What have we learned from the Premier League so far?

What have we learned from the Premier League so far? The Premier League is set for a three‑week pause while the four‑match international window gets underway. So, what have we learned from the opening five matches of the season? BBC Sport takes a look. Premier League champions Arsenal appeared virtually unstoppable in the early weeks of the campaign. A victory over Brighton on Saturday would have given the Gunners a club‑record‑tying eighth straight win across all competitions to start the season. Instead, the run ended with a 3‑0 defeat at the Amex Stadium. Arsenal had not lost a league match by more than a single goal, let alone three, since October 2024. The loss marked their heaviest league defeat since a 3‑0 reverse to the same opponent in May 2023. “That's not going to take away what the squad has done and the boys have done in the past six or seven weeks since coming back from the World Cup,” said head coach Mikel Arteta. “What we've done, the way we've competed and the number of games we've won has been exceptional – but this is simply a big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level.” Maresca hits ground running at Man City Many questioned whether Manchester City would suffer a post‑Pep Guardiola dip after the legendary manager’s departure following a decade in charge. Under Enzo Maresca the start was not flawless; the Community Shield fell to Arsenal. Yet City have won all five Premier League fixtures and seven matches in a row across all competitions after Sunday’s entertaining 5‑3 win over Sunderland. That result puts them three points clear of Arsenal. “In the build‑up to the game I said I expected a really tough encounter,” Maresca remarked. “We then conceded two or three goals but we have learned a lot in these eight weeks and this is positive.” Brighton & Brentford continue to impress Brighton and Brentford, two clubs that have never lifted a major trophy, have kept up their strong form this season. Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton followed the 3‑0 win over Arsenal with a move into third place, just two points behind the Gunners. Brighton have beaten the reigning Premier League champions at home in each of the last three seasons. Star player Pascal Gross laughed and replied “no” when