Arsenal and Manchester City have established an early lead in the Premier League, both achieving perfect records through the first four games. This places them four points ahead of third-place Hull City and five points clear of the rest of the league.
Arsenal, the defending champions, began the season by defeating Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield. They have since secured league victories against Coventry, Aston Villa, Chelsea, and Sunderland, along with a Champions League win against Napoli. This extends their winning streak to nine consecutive league matches, with their last loss in any competition to City on April 19.
Manchester City, under new manager Enzo Maresca, have also won all four of their opening league fixtures. This follows a summer transition where former assistant Maresca took over from Pep Guardiola, who had led the team to numerous titles. City's league wins have come against Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Coventry, complemented by a Champions League victory over Porto. Their recent 1-0 win against Manchester United was later acknowledged by the Premier League's refereeing body to have been a result of an incorrect offside call.
Despite their flawless starts, underlying statistics suggest neither Arsenal nor City have shown complete dominance. Brighton and Chelsea have scored more goals than the eight netted by Arsenal and City. In terms of shots and touches in the opposition box, both leading teams rank lower than some of their rivals. However, defensively, Arsenal has conceded only one goal, and City has let in two, which are among the league's best records.
The traditional title contenders have faced early challenges. Chelsea and Liverpool, both of whom changed managers in the summer, sit in fifth and seventh place, respectively. Chelsea has conceded nine goals in four matches, their worst defensive start since the 2015-16 season. Liverpool remains unbeaten but has drawn three of their four games, marking a slow start at home.
Manchester United are in 13th place with four points, matching their worst Premier League start in over three decades. Despite leading the league in shots taken and having one of the best defensive records in terms of shots conceded, they have scored and conceded seven goals each.
Tottenham Hotspur, who changed managers earlier in 2026, are currently in 17th place, a position that mirrors their final standing last season. They have failed to score in their first four league games, a first in the club's history.