Premier League: Five things we learnt from gameweek 7
The Premier League table has a familiar yet freshly minted look about it after gameweek seven, with Arsenal ascending to the summit for the first time this season, a position that feels both deserved and laden with the weight of immense expectation. Mikel Arteta’s 300th game in charge was a masterclass in controlled dominance, a 2-0 dismissal of West Ham that was as effortless as a Xavi Hernandez through-ball in his prime.The occasion was sweetened immeasurably by events at Stamford Bridge, where Liverpool, last season's nearly-men, stumbled to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea, their third consecutive loss that has seen their early-season promise evaporate like a puddle in the Spanish sun. While Martin Ødegaard’s nagging injury is a concern, Bukayo Saka is once again operating at a level that invites comparisons to the league’s elite wingers, a player whose return to full fitness is as crucial to Arsenal as Lionel Messi’s was to Barcelona in their heyday.The signing of Viktor Gyökeres has proven to be a masterstroke, not just for his goal threat but for the tactical liberation it provides, allowing Saka to transition from a primary scorer to a devastating provider, a dual threat that defenses simply cannot handle. This isn't a one-man team, however; the goals are coming from everywhere, with Jurriën Timber, Martin Zubimendi, and Riccardo Calafiori all finding the net, showcasing a squad depth that rivals the great Manchester United teams of the late 1990s.The statistical dominance is undeniable—Arsenal lead in expected goals, possession won in the final third, and shots on target—painting a picture of a team not just winning, but controlling the very fabric of the game. One cannot help but draw parallels to Liverpool's own long-awaited title triumph in 2019/20, which came on the back of a heartbreaking 97-point season that seemed to steel their resolve.Arsenal now finds itself in an almost identical psychological position; having come so close in recent years, the squad, fortified by bona fide world-class talent, has no more excuses. For Arteta and his men, the narrative is clear: this is their best opportunity to emulate the legendary Invincibles of 2003/04, and anything less than lifting the Premier League trophy will be viewed, quite rightly, as a profound failure.Meanwhile, at the other end of the table, the pressure cooker is intensifying. Ange Postecoglou’s tenure at Nottingham Forest is already being measured in days, not months, with a winless streak of seven games sparking fears he could challenge Les Reed’s infamous 40-day reign at Charlton for the title of shortest Premier League managerial stint.The football has been abysmal, with recent 3-2 defeats to Championship side Swansea in both the Europa League and Carabao Cup highlighting a defensive fragility reminiscent of a house of cards. Yet, in a surprising twist, the polarizing director of football, Evangelos Marinakis, is reportedly prepared to give the Australian one more chance in the crucial home clash against Chelsea.This feels less like a vote of confidence and more like a stay of execution; another defeat could very well be the final nail in the coffin for Big Ange's English adventure. In the red half of Manchester, a different kind of patience is being tested.Ruben Amorim’s win rate of a paltry 40% is the club's lowest since the 1970s, a statistic that would have triggered a panic button in the Old Trafford boardroom of old. However, the words of minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe signal a seismic shift in philosophy.Invoking the ghost of Sir Alex Ferguson’s difficult early years, Ratcliffe has preached a doctrine of long-term planning, stating plainly that Amorim needs three years to demonstrate his quality. This is a radical departure from the club's recent hire-and-fire culture and acknowledges the deep-seated issues of sub-par recruitment and a squad core that is simply not fit for European football.The focus has subtly shifted from the immediate results to the grander vision of a complete rebuild, a project that will require the kind of patience rarely afforded to modern managers. On the pitch, tactical nuances were laid bare at Elland Road, where Leeds United’s remarkable 23-match unbeaten home run was undone by their own ambition.Daniel Farke, who once embodied a dogmatic possession-based approach at Norwich City, has shown newfound flexibility, encouraging direct, long balls to exploit the pace in his side. Yet, this very aggression was their undoing against Tottenham.Committing to a suicidally high line, Leeds were caught twice by balls over the top, with Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus exploiting the cavernous space behind attacking full-backs Jadon Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson. It was a tactical lesson in the fine line between bravery and recklessness; while their positive play built the unbeaten run, it also contained the seeds of its own destruction.Farke must now find a balance, reducing the defensive space they leave in transition without sacrificing the attacking verve that makes them so formidable. Finally, a word on the new fortress in the North West.Everton’s move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium is proving to be more than just a change of address; it’s a catalyst for a renaissance. Unbeaten in all four home matches and sitting comfortably in eighth, the Toffees are playing their most compelling football in years.The trident of Jack Grealish, Iliman Ndiaye, and the advanced Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, with 11 goal involvements between them, are the creative engine. The impact of the stadium itself cannot be overstated.The larger capacity generates an intimidating wall of sound, but the tactical advantage might lie in the pitch dimensions. At five metres longer than Goodison Park, the new surface provides the extra yard of space that allows Everton’s wingers to isolate and terrorize opposing full-backs, a strategy that saw them dismantle a previously unbeatable Crystal Palace. Much like Bournemouth’s famed Vitality Stadium, the Hill Dickinson is rapidly becoming a venue where opponents dread to visit, a tangible home-field advantage that could be the difference between a mid-table finish and a genuine push for Europe.
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