Matchday 8 of the 2023/24 Premier League season arrived just before the October international break, and it did not disappoint. Across the weekend, we saw heavyweight clashes, dramatic late goals, and more evidence that this campaign was shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. The table tightened at the top, pressure mounted on struggling sides, and moments of individual brilliance once again stole the headlines.

From Arsenal finally overcoming their Manchester City hoodoo, to late goals swinging momentum across the league, this was a weekend defined by belief, resilience and nerve. As teams headed into the break, the narratives felt clearer, but no less intriguing.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) if you have seen anything in a game that you think we should be talking about, or have anything to share from what you’ve seen at a game that week. Any funny stories, tactical analysis or general comments will be featured.

Arsenal Beat City

Arsenal’s 1–0 victory over Manchester City felt about far more than three points. For Mikel Arteta and his players, it was a psychological barrier that had lingered since their rebuild began. Twelve consecutive Premier League defeats to City had weighed heavily, and even when Arsenal pushed them close in recent seasons, the final outcome rarely changed. On Sunday afternoon, that finally did.

The match itself was a tactical chess match. City dominated possession, as expected, but Arsenal were compact, disciplined and patient without the ball. Declan Rice was immense in midfield, shielding the back four and breaking up City’s rhythm, while William Saliba and Gabriel stood firm against Erling Haaland. Arsenal weren’t flashy, but they were controlled, a sign of maturity that champions often display.

Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected late winner sparked wild celebrations at the Emirates, but it also symbolised Arsenal’s growing belief. In previous seasons, this fixture might have drifted towards a familiar outcome. Instead, Arsenal stayed in the game, trusted their plan, and took their moment when it came. That ability to “stay alive” in big matches is often the difference between challengers and winners.

Crucially, the result also reshaped the title narrative. Arsenal moved level on points at the top and sent a message to the rest of the league, including City, that they are no longer chasing shadows. This wasn’t dominance, but it was progress. And sometimes, progress is the most dangerous thing of all.

Late Drama

If there was one theme that threaded through Matchday 8, it was late drama. Goals in the final minutes, and beyond, repeatedly swung momentum, changed moods, and rewrote post-match narratives. For fans, it was thrilling. For managers, it was nerve-shredding.

The most dramatic example came at Old Trafford, where Manchester United looked set for another damaging home defeat against Brentford. Trailing 1–0 deep into stoppage time, the atmosphere was toxic. Then Scott McTominay happened. Two goals in the 93rd and 97th minutes turned despair into delirium, rescuing Erik ten Hag and reminding everyone how thin the margins can be in this league.

Elsewhere, late goals told a different story. Mohammed Kudus’ equaliser for West Ham denied Newcastle a valuable away win, while Brighton’s late pressure earned them a draw against Liverpool in a pulsating 2–2 contest. These moments underlined just how unforgiving the Premier League can be, switch off for a second, and you’re punished.

What stood out was how many teams refused to accept defeat. Whether fighting for points at the top or survival lower down, belief ran deep across the division. This was not a weekend for managing games quietly to the final whistle; it was one where chaos thrived and courage was rewarded.

The Table Tightens

Eight games into the season, the Premier League table was already beginning to tell a compelling story. Tottenham and Arsenal sat at the summit, Manchester City were just behind, and Liverpool remained firmly in the conversation. No team looked flawless, and that uncertainty only added to the intrigue.

City’s defeat at Arsenal highlighted a rare vulnerability. Injuries and rotation disrupted their usual control, and while they still looked dangerous, they lacked their customary cutting edge. For the first time in a while, the champions looked human, and that matters in a long season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, continued to show both their promise and their imperfections. Their draw at Brighton was thrilling but exposed defensive frailties, particularly in transition. Newcastle and Aston Villa hovered just behind the elite pack, while Spurs’ unbeaten start kept them dreaming under Ange Postecoglou.

Perhaps most striking was the sense that this season wouldn’t be decided early. The gaps were small, the performances uneven, and momentum felt fragile. As teams headed into the international break, the title race felt less like a procession, and more like a genuine fight.

Matchday 8 Player of the Week: Scott McTominay Football loves unlikely heroes, and Scott McTominay delivered one of the moments of the season so far. Introduced late against Brentford, the midfielder scored twice in stoppage time to completely flip the script at Old Trafford. Beyond the goals, it was his urgency, physicality and willingness to arrive in the box that made the difference. At a time when United were flat and lacking belief, McTominay dragged them over the line almost single-handedly. In a weekend full of big-name performances, it was fitting that Matchday 8 belonged to a player who simply refused to let his team lose.

Matchday 8 Game of the Week: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City This was the match everyone circled, and it lived up to its billing. Not for goals or spectacle, but for tension, tactical nuance and significance. Arsenal didn’t dominate, but they competed, and crucially, they believed. From Declan Rice’s midfield authority to Saliba’s calm defending, Arsenal looked like a side comfortable sharing a pitch with City rather than fearing them. Martinelli’s late strike was the release point for years of frustration and a statement that Arsenal are no longer part of City’s supporting cast. It may not have been the most entertaining match of the weekend, but it was undoubtedly the most important.

Let us know over on Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) what you made of the eighth round of fixtures, and what you’re looking forward to in the next game week.