Eight games in, and the Premier League table already looks like it’s been flipped upside down. Arsenal, once trailing Liverpool by five points, now sit four clear at the top. How did this even happen?
The season has been full of dramatic swings, from United’s struggles to City’s revival, and from Liverpool’s perfect start to Arsenal’s steady climb. Few could have predicted such a rollercoaster just two months into the campaign.
Manchester United’s struggles were almost written in the stars. After finishing 15th last season with just 42 points, a -10 goal difference, and a staggering 18 losses, expectations were low. Yet their slight resurgence this term doesn’t shock anyone; it was always bound to come after such a poor year.
City, on the other hand, were a toss-up. After enduring what many called a “horror season,” fans were unsure whether Guardiola’s men would bounce back or fade further. They’ve steadied the ship, currently three points behind Arsenal in second place, right where most expected them to be.
But it’s the Arsenal and Liverpool story that has truly captured the headlines.
After five games, Liverpool looked unstoppable, five wins out of five, 100% record, top of the league. Arsenal, meanwhile, had already dropped points, with one draw and one loss. But those numbers didn’t tell the full story.
Behind the scenes, cracks were already forming in Liverpool’s seemingly perfect run. Every one of their first five wins came through late goals, all after the 85th minute. That kind of fortune was never going to last. And indeed, it didn’t. The Reds have since dropped points in their last four matches, all losses, three of them in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s early issues, by contrast, were less about luck and more about creativity. The Gunners were solid defensively but struggled to score freely from open play. Yet Mikel Arteta’s men have quietly improved, shoring up their defense even further and finding a more clinical edge up front.
In just three matches, Liverpool went from five points clear at the top to four points behind. The momentum swing has been seismic.
Does the underlying data back it up? Absolutely. Arsenal currently ranks first across all major defensive metrics, from goals conceded to chances allowed, proving their resilience isn’t just a fluke.
As for the much-criticized attack, things look brighter there too. Despite claims that Arsenal aren’t scoring enough from open play, they rank second behind Manchester City for expected goals (xG) generated, and notably, two places above Liverpool. And Sixth for Open Play XG.
When comparing Arsenal’s performances to corresponding fixtures from last season, the improvement is undeniable. As shown by Scott Willis below, the Gunners are not only grinding out results, they’re doing so with consistency, structure, and belief.
“That is now 9 out of 9 points against Fulham, Newcastle, and West Ham, teams we struggled against last year which cost us the title. Last season we only took 1 out of a possible 9 from these three fixtures. Step by step,” one Arsenal fan proudly noted.
And he’s right, that’s progress.
From -5 to +4, Arsenal’s turnaround hasn’t just been about points, it’s been about maturity. And with only eight games gone, one thing’s certain: this Premier League race has plenty more twists to come.
