Premier League

Football writer David Coverdale previews Matchweek 5 of the Premier League clubs’ UEFA Champions League matches and what to expect from their opponents.

Chelsea v Barcelona

Tuesday 25 November, 20:00 GMT

Barcelona return to English soil this Tuesday evening, aiming to claim their second Premier League scalp of their UEFA Champions League campaign.

Marcus Rashford was the two-goal hero for Hansi Flick's side when they beat Newcastle United in September.

And Rashford is expected to feature at Chelsea after recovering from the illness which ruled the Manchester United loanee out of last Saturday’s 4-0 win over Athletic Club, Barcelona's third straight victory in La Liga.

Ballon d’Or runner-up Lamine Yamal, who missed the Newcastle trip, is also in line to play his first Champions League match in England, when he will face his Spain team-mate Marc Cucurella.

On Monday, Chelsea left-back Cucurella joked that he had been marking another teenage winger, Estevao Willian, in training to prepare for his battle with Yamal.

"I told Estevao to put shin pads on because I started the training with him," he said.

Barcelona have only won one of their previous seven visits to Stamford Bridge, and that was back in 2006.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are unbeaten on their own turf in any European group or league phase game since 2019, a run of 16 matches undefeated.

Victory for the Blues – who are set to be without Cole Palmer after he broke his toe last week – would be a major boost to their hopes of finishing in the top eight to automatically qualify for the last 16.

Enzo Maresca's men sit 12th in the Champions League table, at the halfway mark of the league phase, just behind Barcelona on goal difference.

Manchester City v Bayer Leverkusen

Tuesday 25 November, 20:00 GMT

Another match, another milestone for Pep Guardiola.

Earlier this month, the Manchester City boss took charge of his 1,000th game as a manager.

Now Guardiola is about to embark on his 100th match with Man City in the Champions League, becoming just the third boss to reach that landmark with an English club, after Sir Alex Ferguson with Man Utd and Arsene Wenger with Arsenal.

"I realise I'm getting old because every week is a milestone," Guardiola said with a smile in his pre-match press conference.

Man City come into this tie off the back of a shock Premier League defeat at Newcastle.

But they are unbeaten in the Champions League so far this season and sit fourth in the table.

Guardiola’s side have also gone 23 matches without losing a group-stage or league-phase match at Etihad Stadium, so Bayer Leverkusen will have their work cut out when they visit.

The Germans have collected just five points from their four European ties so far and are 21st in the table.

But Kasper Hjulmand's men beat Benfica last time out and have won seven of their last nine matches in all competitions, climbing up to third in the Bundesliga.

Jarell Quansah, who left Liverpool for Leverkusen in the summer, is set to start, fresh from making his England debut during the international break. He's expected to replace the suspended centre-back Edmond Tapsoba.

Marseille v Newcastle United

Tuesday 25 November, 20:00 GMT

A familiar foe awaits Newcastle at the Orange Velodrome.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored five goals and registered three assists in eight Premier League matches against the Magpies for Arsenal.

So the 36-year-old Marseille forward will be licking his lips at the arrival of Eddie Howe’s side in the south of France, particularly as he has also scored in each of his last two Ligue 1 matches.

"Aubameyang is as good as ever," said Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe. "We’ll have to defend well."

Former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi is the man in charge of Marseille, who are second in Ligue 1 but down in 25th place in the Champions League table.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have won their last three European clashes without conceding and sit sixth at the halfway stage.

They have been boosted by their Premier League win over Man City and the return to fitness of Anthony Gordon, who has scored four goals in the Champions League this season.

Arsenal v Bayern Munich

Wednesday 26 November, 20:00 GMT

Arsenal are yet to concede a goal in a flawless start to their Champions League campaign.

But if any player knows how to breach their defence it is Bayern Munich hotshot Harry Kane.

During his time with their rivals Spurs, Kane scored more goals against Arsenal than any other Premier League player, with a tally of 14.

The England captain also notched for Bayern in a Champions League quarter-final at Emirates Stadium in 2023/24, and he returns there in red-hot form, having netted 26 times in 19 appearances for club and country this season.

Bayern actually top the Champions League table at the halfway stage, above Arsenal on goal difference having also registered four wins from four.

Another of their danger men is ex-Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who was directly involved in five goals in last Sunday’s 6-2 thrashing of Freiburg.

The London-born France international is a former team-mate of Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze – and taught the north London derby hat-trick hero how to play chess.

Another of Bayern's wing wizards, Serge Gnabry, is expected to be fit to face his former club after missing their 6-2 comeback win over Freiburg on Saturday.

But Xabi Alonso’s side will be without the suspended former Liverpool star Luis Diaz, following his red card in their last Champions League match at Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal fans will need no reminding that they have failed to beat Bayern in their previous five meetings.

But Mikel Arteta's men have never been more confident at home in Europe, winning 15 successive matches at the Emirates in the Champions League league phase/group stage.

Liverpool v PSV Eindhoven

Wednesday 26 November, 20:00 GMT

A European fixture at Anfield may come as something of a welcome relief for Arne Slot.

The Reds were beaten 3-0 at home by Nottingham Forest at the weekend, their sixth defeat in seven Premier League matches.

But in the Champions League, Slot’s side have fared better so far this season, winning their last three matches, including a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid at Anfield last time out, to climb up to eighth in the table.

At home, Liverpool have won all of their last 16 European group-stage or league-phase games.

Yet the Reds’ dismal form means they can take nothing for granted, especially given Wednesday’s opponents, PSV Eindhoven, are top of the Eredivisie and unbeaten in 11 matches in all competitions.

Former Spurs winger Ivan Perisic is one of the stars in their ranks, while Netherlands international Guus Til is their biggest goal threat, having netted seven times in his last five league matches.

Of course, Slot needs no introduction to PSV. This will be the 11th time Liverpool's Dutch boss has managed against Wednesday's opponents, the most he has faced a single club.

The Reds actually lost their last meeting against PSV, a 3-2 away defeat in the final match of last season’s league phase. That result mattered little, given Liverpool had already qualified for the last 16 and topped the table. But another defeat this week would be a brutal blow for Slot and his struggling side.

Paris Saint-Germain v Tottenham Hotspur

Wednesday 26 November, 20:00 GMT

Little more than three months have passed since these teams last went toe to toe.

Paris Saint-Germain were the winners on that occasion, the Champions League holders beating the UEFA Europa League champions on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup final.

And the Ligue 1 leaders will be firm favourites again when Spurs visit the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

That said, Spurs are one of only five unbeaten teams in this season’s Champions League, registering two wins and two draws to sit 10th in the table.

Yet Thomas Frank’s side arrive in the French capital with their confidence shot after being brutally beaten by Arsenal in the north London derby.

Spurs will have to cope without Brennan Johnson, who is suspended after being sent off in the 4-0 win over Copenhagen.

But Xavi Simons is likely to line up against his former club, having been left out of Frank's starting XI at Emirates Stadium.

For PSG, 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele could return from the calf injury he picked up in the defeat to Bayern Munich three weeks ago.

Yet Desire Doue, who scored a brace in last season’s Champions League final win over Inter Milan, is definitely out after tearing his thigh last month.

Football writer Alex Keble highlights the hot topics and tactical lessons from Matchweek 12, including:

- Eze takes advantage of passive Spurs midfield

- Classic Dyche tactics show Slot needs to make major changes

- Little wiggle room in title race for Man City

- West Ham too brittle for Nuno's ultra-defensive changes

- Emery smartly corrects tactical errors

- Brighton victory helps avoid the usual slump

- Chelsea reliance on Caicedo increases despite another win

- Edwards unable to triumph as tricky run begins

- Sunderland’s brilliant start might be coming to an end

Eze takes advantage of passive Spurs midfield

Eberechi Eze’s brilliant hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur was a coming-of-age moment for the new Arsenal No 10 and, perhaps, a decisive moment in the title race after Manchester City had dropped points at Newcastle United a day earlier.

Here was evidence that Eze doesn’t just provide Arsenal with greater depth when Martin Odegaard is out.

Eze is also a notable point of difference; a slaloming, powerful attacker who can provide the knockout blow in a team that can sometimes be criticised for being too careful in their build-up play.

But on this occasion, Eze was the beneficiary of poor defending from Spurs, whose overly cautious tactics have supporters wondering if Thomas Frank’s reactive instincts align with the club’s philosophy.

In a 5-2-3 formation, Spurs sat deep in their own half from the outset, rarely applying pressure to the ball and hoping that a defensive shape would do enough.

But a two-man midfield of Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha was easily bypassed, not only because Arsenal pack the middle with bodies but because the passive nature of the Spurs setup meant little direct or aggressive support given to the two midfielders.

Bentancur and Palhinha failed to close down Mikel Merino, giving him an age to turn, look, and find the pass for Leandro Trossard's opener, and then Eze weaved too easily through the same Spurs pair for the second.

It was after this second goal that Gary Neville, on the Sky Sports commentary, described the Spurs players as "mannequins".

Spurs have recorded the two lowest Expected Goals (xG) totals in a Premier League game this season, 0.07 against Arsenal and 0.1 against Chelsea; a hunched shape, passivity in midfield, and mannequin-like defending of their own third are not new traits.

Frank must quickly come to realise that, unlike at Brentford, the Spurs job requires assertive and forward-thinking football in every single match.

From Nuno Espirito Santo to Jose Mourinho to Antonio Conte, historically Spurs supporters have not taken to managers who don’t embrace the club’s motto, "to dare is to do".

Classic Dyche tactics show Slot needs to make major changes

The Nottingham Forest performance at Anfield was everything you might expect it to be, and yet it was as if Liverpool did not see it coming.

Sean Dyche had his team sit deep, compressing space around the penalty area to slow Liverpool down, and then play long balls forward to hit on the counter-attack.

It was one such counter, funnelled quickly down Liverpool’s right (their well-known weak spot) that earned the corner from which Murillo scored the opener.

Forty-four per cent of Forest’s attacks were down that side, a targeted – and simple – tactic that hit Liverpool’s vulnerabilities in all the usual ways.

Liverpool became just the fourth defending champions to start a season with six or more defeats in their first 12 games, after Blackburn Rovers in 1995/96 (six), Chelsea in 2015/16 (seven) and Leicester City in 2016/17 (six).

The Reds have also lost six of their last seven Premier League matches, as many as their previous 58 beforehand, and have lost back-to-back league games by a margin of three or more goals for the first time since April 1965 under Bill Shankly.

For Slot, this has to be the moment he realises enormous changes are needed.

That might mean dropping Ibrahima Konate, Alexander Isak, and perhaps even Mohamed Salah.

It might mean a new formation or tactical setup, be it simplifying their approach with a conservative setup or going all-in on ultra-attacking football.

Whatever it is, it needs to be radical.

Little wiggle room in title race for Man City

A resurgent Newcastle with five consecutive home wins in all competitions were always going to put up a stern resistance and, on the face of it, there is nothing disastrous about Man City losing this.

But defeat at St James' Park taught us that Man City’s early wobble in August and September has left them without any wiggle room in the title race.

Pep Guardiola’s side appeared to be ominously building momentum. One single defeat punctures that.

Man City have now lost four of their first 12 league games of a league season for the first time since 2013/14. It is also the first time a Guardiola team has ever suffered as many defeats in the opening 12 league matches of a season.

Over the past 10 Premier League seasons, the average number of defeats by the eventual champion is 3.8.

The highest was Man City’s six in 2020/21. Already being on four, then, suggests they cannot challenge for the title this year.

That might sound dramatic considering they are only seven points behind Arsenal, but a stuttering start in autumn means Guardiola's side need to overcome a decade of statistical evidence to reclaim the crown.

West Ham too brittle for Nuno's ultra-defensive changes

At half-time, two Callum Wilson goals had West Ham on the verge of their third consecutive Premier League victory - and all was right with the world.

But then Nuno made substitutions and tactical changes that invited pressure and his team collapsed in on themselves.

In the 52nd minute, Tomas Soucek came on for Wilson, a clear instruction that Nuno wanted his team to be more defensive.

West Ham dropped significantly deeper and, as the stats show, Bournemouth accepted the offer to come forward.

Bournemouth stats in first and second half

First half Bournemouth Second half 73% Possession 79% 7 Shots 21 14 Touches in opp. box 43 0 Big chances 5 0.55 xG 3.49

This kind of swing in momentum often works for Nuno, whose calculated risk to preserve a lead paid off many times at Forest.

However, on Saturday he learnt that confidence is too brittle at West Ham for a similar approach to work so early in his tenure.

While the players remain fragile, with the bottom three in view, the Hammers need to feel proactive and play with their chests puffed out – especially when they’re 2-0 up.

Emery smartly corrects tactical errors

For the first 45 minutes at Elland Road, Aston Villa were very predictable.

Both wingers tucked infield to create an ultra-narrow shape which, coupled with slow passing out from the centre-backs, meant Leeds United's physical midfield could bully them.

Villa lacked pace, width, and a direct option to bypass a bruising Leeds midfield – until Unai Emery made the necessary half-time changes to turn the game around.

Bringing on Donyell Malen and putting him alongside Ollie Watkins, Villa were now two-versus-two on the defensive line and searching for the more direct route forward to isolate the Leeds centre-backs.

It was a longer vertical pass forward from John McGinn to Matty Cash that opened Leeds up for the Villa equaliser, before a long ball from Youri Tielemans saw Ross Barkley break through and win the free-kick for Morgan Rogers' winner.

Rogers' goals v Leeds

This was by no means the first time in 2025/26 that Villa’s opponents have correctly predicted the starting tactics, nor that Emery has gone more direct to fix things.

Greater width and speed from the outset should help Villa when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers’ low block next weekend.

Brighton victory helps avoid the usual slump

Brighton & Hove Albion have made another superb start to the season. The challenge for Fabian Hurzeler is to break the club’s usual habit and keep this going.

After 12 matches of the 2024/25 Premier League season Brighton had 22 points, beating Bournemouth 2-1 on 23 November to put themselves within one point of second spot.

They then went eight Premier League matches without a win.

Hurzeler, now in his second season, will be well aware this was precisely the moment his good start fell apart a year ago.

This follows a longer trend for Brighton, who so often perform well in the first 12 matches – and then drop off.

Brighton points-per-game comparison by season

Season First 12 matches Next 26 matches 2021/22 1.42 1.31 2022/23 1.50 1.69 2023/24 1.58 1.12 2024/25 1.83 1.50

Brighton will face four of last season's top seven teams in their next six games, although this includes Forest and Liverpool, two opponents struggling significantly compared to last season.

If Hurzeler can navigate December, then perhaps – for the first time in years – Brighton can build on their fast start rather than find themselves disappointed come May.

Chelsea reliance on Caicedo increases despite another win

Prior to Pedro Neto’s 37th-minute opener, Burnley looked the more likely to score, predominantly because they were able to breeze through a wide-open Chelsea central midfield.

A lot of analysis after this match praised Andrey Santos for his defensive performance, with Moises Caicedo watching on from the bench, but a closer look at the first half shows that Chelsea did miss their star midfielder.

Santos was regularly too deep, leaving space that Burnley repeatedly exploited. The example below, in the 32nd minute, reflects this during a spell in which Burnley had enjoyed 48 per cent possession.

On another day, Burnley might have made their strong first-half performance count. Caicedo, by his absence, showed he is by far Chelsea’s most important player.

Edwards unable to triumph as tricky run begins

Rob Edwards will have known Wolves needed a fast start – a classic new-manager bounce – if they are to avoid relegation under his management, which is why Saturday’s limp 2-0 defeat was arguably the most significant result of their season so far.

There were no tangible signs of improvement.

Edwards switched to a 5-3-2 formation in order to answer the fans’ request to play their two strikers, last season’s star Jorgen Strand Larsen and new signing Tolu Arokodare, who scored 21 league goals for Genk last season.

But it didn’t work and Crystal Palace ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

Wolves’ two points from 12 matches is the third-fewest in top-flight history after 12 games, behind Man Utd in 1930/31 (zero) and Sheffield United in 2020/21 (one). Both Man Utd and Sheff Utd were relegated at the end of those seasons, both in last place.

Wolves travel to Villa Park this weekend, before hosting Forest and Man Utd and then playing Arsenal away. It could hardly be more difficult for Edwards.

Wolves' next five PL fixtures

Sunderland’s brilliant start might be coming to an end

Sunderland have gone three Premier League matches without a victory and it would appear that performances are slowing down.

Fulham had 24 shots on Saturday, their most in a Premier League game this season, while the Expected Goals (xG) of 2.1 that Sunderland conceded was their highest of the campaign.

It was inevitable that at some point Regis Le Bris’ side would go through a more difficult period, but what might worry supporters is that the downturn precedes a tough set of games. Sunderland face Bournemouth, Liverpool, Man City, Newcastle, and Brighton in their next five.

Sunderland's next five PL fixtures

Marco Silva’s side have won four of their last five Premier League home matches, an impressive run that signals Fulham can pull clear of the relegation battle.

More on Matchweek 12

Eberechi Eze scored a sensational hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Eze, who was linked with a move to Spurs before swapping Crystal Palace for the Emirates Stadium in August, got his first two goals in quick succession either side of half-time.

Leandro Trossard had earlier put Arsenal ahead following an excellent pass from makeshift centre-forward Mikel Merino, with Spurs not attempting a shot until the 55th minute.

Their first effort, from Richarlison, sailed into the net from 40 yards out to give the away fans something to cheer, but Eze had the final say, completing his first Premier League hat-trick with a confident finish 14 minutes from the end.

Watch: Eze's hat-trick v Spurs

The result leaves Arsenal six points clear of Chelsea and seven ahead of Manchester City, while Spurs are down in ninth, 11 points behind the Gunners.

How the match unfolded

Spurs needed Guglielmo Vicario to block Declan Rice's volley inside the first three minutes, while Bukayo Saka saw a curling free-kick punched clear by the Italian.

Arsenal finally broke through in the 36th minute as Merino picked out Trossard, and the Belgian took an excellent first touch before his shot struck Micky van de Ven on the way in.

Spurs could not escape their own half, and it was 2-0 five minutes later as Eze squirmed between Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur before firing home with the aid of another slight deflection off Van de Ven.

Eze had his second goal just 35 seconds into the second half, finding the far corner on his left foot, though Spurs pulled one back out of nowhere when Richarlison spotted David Raya off his line and lobbed the Spaniard from distance.

But the day belonged to Eze, who applied a powerful finish after being found by Trossard for his hat-trick and almost got a fourth late on, stinging Vicario's wrists from range.

Eze the headliner as Arsenal put on a show

Arsenal emerged from the international break arguably more bruised than they were previously, with a thigh injury to Gabriel Magalhaes viewed as a major blow to Mikel Arteta's men.

Gabriel's absence ensured there would be a baptism of fire for Bayer Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapie, who made his first Premier League start in one of England's most fabled derby matches.

But Hincapie was hardly tested as Arsenal produced one of their most electric performances of the season, moving the ball at a relentless tempo and suffocating Spurs with their press.

Merino and Trossard again showed their value in the absence of injured striker Viktor Gyokeres as they combined for the opener, but from then on, it was all about Eze.

The England international has previously admitted to rejecting interest from Spurs to rejoin his boyhood club, who released him at the age of 13.

His first taste of the north London derby could hardly have gone any better, as he became the first player to score a treble in the fixture in the Premier League.

Arsenal went into the international break disappointed following a late draw with Sunderland, but ahead of a big week in which they face Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League, their swagger is back.

No style or substance for Spurs

Spurs' start to life under Thomas Frank has been up-and-down, with the former Brentford boss facing criticism from some quarters for not adopting a more adventurous approach.

However, few supporters were likely to care about Spurs' style if it yielded a rare north London derby victory.

Kevin Danso was one of five players introduced to their starting XI as Frank used three centre-backs, and the visitors took their time over every restart from the first whistle, prompting fury from the Arsenal fans.

A wall of white shirts stood between Arsenal and Vicario's goal in the early stages, but with none of Richarlison, Wilson Odobert or Mohammed Kudus offering an outlet on the counter-attack, Spurs could not escape and ultimately saw their resistance broken.

Frank's displeasure was made clear by the half-time withdrawal of Danso, with Xavi Simons his replacement as Spurs reverted to a back four, but conceding a third goal straight after the restart left their hopes of a comeback in tatters.

Rather than begin a fightback, Richarlison's goal only served to provoke Arsenal into further action, and Eze's hat-trick will sting his former suitors.

Spurs face a daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League before another London derby against Fulham next weekend, with Frank under pressure to oversee an improvement.

Club reports

Arsenal report | Spurs report

What the managers said

Mikel Arteta: "I enjoyed every minute of it. The preparation since they came back from the international break, the enthusiasm, the joy, the hunger. And then when you are able to play in the manner we played and perform in the manner we did and to win with the goals that we scored against our rivals always leaves a very special day."

Thomas Frank: "It's extremely painful to stand here after an extremely bad performance. It was the perfect storm. I think especially in the first half we lacked the ability to have pressure and get close to them and be aggressive enough in the duels. We had to absorb too much pressure throughout the first half. In the second half, we got a little bit better, but nowhere near the level we want."

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Eze is just the fourth player to score a hat-trick in competitive meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur after Ted Drake (October 1934), Terry Dyson (August 1961) and Alan Sunderland (December 1978).

Spurs have recorded the two lowest expected goals totals in a Premier League game this season, 0.07 against Arsenal and 0.1 against Chelsea at the start of November.

In 2025, only Erling Haaland (25), Mohamed Salah (23), Bryan Mbeumo (21) and Antoine Semenyo (18) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Arsenal’s Eze (18 – 10 goals, 8 assists).

Richarlison’s goal for Spurs (35.3 yards) is the furthest in the Premier League this season, and is also the furthest scored in a north London derby in the Premier League since David Bentley’s goal for Spurs in October 2008 (35.7 yards).

Eberechi Eze scored a sensational hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 to move six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Eze, who was linked with a move to Spurs before swapping Crystal Palace for the Emirates Stadium in August, got his first two goals in quick succession either side of half-time.

Leandro Trossard had earlier put Arsenal ahead following an excellent pass from makeshift centre-forward Mikel Merino, with Spurs not attempting a shot until the 55th minute.

Their first effort, from Richarlison, sailed into the net from 40 yards out to give the away fans something to cheer, but Eze had the final say, completing his first Premier League hat-trick with a confident finish 14 minutes from the end.

The result leaves Arsenal six points clear of Chelsea and seven ahead of Manchester City, while Spurs are down in ninth, 11 points behind the Gunners.

How the match unfolded

Spurs needed Guglielmo Vicario to block Declan Rice's volley inside the first three minutes, while Bukayo Saka saw a curling free-kick punched clear by the Italian.

Arsenal finally broke through in the 36th minute as Merino picked out Trossard, and the Belgian took an excellent first touch before his shot struck Micky van de Ven on the way in.

Spurs could not escape their own half, and it was 2-0 five minutes later as Eze squirmed between Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur before firing home with the aid of another slight deflection off Van de Ven.

Eze had his second goal just 35 seconds into the second half, finding the far corner on his left foot, though Spurs pulled one back out of nowhere when Richarlison spotted David Raya off his line and lobbed the Spaniard from distance.

But the day belonged to Eze, who applied a powerful finish after being found by Trossard for his hat-trick and almost got a fourth late on, stinging Vicario's wrists from range.

Eze the headliner as Arsenal put on a show

Arsenal emerged from the international break arguably more bruised than they were previously, with a thigh injury to Gabriel Magalhaes viewed as a major blow to Mikel Arteta's men.

Gabriel's absence ensured there would be a baptism of fire for Bayer Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapie, who made his first Premier League start in one of England's most fabled derby matches.

But Hincapie was hardly tested as Arsenal produced one of their most electric performances of the season, moving the ball at a relentless tempo and suffocating Spurs with their press.

Merino and Trossard again showed their value in the absence of injured striker Viktor Gyokeres as they combined for the opener, but from then on, it was all about Eze.

The England international has previously admitted to rejecting interest from Spurs to rejoin his boyhood club, who released him at the age of 13.

His first taste of the north London derby could hardly have gone any better, as he became the first player to score a treble in the fixture in the Premier League.

Arsenal went into the international break disappointed following a late draw with Sunderland, but ahead of a big week in which they face Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League, their swagger is back.

No style or substance for Spurs

Spurs' start to life under Thomas Frank has been up-and-down, with the former Brentford boss facing criticism from some quarters for not adopting a more adventurous approach.

However, few supporters were likely to care about Spurs' style if it yielded a rare north London derby victory.

Kevin Danso was one of five players introduced to their starting XI as Frank used three centre-backs, and the visitors took their time over every restart from the first whistle, prompting fury from the Arsenal fans.

A wall of white shirts stood between Arsenal and Vicario's goal in the early stages, but with none of Richarlison, Wilson Odobert or Mohammed Kudus offering an outlet on the counter-attack, Spurs could not escape and ultimately saw their resistance broken.

Frank's displeasure was made clear by the half-time withdrawal of Danso, with Xavi Simons his replacement as Spurs reverted to a back four, but conceding a third goal straight after the restart left their hopes of a comeback in tatters.

Rather than begin a fightback, Richarlison's goal only served to provoke Arsenal into further action, and Eze's hat-trick will sting his former suitors.

Spurs face a daunting trip to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League before another London derby against Fulham next weekend, with Frank under pressure to oversee an improvement.

Club reports

Arsenal report | Spurs report

What the managers said

Mikel Arteta: "I enjoyed every minute of it. The preparation since they came back from the international break, the enthusiasm, the joy, the hunger. And then when you are able to play in the manner we played and perform in the manner we did and to win with the goals that we scored against our rivals always leaves a very special day."

Thomas Frank: "It's extremely painful to stand here after an extremely bad performance. It was the perfect storm. I think especially in the first half we lacked the ability to have pressure and get close to them and be aggressive enough in the duels. We had to absorb too much pressure throughout the first half. In the second half, we got a little bit better, but nowhere near the level we want."

Next PL fixtures

Key facts

Eze is just the fourth player to score a hat-trick in competitive meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur after Ted Drake (October 1934), Terry Dyson (August 1961) and Alan Sunderland (December 1978).

Spurs have recorded the two lowest expected goals totals in a Premier League game this season, 0.07 against Arsenal and 0.1 against Chelsea at the start of November.

In 2025, only Erling Haaland (25), Mohamed Salah (23), Bryan Mbeumo (21) and Antoine Semenyo (18) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Arsenal’s Eze (18 – 10 goals, 8 assists).

Richarlison’s goal for Spurs (35.3 yards) is the furthest in the Premier League this season, and is also the furthest scored in a north London derby in the Premier League since David Bentley’s goal for Spurs in October 2008 (35.7 yards).

Ahead of Sunday's north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, we want you to pick a COMBINED XI of players from both clubs.

Will you pick Declan Rice or Joao Palhinha in midfield? Will you choose William Saliba over Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven at the back? What about Bukayo Saka or Mohammed Kudus on the wing?

Pick YOUR combined line-up above and choose from five different formations to tailor your team. Once you're happy, hit submit and share your Arsenal v Spurs combined XI.

More north London derby reading

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that centre-back Gabriel is injured and will be out for "weeks" ahead of the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Brazilian was forced off in his country's match against Senegal last Saturday just after the hour mark, where he was pictured holding his thigh.

Watch: Arteta's update on Gabriel's injury

What did Arteta say?

"Gabi is unfortunately picked up an injury with the national team. He will be out for weeks," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference.

"We need to have another scan next Wednesday. We will have the timeline much more clearly than we have at the moment.

"It's clearly a blow. It's our leader in our backline. To miss him is never a positive thing. The good thing is we have some very good options. They need to stand up now."

How many matches could Gabriel miss?

The Brazilian may be absent for as many as 11 matches until the end of December.

This includes a hectic week where Arsenal play Spurs, followed by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, before a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Gabriel could also miss huge tricky away matches at Aston Villa (6 December) and Everton (20 December).

The matches Gabriel could miss

Date Opponent Competition 23 Nov Spurs (H) Premier League 26 Nov Bayern Munich (H) Champions League 30 Nov Chelsea (A) Premier League 3 Dec Brentford (H) Premier League 6 Dec Aston Villa (A) Premier League 10 Dec Club Brugge (A) Champions League 13 Dec Wolves (H) Premier League 20 Dec Everton (A) Premier League 23 Dec Crystal Palace (H) EFL Cup 27 Dec Brighton (H) Premier League 30 Dec Aston Villa (H) Premier League

Who else is injured for Arsenal?

The Gunners are dealing with a number of absences at the moment, with as many as eight players sidelined with various injuries.

This includes captain Martin Odegaard, forwards Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, along with wingers Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.

See: Latest Premier League injuries

Who could replace Gabriel?

Summer signings Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie are two who could fill the void in central defence.

Mosquera has settled in well since joining from LaLiga side Valencia in the summer, making 12 appearances in all competitions and helping the Gunners keep eight clean sheets in those matches.

Hincapie, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen on deadline day this summer, has made five appearances in various competitions after recovering from a groin injury.

Football writer Alex Keble analyses where this weekend's fixtures could be won and lost, including:

- Spurs potentially opening up the title race?

- Chelsea starting a journey that could see them top at Christmas?

- If Dyche's football will stump Liverpool?

- Howe overcoming historical issues to revive Newcastle's season?

- If Man Utd can launch another winning streak?

- Fulham looking over their shoulders by the end of the weekend?

- Brighton v Brentford being the start of the separation of the table?

- If Rob Edwards can get the winning start he needs?

- Can Villa improve in the final third?

- If the international break came at a right time for Bournemouth?

Spurs potentially opening up the title race?

Until Arsenal end their two-decade wait for a Premier League title, doubts will linger and the prospect of a wobble will never be too far away, no matter how well they are playing.

The 2-2 draw with Sunderland prior to the international break was a perfectly reasonable result that ought not to change perceptions of Mikel Arteta’s side.

However, the timing was unfortunate, because immediately after Regis Le Bris discovered a possible flaw – two goals from long punts into the box and second-balls won – Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur at home, followed by Chelsea away.

Thomas Frank is an adaptable tactician who will no doubt have studied Sunderland’s methods in the hope of replicating them. As he showed as Brentford head coach – and, notably, in Spurs’ 2-0 win at Manchester City back in August – he can mastermind a direct, defensive, counter-attacking performance away from home.

Spurs are the only side still unbeaten away from home (W4, D1), boasting the joint-most points, the joint-most goals and the fewest goals conceded.

Spurs' league away record, 25/26

Statistic Total PL rank Points 13 =1st Goals 12 =1st Goals conceded 3 1st

On the other hand, should Arsenal get three points in such a highly-pressurised north London derby, it would provide an enormous psychological lift, reassert their position at the top and make sure the draw at Sunderland was as unremarkable as it felt at the time.

Chelsea starting a journey that could see them top at Christmas?

All of the statistics point to a Chelsea win at Turf Moor.

Burnley have conceded two or more goals in five of their last six Premier League matches and across the season, Scott Parker’s side have had the fewest shots, lowest Expected Goals (xG) figure, lowest possession, faced the most shots and have the highest Expected Goals Against (xGA).

Burnley's season statistics, 25/26

Statistic Total PL rank Shots 90 20th Expected Goals 8.3 20th Possession 38.6% 20th Shots faced 192 1st Expected Goals Against 24.0 1st

Chelsea, meanwhile, are on the up, winning four of their last five in the league, including each of their last two away from home.

Enzo Maresca’s side ought to get the job done, in the process beginning a journey that, as implausible as it might sound to some, could see Chelsea go top of the table at Christmas.

The gap to Arsenal is currently six points, but if Spurs take something from Emirates Stadium on Sunday, it could be cut to three or four before Chelsea host Arteta’s side next weekend.

Over the following fortnight, Arsenal have to play at Villa Park, while Chelsea’s toughest game is away at AFC Bournemouth, who appear to be on the slide.

The fixture list is about to hand Chelsea an exciting opportunity. But in order to capitalise, they need to make sure they make light work of Burnley.

If Dyche's football will stump Liverpool?

Following the 3-0 defeat at Man City, Liverpool cannot afford to lose yet more ground in the title race. They are eight points behind Arsenal and falling fast; to drop points against a relegation candidate, and at Anfield too, would be disastrous.

And yet it could easily happen. This one looks like another difficult game for Arne Slot.

It is now common knowledge that long balls, aerial challenges, speed to the second ball and fast attacks down Liverpool’s right flank cause the champions all sorts of problems. Sean Dyche’s side will be more than happy to target these flaws.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, returning from injury, should threaten behind Mohamed Salah, especially if the long balls upfield see Chris Wood beat Ibrahima Konate in the air and the second balls drop to Elliot Anderson.

Where teams attack v Liverpool

That it is so easy to visualise the tactical battle speaks volumes. Liverpool have been consistently vulnerable to teams in precisely the mould of Dyche’s Nottingham Forest.

Howe overcoming historical issues to revive Newcastle's season?

Following an international break that was supposed to be a chance to reset, Newcastle United could hardly have been given a more difficult match.

Newcastle have lost their last two Premier League games and haven’t lost three in a row since January 2024, almost two years ago. They are 14th in the table, just two points above the bottom three, and in danger of getting cut off from the race for UEFA Champions League football.

None of that is good preparation for facing Pep Guardiola’s side, especially given that Newcastle have won just one of their last 35 Premier League meetings with Man City (D6 L28).

Nevertheless, Eddie Howe needs to see this game as an opportunity.

St James' Park always creates an intimidating atmosphere for games of this magnitude and the Newcastle players need to channel that energy into a major performance; into the sort of result that could kickstart their season.

History tells us Man City will win, compound Newcastle’s misery and put pressure on Arsenal at the top. It’s up to Howe to show that Newcastle made good use of the international break.

If Man Utd can launch another winning streak?

Some of the momentum has been lost over the last few weeks after Manchester United drew back-to-back Premier League matches 2-2, although Ruben Amorim’s side are nevertheless on a five-match unbeaten run in the competition – and have won their last four Premier League home games.

Better still for United, who are just one point outside the top four, their next four games reads: Everton (H), Crystal Palace (A), West Ham United (H) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (A), four very winnable matches.

Monday’s fixture is a huge opportunity, then, for Amorim’s side to begin a sequence of victories that would take them up to the hectic festive period - and show they are very much in the running for a Champions League qualification.

Everton have won just one away game so far this season and appear to be sliding back down the table after a strong start. The stars are aligning for United to show, beyond doubt, that Amorim is on the road to recovery.

Fulham looking over their shoulders by the end of the weekend?

Marco Silva has reportedly been offered a new contract this week but all is not well at Fulham, or at least that’s the impression left by a league table that has them looking over their shoulders.

Fears of relegation will undoubtedly mount if Fulham lose this weekend and though unlikely, Silva’s side could even fall into the bottom three in defeat.

Fulham have only won three Premier League matches this season and all three were against struggling teams at home: Brentford, Leeds United, and Wolves.

If they can only beat the relegation candidates on home soil, and nobody else, then they will struggle to get towards 40 points.

Sunderland are formidable opponents, having won three of their five away games in the Premier League already this season, although Regis Le Bris’ side have now drawn their last two.

A win at Craven Cottage would be significant, ensuring Sunderland stay in the top four ahead of a trickier set of games: they face Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Man City in their next three.

But a fast start means there is no pressure on the Black Cats. The same cannot be said of Fulham. Nerves will increase substantially if they lose again on Saturday.

Brighton v Brentford being the start of the separation of the table?

The Premier League table is unusually compressed after 11 matches: just four points separates fourth from 13th.

If the table is going to split into distinct sections then it seems most likely to occur between Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, two sides currently locked on 16 points in 11th and 12th respectively, the former beginning the campaign with hopes of Europa League qualification and the latter merely wishing to avoid a relegation battle.

Below Brentford are teams one might expect to be in the bottom half (Newcastle aside), and above Brighton are those who were always the bookies’ favourites to occupy the European spots.

Brighton are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches at Amex Stadium, and since the start of last season have lost fewer home games (three) than anyone aside from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Liverpool (all two).

Meanwhile Brentford have lost four of their five away fixtures in the Premier League this season.

The split could start this weekend.

If Rob Edwards can get the winning start he needs?

Rob Edwards has a mountain to climb. No Premier League team has ever prevented relegation after earning just two points from the opening 11 matches of a season.

It goes without saying he simply has to get off to a winning start but Palace are thorny opponents who might just catch Wolves in transition.

Playing in a 3-4-2-1 formation, Edwards' teams tend to want to press high and hard, but as Luton Town manager he was forced into a more conservative set-up.

For his debut, there is a good chance Edwards will be proactive in his approach and encourage Wolves to be as adventurous as his Middlesbrough team, which opens up the possibility of Oliver Glasner’s rapid counter-attacks exposing the league’s leakiest defence.

But Edwards is savvy, and happy to adapt his tactics depending on the opposition.

However Wolves line up, however Edwards chooses to play, his new team simply have to win.

Can Villa improve in the final third?

Aston Villa have won eight of their last ten matches in all competitions and are only two points off third, indicating that Unai Emery’s side have fully recovered from their early wobbles and are now back to their best.

But the underlying numbers say something else. Defensively Villa are looking good, and their possession has become a lot more fluid since Pau Torres came back into the team, but goalscoring remains a serious issue.

Only Burnley have a lower xG tally than Villa’s 9.36 this season. Seven of their 13 goals, or 54 per cent, have been scored from outside the penalty area, including the crucial first two in the 4-0 victory over Bournemouth a fortnight ago.

Villa cannot continue to rely on spectacular goals, nor can they maintain a push for Champions League football if Ollie Watkins – with one Premier League goal in 11 games – does not pick up soon; Emery’s side are also bottom of the charts for big chance conversion, with 20 per cent (3/15).

Sunday’s game could be their chance to set that right. Leeds have lost four of their last five Premier League games and conceded three times in each of their last two, against Forest and Brighton.

If the international break came at a right time for Bournemouth?

The break came at a good time for Bournemouth, who lost back-to-back Premier League games and appeared tired in each.

Fears that they are regressing the mean could intensify if the fortnight off has not seen energy levels restored.

It certainly feels like an unfortunate time to be playing West Ham, who have won two consecutive Premier League games under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nuno’s reactive counter-attacking football feels perfect, too, to frustrate Bournemouth and catch them on the break, or at least it will be if Andoni Iraola’s side look as drained as they did in defeats to Man City and Aston Villa.

But trips to the Etihad Stadium and Villa Park are notoriously difficult.

Perhaps the Cherries will be improved on home soil, where they have won four out of five Premier League matches this season.

Football writer Alex Keble looks at key fixtures ahead of a busy couple of months for teams at both ends of the table in the Premier League.

When the Premier League returns next weekend, we begin to gear up for the busiest time of the season.

The table will change considerably over the coming weeks and months as good starts wilt, faltering clubs recover, and the league begins to form a lasting shape.

You might think it’s the hectic festive period, beginning in late December, when the Premier League table shakes out. Not quite.

Before then we have five rounds squeezed into four weeks; 40 matches in 24 days, an extremely busy autumn period that – with a full midweek round and Friday/Monday matches – sees Premier League football played on 14 of those 24 days.

Those fixture include Newcastle United v Manchester City and Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur in Matchweek 12, Chelsea v Arsenal in Matchweek 13, and a Matchweek 16 that looks full of title-race banana skins: Crystal Palace v Man City and Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion among them.

History tells us it’s a crucial period. This time last year the gap from third to 12th was just four points, but by the end of Matchweek 16 that had grown to seven.

Meanwhile, Chelsea rose rapidly and Palace shook off relegation concerns while Newcastle began their descent.

If it’s anything like last year, then the next five weeks will be hugely significant. Arsenal’s very tough set of games could let Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool in.

Arsenal’s tough run could let in chasing pack

The title race could shift dramatically.

Arsenal have an extremely difficult run of matches coming up, with no banker until the final match in the sequence of five, which includes Spurs (H), Chelsea (A), Brentford (H), Aston Villa (A), and Wolverhampton Wanderers (H).

The north London derby and the derby at Stamford Bridge will bring blood and thunder, potentially disrupting the calm rhythm of Mikel Arteta’s side so far this season.

Then comes Brentford, whose low block has already taken points from Chelsea, Man City, Manchester United, and Newcastle this season, before Arsenal play Villa, a side they’ve beaten just once in the last four attempts.

All of this is excellent news for Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool, who will each expect to win more points than the Gunners in this period.

Man City travel to St James Park at the perfect time, with Newcastle in poor form, and following three matches against Leeds, Fulham and Sunderland, travel to Selhurst Park, by which time Palace’s unbeaten run will surely have ended.

Chelsea will see hosting Arsenal as a chance to reel them in, and otherwise are only truly challenged by a trip to AFC Bournemouth, suggesting Enzo Maresca has a real opportunity to close the gap to zero in time for Christmas.

Liverpool are much further behind and struggling for form, of course, which is why their next five fixtures will come as such a relief to Arne Slot.

He needs 15 points from these games. Liverpool are surely good enough to get them.

In summary, the fixture schedule presents the possibility that any of the three chasers could be at least level on points with Arsenal by the end of MW16.

It makes for a fascinating few weeks.

Spurs, Villa and Man Utd hunt down UCL

There are conceivably 10 Premier League clubs currently thinking about the one or two UEFA Champions League places up for grabs. In all likelihood, that number will come down a bit over the next four weeks.

The most likely contenders, based on current points and pre-season expectations, are Man Utd, Villa, and Spurs.

Of those three Villa and United look best placed to sprint clear this autumn.

Next five fixtures

Villa play four teams currently in the bottom half and host Arsenal, a fixture they historically do well in, while Man Utd don’t play a single team higher than ninth.

If Ruben Amorim can continue their rhythm, he can well and truly put a gap between United and the outsiders.

Spurs, however have a difficult set of away trips as they go to Emirates Stadium, St James Park and the City Ground.

Palace and Newcastle have a chance to climb

Next five fixtures

Sunderland, too, may regress. Their brilliant start is partly thanks to a quirk of the fixture list, which is why their matches now look so tough: Liverpool (A), Man City (A) and Newcastle (H), all in a row, will take a massive psychological toll.

Bournemouth, Brighton, and Palace also harbour ambitions of playing in Europe next season and of the three, Palace are likeliest to rise.

Andoni Iraola’s team have a potentially favourable fixtures between Matchweek 12-14, but their back-to-back defeats suggest tiredness is creeping in, which could help sides beneath them happy to sit deep and frustrate.

Matches against Chelsea and Man Utd end a sequence that is tougher than it might at first seem.

Brighton have a mixed set of fixtures, with Villa and Liverpool stumbling blocks, whereas Palace face three of the current bottom six and both Manchester clubs at home.

Oliver Glasner tends to do well at Selhurst Park against the ‘Big Six’, suggesting Palace could put a run together that separates them from Bournemouth, Brighton, and Sunderland.

Newcastle, too, have a chance to get back into the running. Aside from the Tyne-Wear derby, their only blockbuster matches (Man City and Spurs) are at home.

If Eddie Howe can transfer some of that fighting spirit over from the Champions League, this could be a fruitful time.

Tough fixtures for the bottom six

Bottom six's next five fixtures

After the first 11 Matchweeks, it looks as though three of the current bottom six will get relegated, and judging by their respective fixture lists, that perspective is not going to change before the festive period begins.

In fact, with Everton and Brentford looking stable and Newcastle surely already at their lowest, the extremely tough matches facing the bottom clubs means a mini-league might develop that cuts them adrift.

Wolves have four matches against the current top 10, West Ham United do not play anyone lower than 11th, and Leeds United face four of the top eight.

These three in particular might struggle, and it certainly paints a bleak picture for new managers Nuno Espirito Santo and Rob Edwards.

Things are slightly better for the other three. Nottingham Forest’s momentum could be halted at Anfield, and they still have Brighton and Spurs after that, although two six-pointers might be all Sean Dyche needs to continue the recovery.

Burnley will be looking at Brentford (A) and Fulham (A) as their chance for points in a difficult spell, while Fulham will also be looking at that MW16 game, as well as a home meeting against Sunderland.

So, Forest, Burnley, and Fulham all have two out of five matches against fellow bottom-half clubs; games they will earmark as winnable, and want four points from at least.

If they hit that target, it could leave Wolves, West Ham, and Leeds in serious trouble.

But these are all very much hypothetical.

The sheer congestion of the fixture list adds a layer of unpredictability, as does European football played alongside it.

Whatever happens, we can safely say the next five rounds will be pivotal.

Football writer Alex Keble takes a look back at the Premier League’s summer signings and picks out the best 12 performers so far.

We want YOU to tell us which signing has performed best in the campaign to date.

Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City)

When Man City signed another goalkeeper, so soon after James Trafford’s mistake on his home debut, some thought Pep Guardiola – fearing a repeat of the Claudio Bravo debacle that plagued his first year at the Etihad - had been hasty.

It only took one world-class save, from an Bryan Mbeumo volley, for that critique to dissolve on Donnarumma’s debut against Manchester United, and for pundits to put to one side the Italian’s supposedly inferior ball-playing ability.

Donnarumma's save v Man Utd

Like Erling Haaland, Donnarumma represents Guardiola’s evolution towards brute force over delicate positional play. It’s working. Since his debut, the Man City goalkeeper has conceded just seven goals in 12 games in all competitions, keeping six clean sheets.

Martin Dubravka (Burnley)

Burnley have made a far sturdier start than many had expected, and although they have conceded 22 goals in 11 Premier League games (only West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have let in more), their new goalkeeper Dubravka has made the most saves in the division (46).

Dubravka's shot-stopping success is arguably the biggest factor that has kept Burnley above the dotted line of the relegation zone in 17th place. Opta's "expected points" table has them on just 5.7 points and rock bottom in 20th.

Most saves made in Premier League 2025/26

Goalkeeper Total Dubravka 46 Roefs 39 Sels 37 Pope 36 Petrovic 35 Vicario 34

Estevao (Chelsea)

Chelsea have unearthed a gem in teenager Estevao, who looks the finished product already. The Brazilian is a quick dribbler and intelligent passer and might already be the Blues' best winger.

Enzo Maresca is understandably integrating Estevao slowly into the team, with the 18-year-old only having started four of Chelsea’s 11 matches, but his explosiveness is useful from the bench against tired legs.

Estevao has one goal and one assist so far this season. There will be plenty more of both.

Watch: Estevao's best moments for Chelsea so far

Jack Grealish (Everton)

Having spent several years tied to Guardiola's rigid positional instructions at Man City, most of us had forgotten what it was like to see Grealish in full flow.

Grealish is back playing with style and charisma, although that wouldn’t count for much if he didn’t back it up with a final ball.

Back to his silky (and consistent) best, Grealish already has four Premier League assists for Everton. He leads the Premier League in open-play chances created and is second, only behind Bruno Fernandes, in overall chances created.

Most open-play chances created 25/26

Player Total Grealish 23 Doku 23 Fernandes 19 Gakpo 19 Salah 18

Jordan Henderson (Brentford)

Eyebrows were raised when Brentford brought Henderson back from the Netherlands to the Premier League but the 35-year-old former Liverpool captain has proved how much he has left to give.

Leadership in the dressing room and central midfield was missing following the departure of Christian Norgaard to Arsenal and Henderson has more than filled that gap.

He has performed well on the pitch, too, assisting twice already and making more progressive passes (46) than any other Brentford player.

Michael Kayode, who played for Brentford on loan from Fiorentina last season, also deserves a mention for his performances since signing for the Bees on a permanent deal in the summer.

The full-back has been solid defensively but more importantly, he has been a potent weapon with those long throws, creating more chances (15) than anyone else in the team.

Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham Hotspur)

So far, life at Spurs hasn't gone quite as smoothly as Thomas Frank will have hoped but results have been considerably better than performances, and for that he can thank Kudus for hitting the ground running.

Watch Kudus' best moments of 2025/26 so far

The winger was a notable absentee in the 2-2 draw with Man Utd recently, showing just how much Spurs have already come to rely upon his creativity since the departure of Son Heung-min.

Kudus has created 14 chances in the Premier League and contributed five goal involvements (one goal, four assists), on both counts more than any other Spurs player. More impressively, he is top of the Premier League charts for take-ons attempted (71) and completed (34).

Most take-ons attempted Most dribbles completed Kudus 71 Kudus 34 Doku 58 Doku 34 Ndiaye 51 Minteh 27 Minteh 47 Ndiaye 27 Semenyo 46 Semenyo 21

Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd)

Plenty of footballers over the last few years have arrived at Old Trafford off the back of a superb season, only to see themselves sucked into the vortex of Man Utd.

Mbeumo has avoided that trap, picking up from where he left off with Brentford to score five goals and assist another in 11 Premier League games for his new club.

And it’s more than just the numbers. Mbeumo has been superb as one of Ruben Amorim’s two No 10s, playing intelligently in a hybrid winger/No 9 role.

Watch: How Mbeumo won October's Player of the Month award

Joao Pedro (Chelsea)

Pedro instantly repaid his fee with three goals in three knockout games in the FIFA Club World Cup and has continued that form into the new season, already contributing seven goal involvements in the Premier League, putting him fourth among all players and first among those signed in the summer.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion forward's ability to play as a No 10 and as a No 9 has helped Chelsea cover for the loss of Cole Palmer, but more importantly his work as a "false nine" is creating space for wingers such as Estevao.

Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United)

Eddie Howe’s defence was transformed once Thiaw, signed for a reported £35 million from AC Milan, made his full Newcastle debut.

The club conceded just six goals in the first nine matches in all competitions with Thiaw in the side, and at that point they were second in the Premier League for clean sheets, with five.

The Magpies, and Thiaw, have suffered a little more of late, losing 3-1 to both West Ham and Brentford in November. Nevertheless, Thiaw has been an important, powerful centre-back; Newcastle have won seven of the 12 games he has started in all competitions.

Adrien Truffert (AFC Bournemouth)

The way Bournemouth have seamlessly continued their good work under Andoni Iraola, despite losing Milos Kerkez, Dean Huijsen, and Illia Zabarnyi to three of Europe’s biggest clubs, is astounding.

Every member of the Bournemouth defence has performed well above expectations, including new goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, but none quite as well as Truffert – the all-action left-back who, in the space of just a few games, has shown he is Kerkez’s equal.

Both defensively (23 tackles, 54 ball recoveries) and offensively (eight chances created, 47 crosses attempted) he is out-performing Liverpool's new left-back.

Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)

Sunderland have enjoyed an incredible start to the season and there are numerous new signings who have played a key part in that - including Nordi Mukiele, Robin Roefs, and Brian Brobbey to name but three – and yet there is still no question who has been their biggest star.

Xhaka is a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch, in defending the box and in controlling the tempo with his metronomic passing. His over-sized influence is captured in the numbers because in so many of the major metrics, Xhaka isn’t just Sunderland’s best performer – he’s out on his own:

How Xhaka compares to Sunderland team-mates

Category Xhaka's total Next-best team-mate Touches 741 558 Passes completed 505 333 Chances created 16 9 Recoveries 50 38

Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)

It is easy to overlook the influence Zubimendi has had on Mikel Arteta’s midfield, so quickly has the Spaniard adapted to life in England.

He has completed more passes (627) than any other player in the Premier League aside from Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, and among Arsenal players, only Jurrien Timber (40) has made more combined tackles and interceptions than Zubimendi’s 33.

A smart threader of passes through the lines and a neat-and-tidy screener in the Rodri mould, Zubimendi is the main reason Arsenal’s defensive record has gone to a whole new level in 2025/26.

Watch Zubimendi's double against Nottingham Forest

With nearly a third of the 2025/26 season gone, some clear patterns are emerging. Here, we take a look at how the home and away form of Premier League teams compare, revealing some surprising trends.

Home sweet home - or not?

Tottenham Hotspur kicked off the 2025/26 campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 home victory over Burnley, but have failed to win in four Premier League home matches since.

Spurs, who sit fifth in the Premier League table, owe their current league placing to their extraordinary away form, averaging a competition-high 2.60 points per game, with four wins and a draw from their five matches on the road.

Since that victory against Burnley, Spurs have lost three and drawn two at home in the Premier League - averaging just 0.83 points per game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season.

Only bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, the lone team without a win across the opening 11 Matchweeks, have a worse average, with 0.20 points per home game.

Arsenal, who host north London rivals Spurs in Matchweek 12, boast an average of 2.60 points per game at home, the joint-best in the division, along with AFC Bournemouth.

Most home/away points per game, 25/26

Home Away Arsenal 2.60 Spurs 2.60 Bournemouth 2.60 Arsenal 2.17 Man City 2.50 Chelsea 2.00 Liverpool 2.40 Man City 1.40 Man Utd 2.40 Crystal Palace 1.40 Brighton 2.20 Sunderland 1.40

Scroll across on mobile to see the full table

Manchester City have taken 15 points at the Etihad Stadium in 2025/26 - two more than the 13 of Arsenal and Bournemouth - but have played a match more at home, averaging 2.50 points per game.

Brentford and Aston Villa have also collected 13 points from home matches, albeit having also played one match more, while Liverpool, Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion have all averaged at least twice as many points at home than away.

Away wins at a premium

Unsurprisingly the four teams currently above Spurs in the Premier League table - Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Sunderland - have all been consistent both at home and away.

However, while Spurs are the standout side on the road, Newcastle United are one of four teams yet to claim an away league victory this season.

Eddie Howe's team sit in 15th place in the away table, level with Burnley and Leeds United with an average of 0.50 points per game, but ahead of Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Wolves, who are the other three teams without a win on their travels in 2025/26, and occupy the three spots in the relegation zone.

Newcastle have taken just three points from their six away matches compared to eight points from their first half-dozen contests on the road last season.

The table makes pretty miserable reading for Wolves and Fulham especially, with the lowest points per game return of 0.17 from their six away matches.

Fewest home/away points per game, 25/26

Home Away Wolves 0.20 Wolves 0.17 Spurs 0.83 Fulham 0.17 West Ham 1.00 Nottingham Forest 0.40 Nottingham Forest 1.17 Leeds 0.50 Burnley 1.40 Burnley 0.50 Leeds 1.60 Newcastle 0.50

Scroll across on mobile to see the full table

Overall clubs appear to be enjoying less success on the road, and currently only seven Premier League teams have tasted away success on more than one occasion this season.

Nine teams - including sixth-placed Villa - have won just once on their travels.