LONDON, ENGLAND, September 12, 2026: Arsenal finished a turbulent Premier League Saturday exactly where the defending champions wanted to be: four matches, four victories and 12 points.
The route to the summit was anything but routine.
David Raya saved an Enzo Le Fée penalty at Sunderland before Bruno Guimarães scored his first Arsenal goal only 121 seconds later, with Bukayo Saka sealing a 2-0 victory from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time.
Behind Arsenal, Saturday exposed just how unpredictable the opening month has become.
Promoted Hull City extended their unbeaten start by drawing 2-2 at Chelsea. Ipswich Town beat 10-man Crystal Palace 3-2 through Zian Flemming’s 90th-minute winner. Nottingham Forest finally collected their first league victory with an 88th-minute Igor Jesus goal at Aston Villa.
Liverpool were frustrated 0-0 by Fulham at Anfield, Bournemouth surrendered another lead in a 2-2 draw with Brentford, and Tottenham remained without a Premier League goal after four matches following a goalless home draw with Everton.
Seven games therefore produced only two home wins, two away wins and three draws, while several clubs moved in completely different directions before Sunday’s Manchester derby.
The Sports Encounter entered Matchweek 4 with the early title picture already taking shape after Arsenal beat Chelsea and Manchester City stayed perfect during Matchweek 3. Saturday strengthened Arsenal’s position while raising new questions about Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa.
Premier League Saturday Results at a Glance
| Match | Result | Key Story |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest | 1-2 | Igor Jesus scores 88th-minute Forest winner |
| Bournemouth vs Brentford | 2-2 | Kevin Schade brace rescues unbeaten Brentford |
| Chelsea vs Hull City | 2-2 | Mohamed Belloumi scores twice as Hull stay unbeaten |
| Crystal Palace vs Ipswich Town | 2-3 | Flemming wins it in 90th minute against 10-man Palace |
| Liverpool vs Fulham | 0-0 | Liverpool fail to convert Anfield control |
| Tottenham vs Everton | 0-0 | Spurs remain goalless after four league games |
| Sunderland vs Arsenal | 0-2 | Raya penalty save precedes Bruno Guimarães breakthrough |
The complete seven-match Saturday scoreline is also confirmed by Reuters’ Premier League Saturday report.
Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal: Raya Saves, Bruno Strikes and Champions Stay Perfect
Arsenal’s fourth consecutive victory may ultimately prove more valuable than a comfortable three-goal win would have been.
Sunderland pushed the champions hard at the Stadium of Light and were given the opportunity to take the lead when Enzo Le Fée stepped up to a penalty in the 55th minute.
David Raya changed the match.
The Arsenal goalkeeper saved Le Fée’s spot kick. Just over two minutes later, substitute Bruno Guimarães produced a superb long-range finish for his first Arsenal goal.
The turnaround took only 121 seconds.
Bukayo Saka then converted a stoppage-time penalty after Sunderland were reduced to 10 men, securing a 2-0 win that kept Mikel Arteta’s side perfect through four matches.
The sequence is independently confirmed by Reuters’ Sunderland-Arsenal report.
Why This Win Matters More Than the Score Suggests
Arsenal had already shown attacking quality in their opening fixtures and demonstrated their resilience when they came from behind to beat Chelsea in Matchweek 3.
Sunderland posed a different problem.
The champions were not dominant for long periods and needed their goalkeeper to keep the game level before a substitute changed the contest.
That is useful evidence for a side trying to defend the title.
The Sports Encounter’s preseason analysis of Arsenal’s title defense focused on whether Arteta had enough depth to solve matches when the established structure was not working perfectly.
Bruno provided one answer Saturday.
Arsenal also carried momentum from Europe after Martin Ødegaard broke Napoli’s resistance in the Champions League.
Four league wins from four now puts the defending champions on 12 points and forces Manchester City to respond in Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford.
Chelsea 2-2 Hull City: The Promoted Team Nobody Can Ignore
Hull City’s unbeaten start is no longer a novelty.
It is becoming one of the first major stories of the season.
Chelsea went ahead through Morgan Rogers in the seventh minute at Stamford Bridge, but Mohamed Belloumi turned the game around with two first-half goals.
Belloumi equalized in the 29th minute before striking again five minutes later to send Hull into halftime leading 2-1.
João Pedro rescued Chelsea with a 66th-minute equalizer, but Hull survived the closing pressure to earn another significant result.
The promoted side now have eight points from four games.
They have beaten Manchester United, beaten Coventry City, drawn at Aston Villa and now drawn at Chelsea.
That is not a soft schedule producing an artificial position.
Hull Have Already Passed the Eye Test
Promoted teams are often judged by whether they can survive when elite opponents dominate possession.
Hull did exactly that.
Chelsea had more of the ball and pushed hard late, but Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis repeatedly kept the home side out.
Belloumi gave Hull something equally important at the other end: an attacking threat capable of punishing defensive mistakes.
Reuters reported that Hull remained unbeaten and moved to eight points after the draw, having already beaten Manchester United earlier in the campaign.
Chelsea, meanwhile, move to seven points and have still not kept a clean sheet this season.
That defensive inconsistency is particularly striking after a summer in which Premier League clubs collectively spent enormous sums, a market The Sports Encounter examined in our analysis of the league’s £3.46 billion transfer window.
The Blues showed their attacking ceiling earlier when they beat Fulham 3-2. Saturday again showed the other side of the equation.
Crystal Palace 2-3 Ipswich: Ten Men, Five Goals and a 90th-Minute Winner
The most dramatic afternoon game came at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace led through Anan Khalaili, but the match changed when Axel Disasi was sent off for a high challenge on Jack Clarke.
Ipswich took advantage.
Emersonn equalized before Leif Davis headed the visitors ahead.
Palace’s 10 men fought back through Jørgen Strand Larsen with around 15 minutes remaining and then had an opportunity to steal the game when Khalaili missed an open goal.
That miss became brutally expensive.
Davis later hit the crossbar with a looping header, and substitute Zian Flemming reacted first to score the 90th-minute winner.
It gave Ipswich their second win of the season and six points from four games.
The Guardian’s match report confirms the scoring sequence, Disasi’s dismissal and Flemming’s late winner.
Ipswich Already Look Better Equipped Than Last Time
Ipswich’s previous Premier League stay ended with only 22 points.
The current side looks different.
They have invested heavily, added greater physicality and now possess more options capable of changing a match from the bench.
Flemming is a good example.
He started the day among the substitutes and ended it deciding the game.
Palace, by contrast, have lost three of their opening four league matches and have now conceded heavily enough for defensive control to become an immediate concern.
Aston Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Villa Finally Score, but Forest Take the Win
Aston Villa ended one drought and extended another.
Alysson’s 74th-minute header was Villa’s first Premier League goal of the season, ending a 372-minute wait.
It still did not produce their first victory.
Liam Delap had given Nottingham Forest the lead only 45 seconds into the second half with a powerful strike from outside the box.
Alysson eventually equalized from John McGinn’s cross, but Villa were then forced to finish the game with 10 players after Ian Maatsen suffered an injury when all substitutions had already been used.
Forest exploited the space.
Igor Jesus scored in the 88th minute to deliver a 2-1 victory and Forest’s first league win of the season.
Forest produced 22 shots and approximately 1.92 expected goals compared with Villa’s seven shots and 0.82 xG.
The late winner therefore reflected the balance of chances rather than a smash-and-grab.
Villa’s European Form Is Not Translating Domestically
The defeat is particularly frustrating for Unai Emery because Villa had just beaten Club Brugge 3-2 in Europe.
The Sports Encounter covered that performance in our report on Nicolas Jackson’s first Aston Villa goal.
Yet the Premier League record remains grim.
Villa have one point from four matches.
Their only positive from Saturday is that the league scoring drought finally ended.
The problems identified after Arsenal beat Villa earlier in the season remain unresolved.
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham: Anfield Control Without a Finish
Liverpool entered Saturday after a 2-0 league win at Ipswich and a strong Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid.
They could not carry that momentum into Fulham.
Andoni Iraola’s team controlled long periods at Anfield but lacked penetration against a Fulham side that had lost its opening three league games.
Victor Muñoz came closest in the first half when his header struck the crossbar.
Alexander Isak produced Liverpool’s first open-play shot on target after halftime, but Bernd Leno dealt with it comfortably.
The game finished 0-0.
Liverpool have now drawn three of their first four league matches.
That makes the contrast with Europe striking. Only days earlier, Liverpool had turned pressure into a Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid, a performance analyzed in our Liverpool-Atlético report.
The New Attack Still Looks Like a Collection of Parts
Liverpool have assembled enormous attacking talent.
Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and other new pieces give Iraola numerous combinations.
What Saturday lacked was chemistry.
Possession moved across midfield without consistently placing Fulham’s defensive line under stress.
The issue is not a lack of individual quality.
It is whether those individuals can develop the timing required to make Iraola’s system function quickly enough against organized low blocks.
Fulham, meanwhile, earned their first point of the season and will leave Anfield with considerably more encouragement than the hosts.
Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford: Schade Punishes Another Lost Lead
Kevin Schade scored twice as Brentford maintained their unbeaten start on the south coast.
The German winger headed Brentford ahead in the 34th minute before Justin Kluivert equalized four minutes later.
Marcus Tavernier then put Bournemouth 2-1 ahead in the 52nd minute.
The lead lasted four minutes.
Schade struck again in the 56th to make it 2-2.
The official Brentford match report confirms Schade’s brace and the final score.
Bournemouth’s Problem Is Becoming Familiar
Bournemouth remain without a league victory.
The bigger concern is not simply the absence of wins.
It is how points are being dropped.
Marco Rose’s team created significantly more danger than Brentford and repeatedly threatened Caoimhín Kelleher, but another advantage disappeared quickly.
Brentford have the opposite profile.
They may not always control matches, but they remain difficult to beat.
Six points from four matches and an unbeaten record represent a solid start.
Tottenham 0-0 Everton: Four Matches, Zero Goals
Saturday’s most alarming statistic belongs to Tottenham.
Spurs have now played four Premier League matches without scoring.
It is the first time in the club’s history that Tottenham have failed to score in each of their opening four league games.
Everton became the latest team to hold Roberto De Zerbi’s side, drawing 0-0 in north London while remaining unbeaten themselves.
Tottenham produced only two shots on target.
Supporters made their frustration clear at full time.
The scale of the problem becomes more striking when placed alongside Tottenham’s summer spending.
De Zerbi has been given an extensively rebuilt squad, yet Spurs remain without a goal and without a win after four rounds.
This is no longer an issue of one unlucky afternoon.
Four games without scoring represents a structural attacking problem.
Everton Quietly Keep Moving
The focus will naturally fall on Tottenham, but Everton deserve credit.
David Moyes’ team remain unbeaten through four matches.
Jordan Pickford reached 100 Premier League clean sheets and produced a late save to protect the point.
Everton may not be generating the headlines of Arsenal or Hull, but early stability has given them a useful foundation.
What Saturday Changed in the Premier League
| Team | Played | Points | Saturday Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 4 | 12 | Perfect start continues |
| Hull City | 4 | 8 | Still unbeaten after draw at Chelsea |
| Chelsea | 4 | 7 | Attack productive, defense remains vulnerable |
| Liverpool | 4 | 6 | Third draw in four games |
| Brentford | 4 | 6 | Remain unbeaten |
| Everton | 4 | 6 | Remain unbeaten |
| Ipswich Town | 4 | 6 | Second win after late drama |
| Nottingham Forest | 4 | 5 | First league victory |
| Sunderland | 4 | 4 | Strong display but second defeat |
| Bournemouth | 4 | 3 | Still searching for first win |
| Tottenham | 4 | 2 | Still no goals and no wins |
| Aston Villa | 4 | 1 | First league goal but still winless |
| Fulham | 4 | 1 | First point earned at Anfield |
The positions remain provisional because Manchester City, Manchester United, Brighton, Coventry, Newcastle and Leeds still have Matchweek 4 fixtures to play.
Hull and Arsenal Leave Saturday With Very Different Kinds of Momentum
Arsenal’s momentum comes from expectation.
They are defending champions and were among the clear favorites identified in The Sports Encounter’s preseason ranking of the leading title contenders.
Twelve points from 12 therefore confirms the standard rather than overturning it.
Hull are different.
The promoted side entered the campaign expected to fight for survival.
Four games later, they are unbeaten and have already taken results against Manchester United, Aston Villa and Chelsea.
The opening weekend first suggested the promoted teams might be more competitive than expected.
Hull have now turned that suggestion into evidence.
Liverpool, Tottenham and Villa Face Different Versions of the Same Problem
Three traditionally ambitious clubs finished Saturday frustrated for different reasons.
Liverpool have talent but are struggling to make the pieces function consistently.
Tottenham have spent heavily but cannot score at all.
Aston Villa finally scored but remain without a league win.
The common problem is conversion.
Liverpool are not converting possession into enough clear chances.
Tottenham are not converting possession or investment into goals.
Villa are not converting European confidence into domestic points.
That is why Matchweek 4 matters even this early.
The table may still be compressed, but underlying patterns are beginning to harden.
TSE Analysis: The Premier League Is Already Separating Teams by Adaptability
Saturday was not dominated by the biggest squads.
It was dominated by the teams that responded best when games changed.
Arsenal survived Sunderland’s pressure because Raya saved a penalty and Arteta’s substitute scored moments later.
Hull conceded first at Stamford Bridge and answered with two goals.
Ipswich lost their early structure, benefited from a red card and still had to find another response after Palace equalized.
Forest conceded an equalizer but exploited Villa’s late vulnerability.
Brentford went behind after leading and immediately found their second equalizer.
Meanwhile Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa controlled portions of their matches without producing the decisive action needed to win.
That is the early dividing line in this Premier League season.
Talent remains essential.
Adaptability is deciding points.
Arsenal have both. Hull are proving they have more of the second quality than anyone expected. Tottenham currently have neither functioning reliably enough.
Four rounds cannot decide a title race or a relegation battle.
They can tell us which problems are becoming real.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Saturday’s Premier League results?
Aston Villa lost 2-1 to Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Brentford, Chelsea drew 2-2 with Hull City, Crystal Palace lost 3-2 to Ipswich Town, Liverpool drew 0-0 with Fulham, Tottenham drew 0-0 with Everton, and Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-0.
Who leads the Premier League after Saturday?
Arsenal lead provisionally with 12 points from four matches after winning all four of their league games.
Are Hull City still unbeaten?
Yes. Hull have eight points from four matches after wins over Manchester United and Coventry City plus draws with Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Has Tottenham scored in the Premier League this season?
No. Tottenham have failed to score in all four of their opening league matches, the first such start in club history.
Who scored Arsenal’s goals against Sunderland?
Bruno Guimarães scored his first Arsenal goal in the 58th minute before Bukayo Saka converted a stoppage-time penalty.
Who won Crystal Palace vs Ipswich?
Ipswich won 3-2 after substitute Zian Flemming scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute.
Who scored Nottingham Forest’s winner against Aston Villa?
Substitute Igor Jesus scored in the 88th minute to give Nottingham Forest a 2-1 victory.