What we learned from Matchweek 9

Football writer Alex Keble highlights the hot topics and tactical lessons from Matchweek 9, including:

- Yet another routine 1-0 victory makes this "Arsenal’s title to win"
- Shaw’s aggression characterises Man Utd’s dramatic tactical improvements
- Familiar problems show teams "have definitely [found] a playing style" to hurt Liverpool
- Sunderland are so much more than set-pieces and counter-attacks
- Emery’s tactical masterclass exudes confidence for revived Villa
- Guimaraes' late winner could be hugely significant for both Newcastle and Fulham
- Nuno is yet to have any impact at West Ham
- Bournemouth’s record-breaking start brings Dyche’s Forest back to earth
- Burnley’s survival hopes rest on continuing to win all their six-pointers
- Spurs help make 2025/26 the season of the corner

Yet another routine 1-0 victory makes this 'Arsenal’s title to win'

The most interesting thing about Arsenal’s routine 1-0 victory over free-scoring Crystal Palace was that there was nothing interesting about it.

Another stress-free victory for Arsenal, built on yet another clean sheet and set-piece goal, has left Mikel Arteta’s side in a commanding position, after Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea all lost.

"This is your title, Arsenal," Gary Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast, summing up the feeling that pervades now, even if Arsenal fans might wince slightly at how forthright pundits have become.

"I've never really felt that sure before, it's so early in the season, but it really is. That's not being overconfident, or placing pressure, they must feel it themselves. This is the moment Arsenal can get back on top."

It isn’t just that Arsenal have already kept six Premier League clean sheets, and have conceded only three goals in total, or that – as Eberechi Eze’s winner proved – they have the squad depth to avoid slip-ups this season.

Watch Eze's first PL goal for Arsenal

And it isn’t just that Arsenal are improving substantially on results from the previous year, winning 12 points from their last four games, fixtures that yielded just two points in 2024/25.

Arsenal's results compared last two seasons

It’s the fact that, with others struggling, a points tally in the mid to late 80s should do it. We know Arsenal are capable of that.

From here on in, it’s a psychological test.

Shaw’s aggression characterises Man Utd’s dramatic tactical improvements

Manchester United have won three consecutive Premier League games in a single season for the first time since February 2024. Ruben Amorim’s project is finally on track, for three reasons.

First, and most importantly, the centre-backs have begun to understand their unusual task of stepping aggressively out from the defensive line to become auxiliary midfielders.

This is essential to ensure Man Utd’s two-man midfield is not overwhelmed and that the shape does not become a flat 5-2-3, giving opponents acres of room in the middle.

The second and third Man Utd goals were the direct result of Luke Shaw pushing up and making a challenge in midfield.

The importance of this seemingly small tactical development cannot be overstated.

Shaw's press for Man Utd's second and third goals

The second and third reasons for Man Utd’s upturn in form are interconnected: the front three are forming a strong partnership, hence a brace for Bryan Mbeumo and a goal from Matheus Cunha, and they are doing so with fast starts.

It’s important for Amorim’s philosophy of high-pressing possession football that Man Utd have the ascendency in matches, and their best route to grabbing control is quick goals, explaining why they take so many early shots in matches.

For the first time since November 2008, Man Utd have led by two or more goals at half-time in three consecutive Premier League games at Old Trafford.

This is crucial, as they will need to race out of the blocks again at Nottingham Forest next Saturday.

Familiar problems show teams "have definitely [found] a playing style" to hurt Liverpool

Arne Slot’s response to Liverpool’s fourth consecutive Premier League defeat might worry supporters.

"Teams have definitely [found] a playing style against us," he said. "We haven’t found the answer."

Brentford certainly copied the plan that so many others have followed, exposing the brittleness of a midfield with too many technicians and a side that appears far too top-heavy to cope with set-pieces or counter-attacks.

The first Brentford goal came from a long throw-in, not dissimilar to one scored by Crystal Palace against Liverpool this season.

It was the sixth set-piece goal Liverpool have conceded, the third-most in the Premier League.

The second was a counter-attack in which Mikkel Damsgaard had far too much space to pick out a pass, with Ibrahima Konate struggling badly, another familiar sight.

Without the injured Ryan Gravenberch, there just wasn’t enough pressure applied to Damsgaard.

Liverpool have now lost as many Premier League matches this season as they did in the entirety of last season (four), and have lost four consecutive league games for the first time since February 2021.

Aston Villa’s visit to Anfield next weekend offers no respite. Slot has enormous problems to solve.

Sunderland are so much more than set-pieces and counter-attacks

The surface-level analysis of this match might reveal a smash-and-grab win for the promoted club: one goal from a long throw and then the second, stealing three points at the death, from a rapid counter-attack.

But Sunderland are so much more than that – and they proved it in a combative, smart, and effective performance at Stamford Bridge.

Regis Le Bris’ side pressed high and hard to disrupt Chelsea and then, in possession, were bold with the ball, often attempting the riskier pass into central-attacking midfield, repeatedly finding space between the lines.

It’s this adventurous football that is stunning opponents and taking the Premier League by storm. Only by pushing so hard can they consistently win their battles; an incredible 63 per cent of aerial duels on Saturday.

Sunderland’s 17 points from their opening nine Premier League games is the best return by a promoted club at this stage since Hull City in 2008/09 (20).

It increasingly looks like they will avoid a relegation battle altogether.

Emery’s tactical masterclass exudes confidence for revived Villa

Pep Guardiola’s side struggled without Rodri or Nico Gonzalez, who only managed a cameo from the bench, and that allowed Unai Emery to once again outmanoeuvre Man City.

Villa’s third consecutive home win against Man City was quite different from the previous two. Emery made the surprise decision to move Boubacar Kamara into defence and play a 5-4-1 when out of possession, leaving only Amadou Onana (outstanding on Sunday) and Morgan Rogers in midfield.

This helped squeeze out Erling Haaland, and meant Rogers got on the ball in deeper positions.

He led a direct Villa display in which numerous players weaved effortless through the lines, exposing ongoing problems in Guardiola’s midfield.

It was a brave approach from Emery, and he continued to make progressive decisions through the match.

First, he replaced the injured Emiliano Buendia with Jadon Sancho, recognising that direct dribbling was working and risking Sancho over a more defensively-minded player.

Then, as Man City applied more pressure in the final 30 minutes, pushing Villa back, switched from 5-4-1 to a 4-4-2; an ostensibly attacking move that encouraged his team back up the pitch.

It isn’t just Rogers and the rest of the Villa players who have got their swagger back. Emery’s in-game management displayed the confidence and control that has started to define Villa performances again.

Guimaraes' late winner could be hugely significant for Newcastle and Fulham

Bruno Guimaraes’ 90th-minute winner was an enormous moment in the seasons of both Newcastle United and Fulham. 

Another draw would have left Eddie Howe’s side on one win in five in the Premier League and 15th in the table, whereas the explosive joy of a late winning goal dramatically changes the mood at St James’ Park. 

The Magpies are only four points off fifth, despite a difficult start to the season. Guimaraes’ goal might be the catalyst for a revival. 

Guimaraes' winner v Fulham

For Fulham, it was disastrous. They have lost four successive Premier League games for only the second time since returning to the top flight in 2022/23 and for the first time since April 2023.

As they fall towards the bottom three, Marco Silva looks unsure of how to stop the rot. He made six changes to the starting line-up for this game but it couldn’t prevent more defensive errors, this time two mistakes made by Calvin Bassey. 

Fulham host bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. It’s a must-win game. 

Nuno is yet to have an impact at West Ham

Nuno Espirito Santo has won just one point from four Premier League matches in charge of West Ham United, making him the first Hammers manager or head coach to fail to win any of his first four since Manuel Pellegrini in 2018. 

His impact has been minimal. 

Leeds United scored a goal in the third minute on Friday, a sign of West Ham’s low confidence, and another concession from a corner followed a theme that pre-dates Nuno’s arrival.  

West Ham have conceded nine goals from corners in the Premier League this season, triple the amount of any other side and the most ever after the opening nine matches. 

It is a big part of the reason why West Ham are in such a perilous position. Their record of four points from the first nine games is their joint-worst ever return at this stage of a league campaign, after 1932/33 and 1973/94 (three points each).  

Bournemouth’s record-breaking start brings Dyche’s Forest back to earth

The 2-0 victory over FC Porto in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday was a dream start for Sean Dyche – but Nottingham Forest crashed back down to earth at the weekend. 

Forest, who have now gone 448 minutes of Premier League action without scoring a goal, were notably different in their tactical approach but rarely looked like ending that run. 

They played 16.8 per cent of their total passes long against AFC Bournemouth, their highest long-pass percentage in a Premier League match this season and more than double their 2025/26 average of 8.8 per cent. 

Forest's long passes v Bournemouth

But in fairness to Forest and Dyche, this is one of the most difficult fixtures in the division. 

Bournemouth have won 18 points from their first nine matches, their highest-ever total at this stage of a top-flight season. 

They are second in the table and just four points off the top. Win at Man City next weekend, and we are going to have to take seriously the possibility Bournemouth can qualify for the Champions League.  

Burnley’s safety hopes rest on continuing to win their six-pointers 

If there is a bigger single moment of Matchweek 9 than Lyle Foster’s winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Molineux, then it’s Martin Dubravka’s brilliant save a couple of minutes later. 

Watch Dubravka's INCREDIBLE save against Wolves

Burnley almost threw away a two-goal lead, only to snatch the three points and continue their impressive streak of winning all of their six-pointers. 

Burnley’s three Premier League wins this season have been against Sunderland, Leeds, and Wolves. They have also drawn against Forest and lost to Man City, Tottenham Hotspur, Villa, and Man Utd.  

In other words, Scott Parker’s side are winning all the just-about winnable ones. Their hopes of safety rest on continuing this trend; on getting three points from the next three, for example, of Arsenal (H), West Ham (A), and Chelsea (H). 

Spurs help make 2025/26 the season of the corner

Everton were the only team yet to concede a corner goal this season, but they let in two at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday. 

That took the total count of Premier League corner goals to 45, or five every weekend. Indeed, 19 per cent of all Premier League goals this season have come from corners, which is the highest proportion ever. 

Set-pieces are already a vital part of how Spurs play. They have scored five, the third-most in the Premier League, and used corners on Sunday to beat an Everton side who were arguably the better team. 

Van de Ven's double v Everton

It follows a pattern of efficiency for Spurs, which might worry Thomas Frank a little bit. They have scored with their first shot on target in four of their last five Premier League away games and top the charts for conversion rate (18 per cent). 

If they can stay that ruthless, then no problem. But results have been better than performances so far, and that isn’t usually sustainable. 

More reaction from Matchweek 9