Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City judged as surprise Premier League frontrunners emerge

View 5 Images

The Premier League landscape has already changed. Two weeks ago and it seemed as though some felt Liverpool had wrapped up the title - well think again.

They lost for the third time in a week as Chelsea bagged a late winner on Saturday night. Arne Slot is still trying to find a winning formula from his lavishly assembled team but the likes of Florian Wirtz continue to underwhelm.

Their loss in west London meant Arsenal were able to steal a march and go top. Up until recently questioned were asked of Mikel Arteta and his methods but now the Gunners are enjoying a narrow advantage at the top.

And what about Manchester City ? Serial champions up until last year. There has been talk of transition but they're continuing to pick up results are two early losses. Few tip them to finish top of the pile, but that could suit them just fine.

Tottenham are enjoying their new manager bounce, but they had that under Ange Postecoglou, and missed out on the Champions League places that year. Do they have enough to keep going? And how long can Andoni Iraola perform miracles at Bournemouth ?

We've asked our writers to give us their thoughts on which team has had the best start seven games into the season.

The answer is simple. Arteta, because his team sit top of the Premier League table. Liverpool have stumbled and Manchester City lurk in a dangerous position, but Arsenal are starting to justify their tag as one of the pre season favourites to win the title.

There is still a long long way to go, and there will be bumps in the road, but Arteta appears to have the strongest squad in the top flight.

View 5 Images

The one issue he will have to overcome is not becoming the bridesmaid instead of the bride again, like what has happened in the last two seasons. Have his players learned from recent events?

Without a shadow of a doubt, Arsenal have had the best start. If you look at their opening fixtures - they included Manchester United away, Liverpool away, Newcastle away and Manchester City - to be sitting top after seven games is phenomenal.

That is quite the statement. Even on Saturday, in the past two seasons they have slipped up against West Ham at home, the pressure was on again - and yet they delivered and saw Liverpool lose at Chelsea.

Fair play, Arsenal have come through a huge test and are sitting on top of the pile after a tougher start than any of their rivals. Arteta has had the backing from the club in the transfer market, he got a bit narked after being accused of putting the handbrake on… but his starting line-up against West Ham was attacking and exciting.

If they can just get Viktor Gyokeres scoring, then Arsenal will feel as if this could finally be their year.

The other team which deserves a big mention is Tottenham. Last year, they were hopeless in the Premier League and are still inconsistent at home but Thomas Frank is starting afresh and is doing a hell of a job.

Honourable mentions here to table-toppers Arsenal, north London rivals Spurs who have enjoyed a solid start to life under Thomas Frank, Crystal Palace whose wings were finally clipped by Everton on Sunday and Sunderland for an impressive return to the Premier League.

But the answer is Bournemouth. Iraola's side continue to defy the odds and are well worth their place in the top four after seven games, sitting just two points behind the pace-setting Gunners.

They have already played half of the top flight's Champions League sextet, taking four points from games against champions Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle .

View 5 Images

Their other four games have yielded 10 points and if they can maintain their form as the season progresses, a first tilt at European football is very much on the cards.

In Antoine Semenyo they have one of the Premier League's superstars. Such is the nature of the beast, it's hard to see him remaining on the south coast beyond the end of the season.

The same could be said of their manager, especially if Manchester United's woes continue. The Red Devils' hierarchy could do a lot worse. And they already have.

Considering the teething issues faced by so many managers last season and this, Spurs’ ability to start so impressively under new boss Thomas Frank can’t be sniffed at.

This is a team which spent the second half of last season firmly in the bottom half of the table, and one which has lost captain Son Heung-min to LAFC and playmaker James Maddison to an ACL injury.

Given all that, some might have forgiven Frank if he took a while to get the team playing the way he wanted. That hasn’t been an issue, though, with Spurs losing just once in seven league outings to sit third as we go into the international break.

Yes, the fixture list has been friendly, with a fine win at Manchester City the only game against one of last season’s top seven. Bigger tests will follow, but you can’t knock what they have achieved so far.

Credit to Tottenham and particularly Bournemouth, who have kept pace thus far, but in light of the noise that had surrounded them and their manager Arsenal can pause for a moment and smile given their current situation.

View 5 Images

Yes they were beaten at Liverpool and failed to down Man City at home, but the late late win at Newcastle could be the moment we look back on as the most defining. That win came when the door had opened slightly with the Reds losing.

And Arsenal were able to make light work of West Ham on Saturday before sitting back and seeing Liverpool lose, allowing them to retain top spot.

Like Liverpool in the opening weeks, they are not perfect, but they seem to be heading towards more of a winning formula, not distancing themselves from one. Arteta knows the pressure is on, but they couldn't be better placed at this point.

Relatively speaking, there's no debate for me. Iraola's side, who lost 80 per cent of their often-impenetrable back four and goalkeeper from last season, have been outstanding to collect 14 points from their first seven games.

Their only defeat came on the opening night of the season, a rollercoaster 4-2 loss away to Liverpool. They've then shown character to come from behind in their last two games, picking up a draw at Elland Road before beating Fulham in emphatic fashion on Friday.

The Cherries' new signings have all stepped up to the mantles left by their predecessors, proving why Bournemouth are among the most well-run clubs in the country. Antoine Semenyo has been one of the players of the season so far, too.

Yes, Arsenal have racked up the most points, but they lost against a title rival in Liverpool and drew at home to Man City. Sixteen points, I would say, is par for the course - unlike Bournemouth, who are well within a shout of qualifying for Europe and aren't showing any signs of a drop-off.

No-one should be remotely surprised that Arsenal and Liverpool occupy the top two places in the table - they were the two powerhouse squads of last season and have each strengthened considerably in the summer.

The only mild shock is that Slot’s champions have slipped up at Stamford Bridge and Selhurst Park. In mid-table, Everton and Sunderland have probably punched above their weight in these opening exchanges but the two teams who have really caught the eye lie in third and fourth.

View 5 Images

Unfortunately, Frank’s attractive start with Spurs is exposing Ange Postecoglou’s shortcomings - shortcomings that are being highlighted by his dismal start at Nottingham Forest .

But, for me, the standout performers after the first seven Premier League games are Bournemouth.

After selling what appeared to be five key players in the summer, Andoni Iraola continues to get a lovely tune out of his squad, consistently producing attractive, winning football that makes them a match for anyone. Quite simply, they are a credit to the Premier League.

Liverpool may have been top of the pile until this weekend but if we're being frank, there were signs that the champions are a long way off top gear well before Arne Slot's new-look team fell to back-to-back Premier League defeats.

It feels ludicrous to say given recent history, but very few people are talking about Manchester City in relation to the title. They have had to rebuild after imploding last season and, after some early teething problems this term, are now just three points off Arsenal at the summit.

In terms of title contenders, I'd say Arteta's men have had the best start, albeit they've dropped points against their two main title contenders. But let's not forget they've also had to contend with injuries to some of their best players, so taking everything into account, I'll plump for the Gunners. Just.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.