Premier League week 9 sees the league almost hit double figures for games, and arguably marks the end of the start of the season as we move towards a midway period. As a result, points on the board become more crucial as teams look to gauge where they stand within the league table.

In week 9 we had plenty of goals and action, with wins for the newly promoted sides, stumbles for some title contenders while Arsenal take control, and Manchester United pick up another 3 points.

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 Are Favourites

Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at the Emirates wasn’t flashy, but it was the mark of a side that knows how to win ugly, and that’s often the hallmark of champions. It was their fourth 1-0 victory of the season, each built on defensive control, organisation, and composure. Once again, a well-worked set-piece proved decisive, and once again, Arsenal’s backline and goalkeeper David Raya did the rest. Mikel Arteta’s men have now kept six clean sheets in nine league matches, and that defensive solidity is what’s separating them from the chasing pack.

What makes this result even more significant is the context. While Arsenal quietly got the job done, their main rivals faltered. Manchester City dropped points again, Liverpool’s stutter continued, and Tottenham couldn’t keep pace either. Suddenly, Arsenal’s calm consistency looks like dominance. They’re not blowing teams away, but they’re grinding through the schedule with a quiet confidence, a trait that often defines title-winners more than raw attacking brilliance.

There’s still a long way to go, and Arteta will be wary of early hype, but this Arsenal side looks far more mature than in recent years. The squad depth is showing, the balance between defence and attack is right, and there’s a growing sense that this might finally be their year. The bigger question now is whether anyone can disrupt their rhythm before the festive period, because right now, Arsenal are setting the pace and showing no signs of slowing down.

Challengers Are Wobbling

Elsewhere, the cracks are beginning to show among the traditional powerhouses. Manchester City’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa was the headline shock of the weekend. Pep Guardiola’s side dominated possession as usual but struggled to create clear-cut chances, and Villa punished them with a sharp counterattack. It was City’s second league defeat of the season and highlighted lingering questions about their sharpness in midfield and defensive focus, particularly with Rodri and De Bruyne still not fully back to their best rhythm after injuries.

Liverpool’s form is also raising eyebrows. Four consecutive league defeats have seen them slide down the table and lose the aura of inevitability that defined the Klopp era. Arne Slot’s high-tempo style has yet to yield consistency, and the side looks caught between philosophies, too open without the ball, and too cautious in attack. The Reds still have the quality to recover, but the momentum of August has long faded, and confidence appears fragile.

In short, the usual title race narrative, Arsenal, City, and Liverpool all neck-and-neck, feels less certain now. City look vulnerable, Liverpool look lost, and Arsenal are calmly marching on. Even Manchester United, who picked up a scrappy win, haven’t convinced anyone they can sustain a challenge. That sense of wobble among the giants has injected new life into the league, and given hope to clubs outside the traditional top two or three.

Table Shifts

Beyond the big clubs, Week 9 offered a reminder of how wonderfully unpredictable the Premier League can be. Bournemouth continued their stunning start, climbing into second place with 18 points from nine games, their best ever return at this stage of a top-flight season. Andoni Iraola’s side are vibrant, disciplined, and fearless; their pressing and quick transitions have caught bigger teams off guard, and suddenly the Cherries are being spoken of as European contenders rather than relegation battlers.

At the other end of the spectrum, Nottingham Forest’s early optimism under Sean Dyche has begun to fade. Another defeat, their fifth in six matches, has left them hovering above the relegation zone, with Dyche publicly demanding more fitness and fight from his players. The new-manager bounce has gone, and the side’s inability to score from open play is becoming a serious concern. For clubs like Forest, Burnley, and Fulham, the season already looks like a grind for survival.

Tactically, there’s also a clear theme running through the weekend: set-pieces are king again. Arsenal, Tottenham, and Aston Villa all won thanks to goals from corners or free-kicks, underlining how much attention teams are paying to dead-ball situations. It’s the kind of small-margin focus that separates the best-coached sides from the rest. And when you add surprise contenders like Bournemouth to the mix, it feels like this season might just deliver one of those unpredictable Premier League campaigns where reputations count for less and momentum counts for everything.

Game of the week: Manchester United 4-2 Brighton Among some interesting games this weekend, Saturday afternoon’s clash between United and Brighton provided 6 goals, some late drama and some pretty decent goals as well. Manchester United have 4 wins in a row at Old Trafford, and Brighton can still arguably come away with their heads held high.

Player of the week: Bryan Mbeumo Having bagged a brace, Mbeumo is a rarity as a big Manchester United signing who has settled in at Old Trafford almost instantly. Another 2 goals, and a strong performance as United begin to turn a hot streak into genuine momentum.