Standings and Top Teams

Arsenal have stormed out of the blocks, leading the table with 25 points from 10 games (8–1–1, +15 GD)[1]. Manchester City (19 points) and Liverpool (18 points) trail in second and third, but Arsenal’s early goal difference advantage is notable. Promoted Sunderland are the surprise package, sitting in the top four on 18 points (5–3–2)[2] – an outstanding return for a newly promoted side. Also challenging for European spots are Bournemouth (18 points) and Tottenham (17 points). By contrast, traditional giants Man Utd (17 points) and Chelsea (17) are keeping pace but have not pulled away.

In the bottom third, Wolves have endured an historic collapse: after ten games they have only 2 points (0–2–8, –15 GD)[3] – their worst start ever[4]. West Ham (7 points) and Nottingham Forest (6 points) have also struggled, prompting managerial turmoil. In sum, early leaders (Arsenal/City) resemble recent-title races, but several promoted or mid-level teams (Sunderland, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace) are punching above expectations, while big clubs like Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have slid toward the bottom.

Surprises and Underperformers

The 2025–26 season has produced some shocks. Promoted Sunderland (managed by Regis Le Bris) sit 4th with 18 points[2], buoyed by a settled spine (captain Xhaka among them) and home strength. Bournemouth, once tipped for relegation, are similarly flourishing (4th on 18 points). On the other hand, Wolves have underperformed catastrophically: after losing all five of their opening games[4] they remain winless and bottom of the table (2 points)[3]. West Ham’s 18th-place start (7 points) has already cost Graham Potter his job[5]. Even Nottingham Forest (6 points) have fallen from last season’s European qualification to a relegation scrap. Burnley (17th, 10 points) are just above the drop zone, while Leeds (16th, 11 points) have lost their momentum from last year. In contrast, Spurs – now managed by Thomas Frank – are proving unexpectedly robust (2.0 ppg) and sit safely in mid-table[6].

Standout Players and Individual Statistics

Goals: Manchester City’s Erling Haaland leads the race for the Golden Boot with a league-high 13 goals in 10 games[7] (he had 9 in 7 by late October[8]). Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (6 goals[9]) and Brentford’s Igor Thiago (6) are next on the scorers’ list, illustrating the rise of midtable attackers. Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyökeres has chipped in 4 goals[10] in a balanced attack. Tottenham’s Richarlison (3) and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (3) have not hit previous highs, reflecting their teams’ mixed form.

Assists: Bolton’s fullback Quilindschy Hartman (Burnley) tops the assists chart with 4 (tied with Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus and Everton’s Jack Grealish, each on 4)[11]. Notably, Jack Grealish has already provided 4 assists for Everton[12], settling into a playmaking left-wing role that has rescued their start[13]. Mohammed Kudus has been Spurs’ creative standout under new management[14]. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes (2 assists) and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (4 goals, 2 assists) remain influential but not dominant yet.

Defensive Records: Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya has kept 6 clean sheets (the most in the league)[15], anchoring a defence that has conceded only 4 goals to date. Newcastle’s Nick Pope has 5 clean sheets[15]. Sunderland and Bournemouth have also kept 4 clean sheets each[15], underscoring their strong defensive showings. At the other extreme, Wolves, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have yet to string multiple shutouts together, reflecting their goals-against woes.

Tactical and Managerial Trends

Analysis indicates a shift toward more direct play and set-piece emphasis this season. Long throw-ins have surged – teams now average ~3.0 long throws into the box per game, nearly double last year’s rate[16] – and these are yielding more goals (3 goals from long throws already, vs ~1 per 27 games last season)[17]. Goalkeepers are also going long more often: over 51% of goalkeeper passes were long by early season (up from ~47% in 2024/25)[18], and goal-kicks reaching the opposition half are up sharply[18]. A novel pattern is emerging with teams sometimes kicking off straight out of play to win an attacking throw-in (3 such kickoffs in 30 games, triple the frequency of the past five seasons)[19]. In short, Opta notes Premier League football has a “throwback” element – more long balls, set-piece probing and tactical pragmatism[16][18].

On the managerial front, new appointments have made an impact. Tottenham are benefiting from Thomas Frank’s pragmatic, adaptable style[6]. Sunderland’s Regis Le Bris has maximized his squad (captained by veteran Xhaka) to make the Stadium of Light a fortress[20]. In contrast, West Ham (Slot) and Nottingham Forest (Nuno) have already dismissed their managers for poor results[5][21]. Chelsea and Man Utd, despite big spending, have seen little improvement under new coaches (Graeme Jones at Chelsea; Ruben Amorim at United)[22][23], while Newcastle (under Howe) and Aston Villa are just beginning to rediscover form after slow starts[24].

Comparison to Recent Seasons

This season contrasts sharply with the goal-fests of recent years. Premier League games have averaged only 2.48 goals per match so far[25] – a dramatic drop from the ~2.82 gpg seen in each of the last four campaigns. In fact, 2.48 is the third-lowest in PL history and the lowest since 2008–09[25]. Non-penalty goals are even scarcer (2.24 gpg, nearly a record low)[26]. There are concrete signs of a more cautious, evenly matched league: teams average just 22.5 shots per game (the fewest in any season on record since 2003–04)[27], and six out of the first 50 matches have finished 0–0 (12.0% of games) – the second-highest goalless rate ever (trailing only 1998–99)[28].

Promoted sides have also fared much better than usual. Sunderland, Burnley and Leeds have already amassed 23 points combined (by Matchday 10) – more than double the 11 points collected by all promoted teams at the same stage in 2024–25[29]. This suggests a slight leveling of the division: with no obvious “whipping boy” (Southampton’s relegation has removed an easy target), big teams find few easy wins. In summary, compared to the high-scoring “goal explosion” of 2021–25, 2025–26 has so far been defined by defensive solidity and greater parity.

Statistical Highlights

• Goals per Game: 2.48 (far below recent seasons)[25].
• Top Scorer: Erling Haaland (Man City) – 13 goals[7].
• Top Assists: Quilindschy Hartman (Burnley), Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham), Jack Grealish (Everton) – 4 each[11].
• Clean Sheets: Arsenal 6 (David Raya); Newcastle 5 (Nick Pope)[15].
• Shots per Game: 22.5 (lowest since 03–04)[27].
• Goalless Draws: 12% of games, second-highest ever[28].

These stats underline the season’s character: prolific performers (Haaland, Semenyo) sit alongside unexpectedly stingy defenses (Arsenal, Newcastle), and the league has seen defensive metrics (clean sheets, low shots, frequent 0–0 draws) not witnessed in years[25][28]. As we enter the mid-season, observers note that many teams are prioritizing solidity (à la Arsenal’s recent title model) over freewheeling attack[30]. Whether this trend continues or shifts back to a goal-heavy style remains to be seen, but through Matchday 10 the 2025–26 Premier League has been defined by surprises, tight matches and tactical ingenuity.

Sources: Official and reputable football sources including NBC Sports, Reuters, Guardian, PremierLeague.com and Opta/Stats Perform[1][4][5][7][15][25][16][18][20][28].

[1] [2] [3] Premier League 2025-26 table — Latest standings – NBC Sports

[4] Toothless Wolves in need of lift after worst ever league start | Reuters

[5] West Ham identify Slaven Bilic and Nuno as potential Potter replacements | West Ham United | The Guardian

[6] [8] [13] [14] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [29] TEN things we’ve learned from 2025/26 so far

[7] [9] [10] [11] [12] English Premier League Stats, 2025-26 Season – ESPN

[15] Premier League 2025-26 Clean Sheets kept by Clubs & Goalkeepers – My Football Facts

[16] [17] [18] [19] Analysis: Four tactical trends emerging in 2025/26 so far

[25] [26] [27] [28] [30] Premier League Goals Have Dipped Dramatically After Years of High Scoring Rates – But Why? | Opta Analyst