Gameweek 10 of the Premier League season ended favourably for most of the big-six clubs, with fewer controversies and more clear-cut results at the weekend. Getting some secondary talking points out of the way, it’s worth acknowledging Sunderland’s ability to hold on to a top-four place after their eventful draw against Everton.
The same could not be said about Bournemouth and Aston Villa, as the two resurgent sides faltered at the weekend to Liverpool and Manchester City respectively. Those two giants are now firmly back on the title trail after some recent wobbles.
Arsenal remain the main talking point of the weekend following yet another win and clean sheet. The Gunners are already being tipped to lift the Premier League title after Gameweek 10, and while some might suggest such talk is premature, Mikel Arteta’s side are showing no signs of slowing down.
The same cannot be said of Manchester United. Their fans enjoyed the notion of being in a title race for all of ten minutes at the weekend before a deflating result ended their three-game winning run. There’s also increasing chatter about the relegation battle, with this season shaping up to be unpredictable when it comes to which teams could go down at the end of the campaign.
Finally, Tottenham’s struggles at home could derail their ambitions of keeping a Champions League spot next season. Spurs could single-handedly ensure another tight race for the top four or five places as we look at the five key stories from Gameweek 10 of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
The Gunners recorded another victory in the Premier League — one that looked routine given their recent form. After a first half against Burnley filled with attacking intent, Arteta’s side shifted into second gear in the second half to secure three points and add another clean sheet.
As has been the theme this season, Arsenal opened the scoring via a set-piece routine, with Viktor Gyökeres finishing from a corner. Declan Rice then turned scorer for the second, capping off the game with what many described as a complete midfield performance from the England international.
Arsenal extended their lead at the top to six points after Bournemouth lost to Manchester City. It’s a healthy enough gap for pundits to call the Gunners clear favourites for the title — however, both fans and players would do well to stay grounded.
The win over Burnley was another defensive masterclass from Arteta’s men, who once again did not allow a single shot on target. The success at Turf Moor marked their seventh consecutive win across all competitions and stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games. Ahead of next weekend’s big clash away to Sunderland, the Gunners will aim to win again while hoping one or both of their title rivals drop points at the Etihad.
As Arsenal managed to stretch their lead before Liverpool and Manchester City took to the field, the duo responded with big wins of their own. The Merseysiders were desperate to bounce back after successive defeats to Brentford in the league and Crystal Palace in the cup.
Aston Villa, for some reason, abandoned the long-ball style that had troubled Liverpool in recent weeks. Unai Emery’s setup appeared to play into Liverpool’s strengths, though the game itself was far from a dominant performance by Arne Slot’s side.
A misplaced pass from Emi Martínez presented Mohamed Salah with his 250th goal for Liverpool, reigniting the atmosphere at Anfield. Ryan Gravenberch sealed the victory with a second as Liverpool ended a four-game losing streak in the Premier League to roar back into the title conversation.
Neither the Reds nor Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal, although Pep Guardiola will be satisfied with his team’s display in the win over Bournemouth, which lifted them to second in the standings. Erling Haaland was once again the catalyst, but questions persist over how long City can rely on the Norwegian’s goals to rescue them.
Nevertheless, the win over Bournemouth was a statement of intent from City, who reaffirmed their title credentials. Next up is a huge test against Liverpool at the Etihad, where a win would solidify their challenger status.
The defeat to Grimsby Town still lingers in the minds of Manchester United fans and their rivals. United supporters would rather forget that shocking cup exit to lower-league opposition — and the ensuing talk of sacking Rúben Amorim.
For rival fans, however, that defeat confirmed their belief that United remain far from any serious title contention — and Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest reinforced it. The Red Devils led at half-time and briefly sat second in the table, sparking a brief frenzy about a potential title challenge.
The excitement lasted all of ten minutes, ending when Forest equalised and then took the lead. By the final whistle, dreams of a title race had evaporated.
Talk of a title charge seems premature from United’s perspective. The more realistic target should be returning to the top four. The team has shown clear improvement under Amorim, but expectations must be managed.
Comparing them with genuine title contenders like Arsenal or City remains unfair.
Overhyping their progress only adds pressure on Amorim and his players, especially considering that a section of the fanbase was calling for his departure just weeks ago.
There’s a growing sense of discontent at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after the team failed to win yet another home game in the Premier League. Tottenham and Chelsea played out a dull stalemate in north London, and Thomas Frank’s side have collected only four points from a possible 15 at home this season.
Those points came against newly promoted Burnley on the opening weekend and a late draw against relegation-threatened Wolves. The fans have endured a string of poor home performances, continuing a trend from last season — and their frustration is beginning to show.
Players have started to feel the pressure, with fans booing after conceding to Chelsea. After the final whistle, Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven stirred controversy by snubbing Frank’s handshake before heading down the tunnel.
It appears their frustration wasn’t with the manager but with the fanbase itself. Even Frank later admitted he was happy with the support for only the first 30 minutes. The episode highlights a growing disconnect between players and supporters — one that could derail Spurs’ season.
The fans have every right to voice their displeasure after repeated underperformances at home. With 13 of their 17 points so far coming away from home, Tottenham clearly plays with more freedom on the road. Improving their home form is essential if they hope to repair the relationship with their fans and achieve their season’s objectives.
The current relegation zone features West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Wolves. However, unlike recent seasons, there’s no guarantee these teams will go down — making this campaign’s battle for survival far more unpredictable.
The newly promoted sides have performed impressively so far. Sunderland sit in the top four, while Burnley and Leeds United are also picking up results regularly, making it hard to imagine any of them heading straight back to the Championship.
West Ham showed their best football of the season in a spirited display against Newcastle United and now look upward under Nuno Espírito Santo. Their quality should be enough to secure mid-table security, which likely rules them out of a relegation scrap.
Of the current bottom three, Nottingham Forest looks best placed to pull clear. Sean Dyche’s side boasts the strongest squad of the three and seems capable of mounting a resurgent run in the coming months.
Wolves, however, appear in real danger. The Midlands club sacked Vítor Pereira after another bruising defeat left them with just two points from ten games. They remain favourites for the drop, though with plenty of time left, a turnaround isn’t out of the question.
For now, the relegation fight remains wide open, promising plenty of unpredictable twists as the season progresses. Wolves may be the likeliest candidates to go down, but as history shows, nothing is ever guaranteed in this league.
