The Premier League’s seventh match weekend wrapped up with a flurry of results that have shaken up the standings and given fans across England plenty to talk about. From Arsenal’s rise to the summit, to Fulham’s worrying form and Sunderland’s surprising resilience, the early weeks of the 2025-26 season are proving as unpredictable as ever. With October’s international break looming, let’s dig into the drama, the numbers, and the stories that have defined this pivotal round of fixtures.
Arsenal’s journey to the top of the Premier League table has been anything but straightforward. The Gunners, under Mikel Arteta’s watchful eye, have navigated a gauntlet of challenging away days—Old Trafford, Anfield, and St James’ Park—within their opening six matches. Despite media scrutiny following dropped points against Liverpool and Manchester City, Arsenal now sit proudly atop the league with 16 points from seven matches. Their 2-0 victory over West Ham on October 4, sealed by a penalty from Bukayo Saka, was the latest statement of intent from a team eager to put last season’s near-miss behind them.
Reflecting on Arsenal’s start, Bukayo Saka didn’t hold back his pride. "Yes, you said it perfectly. A lot of people have had a lot to say on how we started the season. Looking at the fixtures we had, the points we have now going into the break plus our position in the Premier League, we are proud and happy. When we come back after the break, we're in a good place to push on in the Premier League for sure," Saka told Football.London after the West Ham match.
Arsenal’s campaign kicked off with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Manchester United, Riccardo Calafiori scoring early to silence the Old Trafford crowd. They followed up with a 5-0 thrashing of Leeds, Viktor Gyokeres helping himself to a brace, and a 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest, with Martin Zubimendi and Gyokeres again on the scoresheet. Their only defeat so far came at Anfield, where a late Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick saw Liverpool take all three points. But the Gunners bounced back, earning a dramatic late draw with Manchester City thanks to Martinelli’s equalizer, and snatching a crucial 1-0 win at Newcastle courtesy of Gabriel Magalhaes’ header. Compared to the same fixtures last season, Arsenal are five points better off—a sign that Arteta’s side may have learned from past stumbles.
Elsewhere, the battle for the top spots has intensified. Liverpool, who suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea this weekend, now trail Arsenal by a single point. Tottenham and Bournemouth are hot on their heels, both sitting on 14 points after seven matches, while defending champions Manchester City are fifth with 13. The full standings after the seventh weekend read: Arsenal 16, Liverpool 15, Tottenham 14, Bournemouth 14, Manchester City 13, Crystal Palace 12, Chelsea 11, Everton 11, Sunderland 11, Manchester United 10, Newcastle 9, Brighton 9, Aston Villa 9, Fulham 8, Leeds 8, Brentford 7, Nottingham Forest 5, Burnley 4, West Ham 4, and Wolves 2.
Speaking of Fulham, the Cottagers have endured a rocky start, marked by inconsistency and frustration. Despite taking early leads in their recent away matches, Marco Silva’s men have slumped to consecutive 3-1 defeats—first at Aston Villa, where an injury to Raul Jimenez proved costly, and then at Bournemouth, where Ryan Sessegnon’s opener was quickly overturned by a brace from Antoine Semenyo and a strike from Justin Kluivert. Fulham’s struggles have been compounded by an injury crisis and a lack of depth, issues that Silva himself has been vocal about. The Portuguese head coach expressed dissatisfaction with the club’s limited summer transfer activity, which brought in Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk (£34.6m), Jonah Kusi-Asare on loan from Bayern Munich, Samuel Chukweze from AC Milan on loan, and Benjamin Lecomte from Montpellier for a modest £500k.
Silva’s future at Craven Cottage is now a subject of speculation, with reports suggesting that Nottingham Forest are monitoring his situation should they decide to part ways with Ange Postecoglou. While any move is unlikely before the end of the season, the precedent set by Chelsea’s recent dismissal of Mauricio Pochettino over transfer disagreements looms large. Fulham’s board, urged by pundits and supporters alike, may need to show greater ambition in the market if they hope to keep their manager and avoid another season of mid-table mediocrity.
On Wearside, Sunderland’s return to the Premier League has been one of the early stories of the season. Regis Le Bris’ side, expected by many to struggle, currently sit ninth after seven matches—a position few would have predicted back in August. The Black Cats suffered a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on October 4, with Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko finding the net, but optimism remains high at the Stadium of Light. Le Bris, who signed a long-term contract until 2028, has overseen a remarkable transformation, building a squad that has exceeded expectations and earned praise from fans and pundits alike.
Looking ahead, Sunderland have a packed fixture list following the international break. Wolves will visit the Stadium of Light on October 18, followed by home games against Everton (November 3) and Arsenal (November 8). The club’s 48,707-capacity ground is expected to be rocking, especially with tickets already on sale and excitement building. Away trips to Chelsea and Fulham also loom on the horizon, as Sunderland aim to solidify their status in the top flight. According to Opta’s supercomputer, a 16th-place finish is predicted—an outcome that would surely satisfy supporters after years in the wilderness.
As for the rest of the league, Manchester City edged Brentford 1-0, Arsenal dispatched West Ham 2-0, and Bournemouth outgunned Fulham 3-1. Crystal Palace, previously unbeaten, suffered their first loss at Everton, while Wolves and Brighton played out a 1-1 draw. Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Manchester United all secured wins, keeping the race for European places wide open.
With the international break upon us, teams have a chance to regroup, reflect, and recharge. But as the dust settles on match weekend seven, one thing is clear: the Premier League’s unpredictability is alive and well. Arsenal lead the way, but with so many clubs in hot pursuit and storylines unfolding up and down the table, the race for glory—and survival—is only just getting started.
