We’re 5 games in, and after the recent international break, it’s been a reset for a few teams, and while some have been able to maintain their form from early September, this week showed that the table could become a bit more interesting with a few big results to go through.

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.

Dramatic Draw

Matchweek 5 delivered one of the early classics of the season as Manchester City and Arsenal battled to a breathless 2–2 draw at the Etihad. City struck first through Erling Haaland, who coolly slotted home in the ninth minute, a strike that also happened to be his 100th goal for Manchester City, reaching the milestone in only 105 appearances. Arsenal, however, weren’t cowed. Riccardo Calafiori, on his full Premier League debut, produced a stunning bending effort from distance to level the score.

Arsenal built on that momentum and took the lead just before half-time when Gabriel rose highest to power a header past Ederson. But moments later came the turning point: Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for delaying a restart by kicking the ball away. Reduced to ten men for an entire half, the Gunners were suddenly forced into a siege mentality.

City dominated the second half, racking up possession and pushing relentlessly for an equaliser. Arsenal defended with incredible commitment, throwing bodies in front of shots and clearing danger repeatedly. But deep into stoppage time, City finally found their breakthrough. A scramble in the box ended with John Stones turning the ball in, salvaging a point and sending the home crowd into relief more than jubilation.

The match left plenty to digest. Arsenal’s gritty defensive effort earned deserved praise, while City showed their trademark capacity to keep going until the final whistle. There was also concern for the champions when Rodri was forced off with an injury, raising questions about midfield stability going forward. For both sides, the draw felt significant: City avoided a damaging defeat, and Arsenal proved they could go toe-to-toe with the champions even in adversity.

Jackson Shines

Chelsea’s 3–0 win away at West Ham was one of their most convincing performances under Enzo Maresca so far, and at the heart of it was an electric display from Nicolas Jackson. The striker needed only four minutes to open the scoring, cutting in from the left and finishing confidently into the bottom corner. He struck again midway through the first half, this time arriving unmarked to slot home calmly after neat Chelsea build-up play.

The Blues kept their foot on the gas after the break. Within two minutes of the restart, Jackson turned provider, driving forward on the counter before releasing Cole Palmer, who finished neatly to make it 3–0. It was exactly the kind of fluid, purposeful football Maresca has been working to instil, and this win also marked the manager’s third straight away league victory, a strong sign that his ideas are bedding in.

West Ham, meanwhile, struggled badly. Their defensive shape was loose, their press uncoordinated, and they rarely looked like troubling Chelsea at the other end. Key attacking players were on the periphery, and the home crowd grew increasingly frustrated. It was one of the weaker performances of Julen Lopetegui’s tenure, and it raised understandable concerns about the team’s early-season form.

For Chelsea supporters, the talking point was unquestionably Jackson. His movement, link-up play and finishing all looked sharper and more confident than in previous weeks. If he can maintain this level, Chelsea may finally find the consistency in attack they’ve been seeking since last season. It felt like a statement performance not just from Jackson, but from the team as a whole.

Villa’s Fightback

Aston Villa’s 3–1 win over Wolves at Villa Park was a tale of patience, belief and late drama. Wolves struck first when Matheus Cunha punished a sloppy pass from Diego Carlos, driving forward and unleashing a superb long-range effort into the corner. For much of the match, Wolves held firm and frustrated Villa, who struggled to find rhythm or create clear chances in the first half.

The game began to shift midway through the second half. Villa increased their intensity, pinned Wolves back and began moving the ball quicker in the final third. Their persistence finally paid off in the 73rd minute when Ollie Watkins’ deflected shot beat the goalkeeper, giving Villa the spark they needed. The equaliser energised the home crowd and swung momentum completely in Villa’s favour.

As Wolves tired, Villa continued to push. The breakthrough came late: in the 88th minute, Ezri Konsa ghosted in at the far post to turn in a well-placed cross, sparking jubilation around the stadium. Wolves, forced to chase the game, were caught out again in stoppage time when substitute Jhon Durán finished off a swift counter-attack to seal the comeback victory.

For Unai Emery’s side, the match was another reminder of their growing maturity and resilience. Villa showed they can win games even when not at their fluent best, leaning on fitness, depth and belief to overwhelm opponents late on. For Wolves, the result was a harsh blow. After a spirited first half, they faded dramatically and were left still searching for their first league win of the season, a worrying trend as pressure slowly begins to build.

Game of the week: Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal Pitting 2 of the possible title challengers against each other, the games can often disappoint, however this one didn’t. With goals spanning from the 9th minute to the 98th, it was a dramatic clash as the points were shared, 4 goals were scored and we had a red card in the mix also.

Player of the week: Nicholas Jackson With a brace inside of 18 minutes, Jackson proved he has plenty to offer Chelsea despite the question marks that remain over his ability to lead their line. A dominant display away from home and another 3 points on the board to start the weekend.