Arsenal lost 3-0 at Brighton, Manchester United drew 1-1 at Fulham and Chelsea lost 3-0 at Brentford in the Premier League this weekend. Manchester City will lead the table by three points for the next three weeks after beating Sunderland 5-3, and these Premier League talking points explain where Arsenal, United and Chelsea are going wrong.
Three stories dominate. Arsenal suffered their heaviest defeat in over three years at Brighton. Manchester United have won once in five league games, equalling their worst start of the Premier League era. Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in 21 league games, their longest such run since 1965.
City conceded three times to Sunderland's Brian Brobbey but had enough firepower to win 5-3. AFP Sport looks at each of the three talking points below.
Why did Arsenal lose 3-0 at Brighton?
The champions had been tipped to romp to the title after another summer of smart recruitment and a dominant start to the campaign. Brighton showed the rest of the Premier League that the Gunners do have flaws, inflicting their heaviest defeat in over three years. Mikel Arteta's side arrived on the south coast in formidable form, having won all seven games in all competitions this season.
Arsenal struggled to cope with the Seagulls' high press. They were also uncharacteristically exposed defensively from a corner, when Chema Andres headed in Brighton's third.
Arteta reflected on his side's start to the season afterwards. "The way we have competed, the way we have played, the way we have dominated. It's been really good," he said. "But today we need to take this lesson very, very seriously because it's going to happen."
How bad is Manchester United's start under Michael Carrick?
Michael Carrick mounted an unconvincing defence of his spluttering side after stinging criticism of United's abject 1-1 draw against lowly Fulham on Sunday. United have won just once in five league games, equalling their worst start to the season in the Premier League era. It would have been even worse but for Matheus Cunha's last-gasp equaliser at Craven Cottage.
United trailed to a farcical second-half goal that summed up their malaise. Lisandro Martinez made a hash of clearing from Senne Lammens's save and scuffed the ball into his own net via a deflection off his keeper.
United gave away possession carelessly time and again and lacked the basic defensive solidity to contain a previously moribund Fulham attack. They looked no better than the lethargic group that struggled under Carrick's predecessor Ruben Amorim.
Carrick proved a stabilising force after replacing the sacked Amorim last season, but the positive vibes created by that third-place finish are quickly fading. His former team-mate Gary Neville added to the misery. "I've watched Man United since the age of five and that's the worst 15 minutes I've ever seen," said Neville of United's start to the second half. "Absolutely pathetic. I've never seen such a lack of effort. What must Carrick be thinking?"
Why does Chelsea keep conceding under Xabi Alonso?
Chelsea's front three of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers made a dazzling start that papered over the cracks in the Blues' defence. The 3-0 defeat at Brentford took the shine off Xabi Alonso's start at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have now gone three games without a win as their inability to keep a clean sheet continues.
It is now 21 league games since Chelsea last kept a clean sheet, the club's longest run since 1965. That run predates Alonso's time in charge, but he knows a major change is needed. He is only the sixth manager to concede at least twice in his first five Premier League games.
"Not good enough," said Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. "At times we have been bullied in the box and we definitely need to improve."
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