Week 7 of the Premier League saw some feisty action on the pitch as it felt a little bit old-school in terms of the challenges flying in, big clashes and some huge performances as the league table continues to take shape and teams find their standing.

This last weekend saw a lot of the big hitters pick up wins in varying forms, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal all picking up wins, while the contenders of Brighton and Aston Villa also got victories, and Manchester United were satisfied with a point away at Leeds in their rivalry clash.

In this post, we are picking our the 3 main talking points from this round of fixtures, and will also award our game of the week and player of the week awards. If you have anything to add to this round-up, or have any moments or talking points we missed, get in touch with us on our social media platforms including Bluesky (@NextGoalWinner), Instagram (@NextGoalWin) and our YouTube page (@NextGoalWinner).

Brighton Are Flying

There are derby victories, and then there are afternoons that supporters remember for years. Brighton delivered the latter at the Amex Stadium, dismantling bitter rivals Crystal Palace 5–0 in a performance that combined ruthless finishing, attacking imagination and a remarkable level of intensity. The Seagulls were three goals ahead inside the opening ten minutes, effectively taking the contest away from Palace before the visitors had a chance to settle. It was Brighton’s biggest win over their rivals in 70 years, making the result as significant historically as it was in the context of the current campaign.

The early goals told the story of an afternoon in which everything seemed to go Brighton’s way. Jaydee Canvot’s own goal opened the scoring in the fourth minute, before Diego Gómez produced the moment that will dominate the weekend’s highlights. Winning possession near halfway, Gómez spotted goalkeeper Walter Benítez off his line and launched an extraordinary effort from inside his own half. The ball sailed over the stranded goalkeeper and into the net, leaving the home crowd in disbelief. Yasin Ayari then added a third in the tenth minute, with the contest threatening to become a rout before the first quarter of an hour had even passed.

Brighton refused to ease off after the interval. Charalampos Kostoulas scored in the 49th minute to extend the advantage, and Jack Hinshelwood completed the scoring in the 84th. Beyond the goals, the most impressive aspect was the collective nature of the performance: Brighton pressed aggressively, moved the ball with confidence and repeatedly exploited the spaces left by a Palace defence that looked increasingly uncertain. Manager Fabian Hürzeler will have been delighted not only by the scoreline but by the conviction with which his side executed their game plan.

The wider implications are just as exciting for Brighton. They moved into third place with 16 points, five behind leaders Manchester City, and continued a remarkably productive start to the season. Their attacking numbers have been among the best in the division, while a run of four consecutive clean sheets suggests there is substance behind the entertainment. For Palace, meanwhile, conceding five in such a high-profile fixture raises serious questions about their defensive organisation and ability to respond when matches begin to go against them. Brighton have every reason to believe European qualification is a realistic ambition; Palace must now find a way to recover their composure.

Arsenal Get Through

Not every important victory has to be pretty, and Arsenal’s trip to the City Ground was a perfect example. Mikel Arteta’s side arrived knowing that another three points were essential to keeping pace with Manchester City, but they found Nottingham Forest a difficult opponent to break down. Arsenal enjoyed plenty of possession without creating much in the way of clear-cut chances, while Forest defended compactly and worked hard to frustrate the visitors. The first half passed without a shot on target for either side, leaving Arteta with plenty to think about at the interval.

Arteta responded by introducing Noni Madueke at half-time, replacing Eberechi Eze in an attempt to inject more directness into Arsenal’s attacking play. Further substitutions followed as the game wore on, with Jurrien Timber, Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyökeres also brought on to help change the momentum. The adjustments reflected a manager determined to find a solution rather than settle for a frustrating draw. Yet, as the minutes ticked by, Forest continued to hold their shape, and Arsenal appeared in danger of dropping valuable points in a match they had largely controlled territorially.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 80th minute, and it was Madueke who provided the decisive moment. Receiving the ball from Declan Rice, the winger drove inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot that deflected off Forest defender Jair Cunha before flying past goalkeeper Matz Sels. It was not the cleanest goal Arsenal will score this season, but its importance was undeniable. Forest pushed for an equaliser late on, with Arsenal having to remain alert defensively, but the visitors held firm to secure a hard-earned victory. Madueke’s impact was a reminder of how valuable a strong bench can be when a starting XI struggles to impose itself.

There is, however, a balance to be struck between celebrating the result and acknowledging the performance. Arsenal took their sixth win from seven league games and remained three points behind the leaders, but managing only one shot on target highlighted their lack of attacking fluency. Arteta will be pleased that his side found a way through a stubborn defence, particularly away from home, yet he will also want greater creativity and cutting edge in future fixtures. The encouraging takeaway is that Arsenal have players capable of deciding tight games from the bench; the concern is that they may not always be able to rely on a deflection to rescue them. In a title race, these are precisely the sorts of matches that can prove decisive come May.

Unsatisfying Draw

Manchester United travelled to Elland Road looking for a result that could steady a difficult start to the season, but instead left with another reminder of how far they remain from consistent form. Matches between Leeds and United rarely lack intensity, and this encounter was no different, with the atmosphere adding an extra edge to an already significant fixture. United had the opportunity to turn a turbulent week into a positive story on the pitch, yet the final 1–1 score-line left them searching for answers once again. For Leeds, a point against their old rivals represented a satisfying outcome in front of their own supporters.

United did at least show enough attacking threat to take the lead. Bryan Mbeumo found the net in the first half, giving the visitors an opportunity to manage the game and potentially take home all three points. But the advantage did not last. Leeds continued to compete, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin brought the hosts level, ensuring that the home crowd had something to celebrate. United were unable to find a second goal to settle the contest, and the match ultimately followed a familiar pattern: flashes of promise, followed by a failure to turn those moments into a decisive result.

The result was particularly damaging in the context of United’s wider season. After seven league matches, they had managed just one victory and sat 13th in the table, a position that falls well short of the club’s ambitions. The draw also came amid an uncomfortable week off the pitch, with defender Lisandro Martínez publicly criticising the club’s hierarchy over its approach to investment in the squad. Such public disagreements inevitably add to the scrutiny surrounding a team that needs stability as much as it needs better results. Manager Michael Carrick could take some encouragement from his side’s ability to compete in a hostile atmosphere, but there was little room for celebration when another opportunity to build momentum had slipped away.

For Leeds, the point was a useful reward for their persistence and a reminder that Elland Road can remain an uncomfortable destination for even the biggest clubs. Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser demonstrated the value of staying in the contest rather than allowing United’s opener to dictate the afternoon. For United, however, the challenge is much more fundamental. They need to improve their consistency, show greater control when leading and find a reliable way to turn competitive performances into victories. One draw does not define a season, but a sequence of disappointing results can quickly become a pattern. With the pressure building, United’s next few fixtures will be important in determining whether this is merely a slow start or a deeper problem that requires more substantial changes.

Game of the week: Brighton 5-0 Crystal Palace While this game was out of Palace’s hands in just 10 minutes as hosts Brighton flew out of the traps, but with 5 goals scored including the stunner from Gomez, this result in this manner against a rival team made this a fascinating watch on Sunday afternoon despite the dominance from the impressive Brighton side.

Player of the week: Pedro Neto As Chelsea kicked-off the weekend, Pedro Neto proved the difference in the clash between Everton and Chelsea thanks to his brace. With 2 goals providing the key moments in the game, Neto was also influential as he created the most chances (5), had the most touches in the opposition box (5) and managed 100% shot accuracy for his efforts.