Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a familiar nightmare: they cannot score and they cannot defend. After five matches without a win, the club has slipped back into the relegation zone, a position that looks increasingly precarious.
Their attacking play is wasteful, with chances being squandered, while their defensive work is riddled with sloppy passes, poor decisions and lapses that hand the opposition easy opportunities. Roberto De Zerbi, clearly frustrated after the latest loss to Aston Villa, described the defending that led to the opponent's second goal as "unacceptable". His anger was palpable during the post‑match press conference, yet the most striking admission was that he did not even speak to his players after the defeat – a sign that he feels the same errors keep repeating with no clear solution. The timing could not be worse: just as De Zerbi needs his squad back on the training pitch to correct these habits, the international break arrives, meaning several key players will not see their manager for more than two weeks.
This is not a season that is doomed to failure. The Spurs squad possesses considerable talent, but talent alone cannot compensate for a team that constantly undermines itself.
If De Zerbi cannot eradicate the self‑destructive tendencies quickly, the campaign could become another chapter of humiliation for a club that once regularly challenged for European places. One of the standout performances against Tottenham came from Nicolas Jackson of Aston Villa. Jackson combined silky footwork with a physical edge that kept Spurs' centre‑backs on the back foot. He repeatedly offered an outlet, protected possession and drew teammates into the play, showcasing why Chelsea invested heavily in him.
While he does not always rack up a high goal tally, his all‑round contribution is invaluable. When Jackson plays with confidence, the entire Villa side appears to click: midfielders have a clear target, wide players have a partner to combine with, and attackers find space to exploit. His effort produced the key goal that doubled Villa's lead, highlighting the type of centre‑forward presence Tottenham are currently missing in the middle of the park. Turning to Arsenal, the Gunners suffered a 3‑0 defeat at Brighton, a result that, in the eyes of many, should have been an even larger margin.
Brighton missed three clear chances that could have added to their tally, but the performance was still uncharacteristically poor for Mikel Arteta's side. The last time Arsenal conceded three goals away in a Premier League match was in December 2023, a game they actually won 4‑3 at Luton. The previous three‑goal loss occurred in May 2023 against Brighton, making this a rare away collapse for a team that has historically amassed more points on the road than any other in the last five seasons. Arteta recognised the problem early, noting that Arsenal were outplayed from the first throw‑in until the 95th minute.
He stressed that this was a bad day, not a sign of a deeper crisis, and urged perspective, reminding fans that the Gunners have won every other match this season despite a congested schedule, World Cup fatigue and defensive injuries. The last time Arsenal suffered a similar loss was the 2026 Carabao Cup final, after which a tactical template for beating them emerged, leading to a series of setbacks including a FA Cup exit, a defeat to Bournemouth and a loss to Manchester City that briefly altered the title race.
The upcoming international break offers a chance to regroup, but Arteta must ensure this Brighton stumble does not evolve into a prolonged wobble. Brighton themselves have begun the season in electrifying form.
They are currently the Premier League's top‑scoring side while also boasting the third‑best defence from the previous campaign. Under Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton have now beaten the reigning champions three seasons in a row, though the earlier victories came when Manchester City and Liverpool were already in decline. Stopping Arsenal at full speed, however, makes this the most impressive of those wins. The club's resilience is evident: when Carlos Baleba departed, Chema Andres stepped up; when Danny Welbeck left, Georginio Rutter delivered crucial goals; and when Jack Hinshelwood was sidelined, Pascal Gross contributed seven goal involvements in five games.
Hurzeler praised Gross as "like a fine wine," and the same sentiment applies to the whole squad, which continues to improve week after week. Everton, under David Moyes, provide another compelling narrative. Despite a limited transfer budget and the smallest squad in the division, they have over‑achieved, remaining unbeaten in their first seven games across all competitions and keeping five clean sheets.
A controversial VAR decision denied them a legitimate goal against Ipswich, yet they still secured a victory. Moyes acknowledges the constraints but sees them as an advantage, stating, "We're trying to make it that way." He also admits there is room for improvement, questioning why the team is not scoring more despite creating 21 shots—their highest Premier League total at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton's manager praised his players intensely, noting that their profligacy must be addressed, but also highlighted how effectively he has maximised the limited resources at his disposal. In the north, Newcastle United displayed both defensive grit and attacking flair in a 2‑1 win over Hull City. Harvey Barnes was the catalyst, delivering two assists within the first seven minutes—a record for the fastest multiple‑assist contribution in a Premier League match, surpassing Fabian Schar's nine‑minute feat from 2023.
Barnes' precise through‑ball set up Joe Willock, and his subsequent cross led to Lewis Hall's goal, providing Newcastle with a creative spark that persisted throughout the game. Despite his contributions, Barnes was overlooked for Thomas Tuchel's England squad, losing out to Eberechi Eze, who has yet to start a Premier League match for Arsenal this season. If Barnes continues to produce match‑defining moments under manager Matthias Jaissle, his international prospects are likely to improve.
Coventry City achieved a historic 1‑0 victory at Nottingham Forest, their first top‑flight win in 25 years—the last being against Sunderland in April 2001, before VAR existed. This time, VAR played a crucial role in confirming the win after an Igor Jesus goal was disallowed. Coventry displayed superb spirit and quality, with Jay Dasilva scoring the decisive goal after goalkeeper Carl Rushworth's assist.
Early concerns that Frank Lampard's side might become perennial basement dwellers have been allayed; the Sky Blues have now demonstrated they belong in the Premier League. Conversely, Forest continue to struggle at home, having secured fewer home points than only Tottenham among long‑standing top‑flight clubs. Manager Steve Clarke attributes the issue to a lingering "heaviness of the past" and will look to the upcoming international break for solutions to improve home form and clinical finishing. Chelsea, for the first time this season, were without their high‑profile front three—often dubbed "JP Morgan"—due to João Pedro's injury.
Danny Welbeck stepped in, a player historically successful against Brentford, but the new attacking trio of Welbeck, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers managed just one shot on target, a sharp decline from their average of three in the previous four league games. Pedro's role extends beyond scoring; he frequently drops deeper to link play, contributing equally with goals and assists.
Xabi Alonso cautioned against using Pedro's absence as an excuse, yet the manager likely hopes for his swift return after the break. Brentford's most valuable signing may be Jannik Schüster, who arrived from Red Bull Salzburg for £13 million. While the team displayed attacking prowess—scoring three goals and providing multiple assists—its defensive solidity shone, particularly in the win over Chelsea where they became the first side to keep the Blues from scoring this season. Schüster earned Player of the Match with 12 clearances, double the next highest Brentford player, despite it being his first home Premier League start against a physically imposing Welbeck.
Coach Keith Andrews praised his fearlessness, character and aggressive defending, noting that Schüster's presence embodies Brentford's continual improvement under manager Thomas Frank. Overall, the early weeks of the Premier League have produced a mix of self‑inflicted woes, surprising upsets and emerging talents. Spurs must address their dual‑sided deficiencies before the international break, Arsenal need to prevent a single poor performance from spiralling, and clubs like Brighton, Everton, Newcastle, Coventry and Brentford illustrate how strategic recruitment and resilience can yield impressive results even amid constraints. The upcoming pause in fixtures offers a vital window for managers to regroup, tweak tactics and restore confidence, setting the stage for an intriguing second half of the season.