One Burning Question for Every Premier League Club After Five Games

It was advertised as a Premier League campaign laden with uncertainty, and to an extent, the opening five matchdays of the 2026-27 have lived up to that billing. There was a sense that the division needed to heal after a campaign dominated by set-piece attrition, and the departure of Pep Guardiola after a decade in Manchester has arguably left the top-flight in a state of stylistic flux.

We're still some distance away from the table taking shape-though comparisons have inevitably been madeto 12 months ago-and three weeks out from Matchday 6 as a result of the September and October international breaks joining forces. Still, there's plenty to discern from the first month or so of action, and the lengthy pause until domestic action returns means there's ample time to reflect, too.

Jump to: Arsenal Aston Villa Bournemouth Brentford Brighton Chelsea Coventry City Crystal Palace Everton Fulham Hull City Ipswich Town Leeds United Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Newcastle United Nottingham Forest Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal Has Underwhelming Summer Transfer Window Left Door Ajar? Arsenal failed to acquire a star attacker.

The Gunners had been deemed infallible before their trip to the Amex Stadium, seemingly on course to cruise to back-to-back titles. But retaining the Premier League crown is no mean feat, and there was a sense at the end of the summer transfer window that the champions hadn't done enough to steer further clear of their rivals.

Bruno Guimarães is an excellent addition, yet to establish a groove due to injury, while Christos Tzolis is an adequate Leandro Trossard replacement. However, in their trickiest outing of the season to date, Arsenal's untinkered attack was found wanting.

Martin Ødegaard's return to prominence certainly aids the watchability of Mikel Arteta's team, but concerns remain about the firepower at the Spaniard's disposal. They require the very best version of Bukayo Saka, and have curiously yet to strike from a set-piece.

Perhaps Pro Ref's crackdown has nerfed Nicolas Jover's cunning ways. They may go back-to-back, but it's likely to be a slog to the finish.

• ANALYSIS: Arsenal Set Fire to Four Core Mikel Arteta Principles in Brutal Reality Check Aston Villa Will First Victory Ignite Much-Needed Upsurge? com/Kix2Er1JTw - Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) September 19, 2026 Aston Villa certainly aren't unfamiliar with slow starts.

In fact, they were even worse off after five games last season, and things worked out okay in the end. There was always going to be a nasty period of transition for Unai Emery to manage, given that he was forced to completely rebuild his core in the summer.

Fortunately, the Villans did some rather astute work in the transfer market, and several of their new additions played starring roles in their first Premier League victory of the season. Johan Manzambi and Nicolas Jackson were both on the scoresheet, and João Gomes, nightmare debut still fresh in the memory, was at his scrappy best against Tottenham Hotspur's expensive new-look engine-room.

Spurs are a mess, but that doesn't mean Emery and Villa can't build on their opening victory of a new era. Bournemouth Is It Europa League or Bust?

Europe looks good on the Cherries. Marco Rose ranked among the most exciting coaching prospects in Europe when he was working wonders at Borussia Monchengladbach, but his subsequent spells at Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig somewhat soured his reputation.

Still, the astute minds at Bournemouth deemed the German the ideal candidate to succeed Iraola. Their winless start to the Premier League season is concerning on paper, but there's no sense of any early panic at the Vitality.

Understat rates Bournemouth as the biggest underachievers through five games, believing they should've mustered closer to eight points rather than three. Nevertheless, the Premier League is a side note for the Cherries this term.

They're living the European dream, and an opening matchday victory at Real Sociedad will only embolden hopes of the Premier League maintaining its stranglehold over the competition. A deep run in the Europa League is surely Bournemouth's priority this term.

Brentford Is This the Premier League's Toughest Away Day? Brentford have battered Chelsea and Spurs at home already.

The Bees, tipped for relegation last term after losing Thomas Frank, didn't merely survive in Keith Andrews' first season at the helm; they went on to enjoy their joint-highest Premier League finish (ninth) and only missed out on European competition due to Brighton's superior goal difference. A strong start to 2026-27 suggests Brentford are primed for another European push, and their form at the Gtech Community Stadium will be absolutely crucial.

As Chelsea and Spurs have already found out, they're a nightmare to play against in front of their supporters. Andrews's side are a robust, dogged unit that are unrelentingly physical.

They can run all over you and are dominant from set plays. According to Opta,38.54% of their total xGhas been generated from set-pieces (second-highest in the Premier League), and their set-piece xG of 3.82 is the most in the division.

This is 2026's answer to Sam Allardyce's Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok and Tony Pulis' Stoke City at the Britannia. Everybody dreads a trip to the Gtech.