Manchester City and Arsenal have set a relentless pace at the summit of the Premier League, maintaining perfect starts to their campaigns as traditional rivals faltered across a chaotic Matchweek 4. The weekend’s biggest drama unfolded at Old Trafford, where City overcame an early Phil Foden red card to secure a gritty 1-0 victory in the Manchester Derby. A highly controversial, VAR-reviewed goal from Erling Haaland sealed the three points, keeping Enzo Maresca’s side flawless with a maximum 12 points.
Arsenal kept pace at the top by grinding out a 2-0 victory against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Gunners had goalkeeper David Raya to thank after he pulled off a massive penalty save to deny Enzo Le Fée, preventing Sunderland from taking the lead. Bukayo Saka later converted a late spot-kick of his own to ensure Mikel Arteta’s men left with all three points, though Arteta later voiced his heavy frustration with the officiating, stating that the match felt completely “unprotected.”
While the top two thrived, it was a weekend of immense frustration for other heavyweights. Both Liverpool and Chelsea were stunned at home by bottom-half opponents, finishing in costly draws. Chelsea threw away an early lead to finish 2-2 against Hull City, while Liverpool were completely blunted in a 0-0 stalemate against Fulham. Adding to the headache for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, Rayan Cherki was hooked incredibly early in his match, a brutal blow for his owners who were left facing sub-optimal appearance points and a potential drop in value if the early substitution points to a deeper tactical or fitness issue.
Elsewhere, Tottenham and Everton fought out a stale 0-0 draw that extended Spurs‘ alarming goal drought past the 400-minute mark, while Nottingham Forest secured a stunning 2-1 win at Aston Villa Park thanks to a late Igor Jesus winner. Meanwhile, the most explosive scoreline of the weekend belonged to Brighton, who utterly dismantled a 10-man Coventry City side 5-0. With the majority of the drama now settled, all eyes turn to Elland Road where we await the final game of the game week—a highly anticipated Monday night clash between Leeds United and Newcastle United to wrap up Matchweek 4.
