Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players and team tactics, and assesses where Premier League matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 7.
Player analysis: Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)
Oozing composure, bristling with determination, and regularly producing moments of technical excellence, Xhaka is one of the Premier League’s players of the season so far.
The Switzerland international will be relishing a visit to under-pressure Manchester United on Saturday, captaining a Sunderland side who have taken 11 points from their first six matches - the most by any promoted team since 2012/13.
Impressing against Forest
Xhaka was fabulous in the Black Cats’ impressive 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last Sunday.
Allowing Ange Postecoglou’s hosts 64.6 per cent of possession, a lot of his contributions were off the ball and in that regard, Xhaka was a force of nature.
The former Arsenal star covered 11.41km, second only to midfield team-mate Noah Sadiki, and won seven duels and made eight clearances, seven ball recoveries, two blocks, two tackles and an interception.
A wonderful piece of anticipation to cut out an Elliot Anderson pass (shown below) is a great example of how well he is performing as a defensive midfielder.
Moving quickly to his right, Xhaka is quite some distance away from intended target Dan Ndoye when the pass is made.
Yet, without breaking stride, Xhaka cuts across to step in front at the last moment, stealing the ball back for his side.
It was excellent reading of the game from Xhaka, and his defensive chalkboard from that match (below) outlines how well he played throughout.
Dropping in to help out Sunderland’s back four as an auxiliary defender has become a feature of his game.
Xhaka's defensive chalkboard v Forest
Helping his defence
When you assess the 33-year-old’s off-the-ball data under Regis Le Bris, it leaps off the page.
Xhaka ranks among the top five midfielders in several areas, leading the way for clearances, headed clearances and aerial duels won.
Watch: How Xhaka has been key to Sunderland's start
Lending a hand as an extra centre-back when required, Xhaka has played a significant part in helping Sunderland limit opponents to just four goals scored in six matches.
How Xhaka ranks defensively among midfielders 25/26
| Action | Total | PL Rank |
| Clearances | 26 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Headed clearances | 20 | 1 |
| Aerial duels won | 20 | 1 |
| Duels won | 41 | 4 |
| Interceptions | 7 | =5 |
Precision passing
Xhaka has been equally impressive on the ball too, dictating play with progressive distribution.
Long-range passing has long been his forte, and his cultured left foot is consistently taking his side up the pitch.
Whether it is an effortless switch of play to change the point of attack, a hopeful channel ball or something more ambitious, Xhaka has made the second-highest number of successful long passes, just one behind Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes.
With a third of his passes going forward, Xhaka has been bold in his choice of distribution, with only Fernandes and Forest's Anderson producing a greater number of passes into the final third.
Xhaka’s numbers are just as impressive, proving he is still a solid all-round midfielder.
Not too many players in his position can boast passing stats as positive as those below.
How Xhaka's passing ranks among PL midfielders 25/26
| Action | Total | PL Rank |
| Successful long balls | 29 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Long passes | 47 | 2 |
| Passes into final third | 61 | 3 |
| Successful forward passes | 70 | 6 |
With Habib Diarra sidelined until December due to a groin injury, Xhaka is currently playing in a midfield pairing alongside Sadiki, with 18-year-old Chris Rigg operating as a No 10.
During his time with Arsenal, Xhaka was used in positions to the left of centre, but at the moment he is on the right of a central two.
He is comfortable prompting from that area, which affords him the chance to ping lengthy switches of play to the left, as shown on the below graphic of his passing network this season.
Where Xhaka (DM) passes the ball 2025/26
Improving his rate of assists
Xhaka’s best assists haul in a league season is seven, achieved with Arsenal in 2017/18 and 2022/23, as well as last season at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
For Sunderland, he seems to be heading for a personal best, delivering three assists in just six starts.
His gorgeously weighted free-kick clip to Omar Alderete for the winner on Sunday was inch perfect in its execution.
To pick out the centre-back was smart, but his accuracy in doing so was tremendous.
Watch Xhaka's assist for Alderete v Forest
There was also a deftness to Xhaka’s touch for his assist in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
Guiding a loose ball over the top of Villa's defence with a lovely looping header, he laid it off with precision for Wilson Isidor to score.
Watch Xhaka's assist for Isidor v Aston Villa
And in the home success against Brentford, Xhaka followed a long channel pass he made to release Enzo Le Fee, supporting the midfielder on his inside.
Then, crossing first time, he found Isidor’s head with another pinpoint pass.
Watch Xhaka's assist for Isidor v Brentford
Not all assists require such skill or imagination, but this trio from Xhaka were all magnificently crafted.
Those three goals - worth a combined five points - are the last three they have scored in the Premier League.
If Xhaka assists the next goal Sunderland score, possibly at Man Utd, he will become only the second Black Cats player to make four in a row.
Chris Waddle, back in 1996/1997, was the only other man to achieve that feat for Sunderland.
Sunderland will test fragile Man Utd
Man Utd are creating plenty of chances, but without the ball they have shown a lot of fragility in 2025/26.
A lack of mobility and defensive nous in central midfield has caused issues, and they have not tracked back with enough desire either.
Last weekend’s 3-1 loss at Brentford, when Man Utd faced eight shots on target, was defensively alarming, with long passes causing them major problems.
Sunderland will test their resolve in that department, and Le Bris’ men will also take confidence from their superior shape and structure.
Sunderland and Man Utd's defensive numbers 25/26
| Stat | Sunderland | Man Utd |
| Goals conceded | 4 | 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Expected Goals against (xGA) | 6.99 | 9.35 |
| Expected Goals per shot faced | 0.09 | 0.17 |
Man Utd are facing efforts that average 0.17 Expected Goals (xG), the highest tally in the division – a sign of loose defending.
Yet Sunderland find themselves at the other end of the spectrum, facing shots that average an xG of just 0.09.
Only Arsenal and Newcastle have lower figures than that, proving how stoutly they are keeping opponents at arm’s length.
Individually, Xhaka is certainly performing well enough to potentially lead Sunderland to yet another impressive victory.