leaves them in contention for a sustained European push.
Grade: A
Brentford look ready to push to new heights this season after thrashing rivals Chelsea and Spurs at home
BRIGHTON
Position: 3rd. Points: 10
Brighton have enjoyed a dream start to the season with Fabian Hurzeler having orchestrated some truly excellent performances. His free-scoring side have netted a whopping 16 goals in their opening five games, more than any other side in the top flight.
The Seagulls kicked off with a bang beating Aston Villa 4-0 at home and have since enjoyed victories over Coventry and champions Arsenal, keeping clean sheets against both. Hurzeler’s men have dropped points to Chelsea and Leeds in-between but were then buoyed by a magnificent Carabao Cup comeback victory over Manchester United.
Brighton as always had an excellent window and it shows, with new boys Malick Yalcouye, Chema Andres and Luka Vuskovic having already impressed. The Seagulls were particularly brilliant in beating Arsenal through a patient defensive approach that forced the champions to play long and lose possession constantly.
Questions will be asked about Brighton’s ability to maintain this style of play over the course of 38 games, with the added strain of European football, but their performances have certainly shaken up the Premier League and it will be fascinating to see how their season unfolds.
Grade: A
The Seagulls are flying! Brighton are becoming a dreaded fixture after a blistering, goal heavy start to the season
CHELSEA
Position: 10th. Points: 7
To the surprise of many who tipped Chelsea to be fighting for the title the Blues have been remarkably inconsistent in their opening games.
After another whirlwind summer that saw Chelsea bring in Xabi Alonso as head coach and sign 11 new players, it looked as if they had finally plugged the gaps in their squad and were ready to seriously challenge – especially when playing only one game a week.
The Blues have instead looked as unstable as ever, conceding more goals than any other side so far (12) and picking up one point from their last available nine. It is not all bad news at Stamford Bridge as summer signing Morgan Rogers has looked electric and has become the final piece of a fearsome front three alongside Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro. But the midfield has looked barren without Moises Caicedo and the defence looks calamitous.
It is clear that Alonso intends to outscore opponents this season at the expense of clean sheets but currently his side are just shipping goals and cannot score enough to pick up wins. Chelsea won their opening two matches against Fulham and Brighton in exciting fashion but since have dropped points to Hull and lost London derbies to Arsenal and Brentford.
Sat exactly in the middle of the table, Chelsea are already in danger of another disappointing season unless Alonso can find a balance in his squad and find consistency.
Grade: C-
Free scoring Chelsea will need to sort out their defensive woes if they are to avoid another disappointing season
COVENTRY CITY
Position: 18th Points: 3
The first of the new boys to receive their grade is Frank Lampard’s Championship winners Coventry City. After a 25-year absence from the Premier League the Sky Blues will have one objective for this season: survival.
Anticipation for Coventry’s first Premier League season in over two and a half decades was sky high in the summer but their start has been woeful.
The new boys tasted defeat in their first four games without scoring. Lampard struggled to bring in proven Premier League talent over the summer and it has shown in his team’s performances.
They were handed some unfortunate early fixtures having to play both Arsenal and Manchester City in their first three games, but losing at home to Hull in-between those two games is a real cause for concern. Brighton’s 5-0 demolition at the Building Society Arena has left some believing Coventry are condemned within the first month.
They managed to breathe some life into their survival hopes at midlands rivals Nottingham Forest with an impressive 1-0 victory thanks to a beautiful Jay DaSilva goal but they will need a lot more if they are to get out and stay out of the bottom three.
Grade: C-
Lampard got Coventry into the top flight but this will be the Premier League legend’s biggest test yet
CRYSTAL PALACE
Position: 15th. Points: 4
For some Palace fans the international break will come as a welcome respite after a hectic summer and stressful start to the season.
A new manager, new defence and new beginnings in the Europa League promised a chaotic season and it has delivered so far. One win in five is cause for concern but Eagles fans must be patient and allow the squad to adapt to new manager Pierre Sage’s system.
Similarly to their west London rivals Chelsea, Palace have had no problem scoring but are struggling to keep opposing teams out at the other end, conceding 11 goals already. A loss to newly promoted Ipswich has prompted suggestions the Eagles could slip into a relegation scrap if they are not careful.
The Europa League has provided a welcome distraction and their hope for back-to-back European trophies was inflated by a rampant 4-0 win over Lech Poznan in their opener.
All in all Palace seem to be par for the course, their form suggests a slight but not urgent worry for relegation and an exciting opportunity in the Europa League where they have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
Grade: C+
Crystal Palace have been free scoring at one end but unable to keep opponents out at the other
EVERTON
Position: 7th. Points: 9
After a disappointing end to their first season at the eye-catching Hill Dickinson Stadium veteran boss David Moyes has the Toffees looking sweet again.
Everton remain unbeaten and look solid all over the pitch. Thierno Barry seems to finally be coming good, Dewsbury-Hall has built on last season’s impressive showing and Jack Grealish has given this side an extra injection of flair and quality.
One of their key strengths has been late goals, equalising in stoppage time against both Bournemouth and Manchester United as well as getting their winner against Wolves in the Carabao Cup with ten minutes left on the clock.
With Tyrique George looking a real threat and Tyler Dibling showing signs of wanting to join the party, there is every chance for Moyes to get the club back into Europe.
Grade: A
Prime Minister’s vote: Andy Burnham was cheering on the Toffees during their Carabao Cup victory over Wolves
FULHAM
Position: 19th Points: 2
It has been a truly disastrous start to the campaign for the Cottagers, who remain winless with pressure already being piled on new boss Alvaro Arbeloa.
Fulham took risks in the summer with decision to appoint Arbeloa and back him with several young inexperienced talents from Real Madrid’s B team, but it has yet to pay off so far.
After draws in their last two games Fulham will be desperate to finally pick up three points upon return from the international break
The existing squad appear unable or unwilling to adapt to the Spaniard’s style of play and are conceding terrible goals at one end and appearing panicked up the other. New boys Shea Charles, Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios all seem to be talented young players but their inexperience is ultimately hindering their new team.
This is Fulham’s worst ever start to a Premier League season and for the first time since their return to the division in 2022 the Cottagers are a relegation worry.
Arbeloa will need to start finding form and fast, the international break will give the players a much-needed rest and give the coach some time which he must use wisely.
Grade: E
