Premier League title race: can Brighton keep pace with Arsenal?

Ten games in, the Premier League title race already has a clear leader, a surprise challenger and a giant that has started to wobble. Arsenal sit five points clear at the international break. Brighton are second. Manchester City, perfect for seven games, have lost three in a row.

It is far too early to hand anyone the trophy. But the shape of the season is starting to show, and some of it is not what most of us expected in August.

Premier League title race: the top five

Here is how the top of the Premier League table looks after ten games.

Pos	Team	W-D-L	GD	Pts
1	Arsenal	9-0-1	+10	27
2	Brighton	7-1-2	+19	22
3	Man City	7-0-3	+8	21
4	Liverpool	5-3-2	+4	18
5	Chelsea	5-1-4	+3	16

Arsenal: winning without fuss

The champions have won nine of their ten league games. Their only defeat was a 3-0 loss at Brighton in September, and they have won every league game since. That is the response of a side that knows exactly what it is.

They are not running riot in front of goal. Fifteen scored is fewer than Brighton, City or Chelsea. But they have conceded just five, the best record in the division, and that is where titles are usually won.

More telling is who has been doing it. Alan Shearer named Ezri Konsa, the £55m summer signing from Aston Villa, as his player of the season so far, saying Arsenal had barely missed the injured William Saliba. When you lose a defender of that class and keep winning, you have real depth.

Their first test after the break is a tricky one. Arsenal travel to St James’ Park on Saturday 21 November for a 5.30pm kick-off, where a Newcastle side looking for a response will be waiting.

Brighton: the real deal?

Brighton are the story of the season. Fabian Hürzeler’s side have scored 26 league goals, more than anyone else, and only Arsenal have conceded fewer than their seven. Their goal difference of plus 19 is the best in the league.

They have also beaten Arsenal and Manchester City. They put three past Arsenal at the Amex and won 1-0 at the Etihad. Those are not lucky results. They are statements.

Shearer believes they can last the distance, telling Betfair that Brighton “could be Arsenal’s main challenge to the title this season”. His one doubt is Europe, and it is a fair one. A long run of midweek games has broken better squads than this. We looked at that in more detail in our piece on Shearer’s verdict on the Brighton title challenge.

Man City: from perfect to fragile

City’s slide has been sudden. Enzo Maresca became the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games in charge of a new club. Then came three straight defeats: 2-1 at Aston Villa, 1-0 at home to Brighton and 3-1 at Nottingham Forest.

The worry is how the goals have gone in. At Villa Park, a heavy touch from Marc Guehi gifted Nicolas Jackson the opener, and a Gianluigi Donnarumma error let in the winner. Maresca knows it. “We are conceding silly goals and we can avoid that,” he said after the Brighton defeat.

City’s 21 goals show their scoring threat, but the defensive mistakes have proved costly, with 13 conceded already.

Liverpool and Chelsea: still building

Liverpool are fourth on 18 points and Chelsea fifth on 16. Both are close enough to matter, but neither looks ready to push for the title yet. Shearer described both clubs as being in transition.

Chelsea’s numbers explain why. They have scored 19, but four defeats and 16 goals conceded tell you they are not consistent enough. Liverpool have been steadier, with only two losses, yet nine points is a big gap to close on a side as tight as Arsenal.

What happens next

My view is simple. Arsenal are the team to catch because they do not give much away. Brighton have the goals and the belief to keep it interesting. City have the quality to come back, but only if they stop handing out gifts.

Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday 29 November at 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports. Before then, Arsenal visit Newcastle and City host Fulham. Those results will decide the gap heading into the Emirates meeting, but the chance to take points directly off a rival already makes it a significant date.

For every fixture, result and table update, keep an eye on our Premier League hub.