Week 8 of the Premier League season saw 28 goals and just the 5 red cards dished out across the 10 games, a pretty dramatic weekend for still the early stages of the season. With some big clashes, some big results and a few surprises along the way also, this week has plenty for us to digest.

As always, in this post we will be picking out 3 of the biggest talking points of the weekend, along with giving out the game of the week and player of the week awards. If we’ve missed something in this post that you saw over the weekend please do get in touch with us on all the usual places (Bluesky @NextGoalWinner – Instagram @NextGoalWin), and if you prefer an audio round up of the action then do check out our YouTube channel (@NextGoalWinner) where we post weekly reviews on there of all the key talking points in the Premier League and around Europe.

Arsenal Crash

Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the 2024/25 campaign came crashing down on the south coast as Bournemouth stunned the Gunners with a 2-0 victory at the Vitality Stadium. What should have been a routine fixture for Mikel Arteta’s men quickly turned sour after William Saliba saw red inside half an hour for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. It was Arsenal’s third red card in just eight games, an astonishing statistic for a side with serious title aspirations. Once down to ten men, the visitors never looked comfortable, and Bournemouth ruthlessly took advantage.

The defeat wasn’t just about the scoreline; it was about the growing sense of déjà vu. Arteta’s Arsenal have often been praised for their intensity and emotional energy, but those same traits can tip over into recklessness. Saliba’s dismissal followed earlier red cards for Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel, and the pattern is starting to cost points. The manager didn’t hide from the issue afterwards, admitting, “Playing with ten men so often… obviously there is a problem.” For a squad built on discipline and structure, it’s becoming an unwanted storyline.

Arsenal fans will hope this serves as a wake-up call rather than the start of a slide. The Gunners still boast one of the league’s strongest squads and have shown they can dominate opponents, but this kind of indiscipline undermines consistency and confidence. In a title race where the margins are razor-thin, losing key players to avoidable red cards can be the difference between lifting the trophy and falling short. Arteta has built a team that plays with fire, but if they can’t control the flames, it might just burn their ambitions.

Reds Beat Blues

Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield was enough to send them to the top of the Premier League table, but it wasn’t entirely convincing. Under Arne Slot, the Reds continue to adapt to life after Jürgen Klopp, and this game encapsulated their current identity: promising but patchy. Luis Díaz and Dominik Szoboszlai provided the attacking spark, yet defensive lapses kept Chelsea in the contest far longer than they should have been. For much of the second half, Anfield’s tension was palpable, this wasn’t vintage Liverpool, but a team still finding its rhythm.

Slot’s approach has focused on controlling games through structured pressing and possession, but it’s clear the side remains vulnerable when transitions go wrong. Chelsea repeatedly found space behind Liverpool’s full-backs, and only poor finishing prevented a more damaging result. The new manager will have been pleased with the three points, but he’ll know the performance raised as many questions as it answered. “It’s a step forward, albeit a small one,” he said after the match, a fair assessment of a team in tactical evolution.

That said, a win is still a win, and at this stage of the season, results matter most. Liverpool’s frontline looks dangerous again, and the energy around Anfield remains vibrant under Slot’s stewardship. But if they’re to sustain a title charge, the defensive fragility that has plagued them since last season must be addressed. Liverpool sit atop the table after Week 8, yet their hold on it feels more precarious than powerful. The signs are promising, but the Premier League is a harsh environment for half-measures.

Unpredictability

Beyond the headline acts, Week 8 reminded everyone why the Premier League remains the most unpredictable league in world football. Tottenham Hotspur’s emphatic 4-1 victory over West Ham marked a statement return to form after a stuttering September. Ange Postecoglou’s men looked back to their vibrant best, pressing high and attacking with fluency. James Maddison pulled the strings with trademark creativity, while Son Heung-min continued his strong run in front of goal. Spurs’ performance suggested that their early-season wobble was temporary, and that they’re once again contenders for a Champions League spot.

Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest finally gave their fans something to cheer about, claiming their first home win of the campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was vital. Forest’s early-season struggles had seen pressure begin to mount on Nuno Espírito Santo, yet his side showed grit and organisation that had been missing in previous weeks. The City Ground erupted at full time, a reminder that sometimes, a scrappy win can shift the mood of an entire club.

Taken together, the weekend’s results highlighted how tight and unpredictable this season’s table really is. Arsenal’s setback, Liverpool’s narrow escape, and Spurs’ resurgence mean the top end remains volatile, while mid-table sides like Forest and Palace continue to swing momentum week to week. As the season approaches its third mark, the narrative remains gloriously open, no clear favourites, no guaranteed finishes, just the kind of chaos that makes the Premier League so endlessly watchable.

Game of the week: Southampton 2-3 Leicester City While it seems these 2 sides will be in for a long campaign as they try and fight off the expected relegations, Leicester’s 98th minute winner will make a huge difference. With Southampton going in 2-0 up at the break, to come out losing 3-2 will hurt, but give Leicester a huge boost.

Player of the week: Heung-Min Son With Spurs picking up a dominant win over a rival in West Ham, Son was a leader throughout the game, bagging a goal, hitting the woodwork and showing the dominant performance which has arguably dropped a level in recent weeks/months. This however felt like Son at his best as Spurs picked up the big 3 points.