PREMIER LEAGUE REPORT CARD - PART ONE: Arsenal show they are in contention once more, Fulham are the surprise package, while Crystal Palace are yet to get going - so how are the teams faring so far this season?

The world break is present erstwhile much to bring a halt to what has been a pulsating opening to nan Premier League campaign. It's adjacent to opportunity each 20 teams person endured varying degrees of occurrence successful nan first 2 months.

You could beryllium forgiven for expecting champions Manchester City to beryllium sitting apical of nan character aft 7 matches, but that is not nan case. It is successful truth Liverpool who spell into nan 2nd world break starring nan pack.

The Reds' caller dawn nether Arne Slot has sewage disconnected to a near-perfect start. They beryllium connected a much than respectable 18 points pinch six wins from their first 7 matches nether nan Dutchman. Meanwhile, Arsenal and City are conscionable a constituent down them and some stay unbeaten.

At nan different extremity of nan table, Gary O'Neil is suffering from second-season syndrome astatine Wolves, while nan returning Southampton are uncovering life backmost successful nan England's apical tier much than difficult. 

With each that said and done, Mail Sport person compiled study cards for each of nan 20 teams aft 7 matches of action. Here are nan first batch for you to descend your teeth into. 

Arsenal

Posititon: 3rd  Points: 17 

For 2 years running, Mikel Arteta's broadside person been nan bridesmaids. The wounded from back-to-back title fights has put Arsenal successful a amended position than ever to pip Manchester City to Premier League glory.

Once again, nan Gunners person flown retired of nan blocks. They are yet to beryllium beaten successful nan Premier League this season, boasting a grounds of 5 wins and 2 draws.

A triumph distant astatine Aston Villa showed their title credentials early doors earlier a melodramatic tie distant astatine nan champions cemented their contender status.

As nan timepiece struck 97 minutes astatine nan Etihad, Arsenal could sensation nan last whistle, they were wrong seconds of doing nan unthinkable and toppling City connected their ain spot pinch only 10 men near connected nan pitch.

But their hopes were soon crushed by John Stones correct astatine nan decease arsenic nan defender collapsed a near-formidable guidance from Arteta's men.

It was a Premier League classical that questioned nan Gunners' strategies and deemed them arsenic 'dark arts' experts. Whether you for illustration them, aliases not, Arsenal mean business erstwhile much this year.

Well positioned successful third, and pinch their onslaught flowing pinch its accustomed gusto, Arsenal look for illustration they will conflict until nan very extremity of nan play for nan 3rd clip running.

Grade: A- 

Aston Villa

Position: 5th  Points: 14

If anybody thought that Aston Villa's occurrence nether Unai Emery was a fluke, past well, you are already being proved wrong.

It's a in installments to Emery and his activity ethic that Villa proceed to transcend expectations week by week. Not conscionable successful nan Premier League, they person deed nan crushed moving successful nan Champions League, even signaling a historical triumph complete Bayern Munich.

However, this study paper judges really they person done successful nan apical flight, not each competitions. Still, it sounds beautiful good for nan Villa fans retired there.

The Villans person backed up their unexpected top-four decorativeness from past run pinch a nifty commencement to this one. After 7 games they person only been beaten connected 1 juncture and that was by Arsenal. No shame successful that.

One of their cardinal strengths truthful acold has been their powers of recovery. They came from down against some Everton and Wolves to declare melodramatic victories astatine Villa Park, displaying they person nan intelligence spot to spell pinch their charismatic style of play.

Another affirmative has been nan shape of Jhon Duran. He has reached cult leader position owed to his accordant devastating effect disconnected nan bench. He has netted 4 times successful nan Premier League frankincense far, including a thundercracker against nan Toffees.

The 20-year-old is not moving anyplace soon, either. He has precocious put pen to insubstantial connected a caller statement that will spot him stay successful nan Midlands until 2030. So, each successful all, it's been a bully commencement to nan play for Villa.

Grade: B+

Bournemouth

Position: 13th  Points: 8 

Andoni Iraola's first play successful complaint of Bournemouth was thing short of a resounding success. The Spaniard guided nan Cherries to their highest points decorativeness successful Premier League history arsenic they ended nan run 12th.

This season, they proceed to show they are a bully team, but location are still galore chinks successful their armour that person been connected show.

After losing Dominic Solanke successful nan summer, questions complete Bournemouth's attacking potency were asked. But pinch Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson, they are successful bully hands.

The attacking brace person mixed to nett 50 per cent of Bournemouth of Bournemouth's 8 goals truthful acold this play that person driven them to 2 wins and 2 draws, truthful far.

Their astir awesome show of nan play truthful acold came distant astatine Everton successful precocious August. 2-0 now successful nan 86th minute, nan Cherries rallied to nutrient nan latest comeback successful nan competition's history to topple nan Toffees astatine Goodison Park.

However, while location person been bully moments, Bournemouth's leaky defence has halted their progression. They are yet to cod a cleanable expanse and person conceded 10 goals. A mixed bag, truthful far.

Grade: C

Brentford 

Position: 11th  Points: 10

Now known as nan Premier League's accelerated starters, Brentford look good and genuinely backmost to their champion this season.

After suffering a uncommon relegation conflict successful nan apical formation past campaign, Thomas Frank has sewage his Bees buzzing backmost astir mid-table aft 7 games.

It seems nan Dane has invested successful a motorboat pad successful nan summertime to assistance his side. In their past 4 matches, they person scored wrong nan opening 90 seconds.

In nan first 3 of those, their opening goals each came successful nan opening infinitesimal of nan fixture. It's ne'er a bore-fest erstwhile Frank's broadside return to nan pitch.

What makes their tally of 10 points successful 7 games look moreover much awesome is that they person faced Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham distant from location already.

While they fell to conclusion to each of these big-hitters, their displays - which included first-minute goals distant astatine City and Spurs - showcased that they tin spell toe-to-toe pinch nan large boys.

With 3 wins and a tie from their different 4 games, inclusive of a 5-3 thriller against Wolves, nan Bees are providing plentifulness of moments to savour for their fans.

Grade: B 

Brighton and Hove Albion

Position: 6th  Points: 12

Eyebrows were astir ecrtainly raised erstwhile Fabian Hurzeler was appointed arsenic Roberto De Zerbi's successor complete nan summer. Well, now it each makes sense.

Despite being younger than galore of his players aged conscionable 31, Hurzeler has Brighton playing shot pinch fluidity. The Seagulls person arguably nan astir entertaining broadside to watch successful nan Premier League this season.

The breathtaking style of play is besides bringing results pinch it. The Seagulls person only mislaid erstwhile this play while they person claimed nan scalps of some Manchester United and Tottenham astatine location already.

Their sensational second-half comeback against Spurs connected Sunday has to beryllium their item of nan campaign, astatine nan clip of writing. They looked dormant and buried astatine nan break earlier 3 goals successful 18 minutes secured them an unthinkable 3 points.

Not to mention, Hurzeler has already taken his broadside to Arsenal and picked up a point. It intends they person already taken 7 points from 4 games against nan alleged 'big six', pinch their only nonaccomplishment coming distant astatine Chelsea.

With their broadside sitting successful sixth, nan Seagulls fans are dreaming of witnessing those magical European nights astatine nan Amex erstwhile more. The measurement things are going, they whitethorn conscionable go a reality adjacent year.

Grade: B 

Chelsea 

Position: 4th  Points: 14 

It's adjacent to say, Chelsea person had their critics complete nan past 2 years, and rightly so. Since Todd Boehly took complete successful 2022, nan Blues person spent ample sums of money pinch small advancement to show for it.

When Mauricio Pochettino near pursuing nan culmination of past play it felt for illustration nan Blues were backmost to quadrate one. The Clearlake-Boehly task needed rebooting and nan Americans turned to Enzo Maresca successful nan summertime successful bid to make it happen.

And truthful far, truthful good. Following an opening-game conclusion to champions Manchester City, Chelsea person gone connected a six-match unbeaten streak successful nan Premier League and beryllium successful nan apical four.

The shot they are playing nether Maresca is admirable. The Blues' strategies of 'we are going to people much than you' make for an entertaining watch. Only City person scored much than Chelsea's 16 convention goals this campaign.

However, while Maresca and his broadside merit their praise, location are plentifulness of things they tin amended on. Their 1-1 tie pinch Nottingham Forest astatine nan weekend highlighted that location is activity still to beryllium done if they are to execute their extremity of qualifying for nan Champions League.

After all, it's a project, location are ever going to beryllium hiccups on nan way. As they say: 'It's a marathon, not a sprint'. They are surely up to speed, but consistency is required if they are to support nan gait pinch nan champion teams successful nan league.

Grade: B+ 

Crystal Palace 

Position: 18th  Points: 3

When nan play sewage underway, I was convinced that Crystal Palace would commencement pinch a bang and equine a situation for nan apical half of nan table. It turns retired I was very wrong.

While location is still a agelong measurement to go, nan apical half of nan array is nan past point connected Oliver Glasner's mind astatine nan infinitesimal arsenic his broadside beryllium successful nan bottommost 3 connected conscionable 3 points.

Palace vanished past play arsenic nan in-form broadside successful nan Premier League, winning six of their past 7 matches and drafting nan other. The Eagles soared into a 10th-place finish, having been embroiled successful a relegation conflict earlier Glasner arrived successful February.

However, nan opening 7 games of this play person been wholly different. Palace are yet to prime up a azygous triumph and person mislaid 4 times, drafting three.

The free-scoring broadside of past play seems to beryllium a point of nan past. Only newly-promoted Southampton person scored little than nan 5 goals palace person managed truthful far.

Eberechi Eze is struggling, Eddie Nketiah has been quiet, and Jean-Philippe Mateta is yet to rediscover nan shape that saw him people a bucketload astatine nan extremity of 2023-24.

With each things considered, Palace person had a reliable fixture database successful nan first 2 months. They person already faced Chelsea, Man United, and Liverpool. And successful fairness to Palace, only nan Reds managed to get nan amended of them.

The world break has surely travel astatine nan correct clip for Glasner and his team. The German has a batch of problem-solving to do complete nan adjacent 2 weeks. 

Grade: E 

Everton

Position: 16th  Points: 5

It's only been 7 games but already Everton fans person been done nan mill. After a challenging 2023-24 play successful which points deductions threatened their spot successful nan apical flight, nan Toffees whitethorn person hoped for a calmer return.

The Merseyside nine suffered their worst commencement to a top-flight play successful 66 years aft losing their first 4 matches of nan season. While being beaten pinch regularity is bad enough, it was nan mode of defeats that was nan existent worry.

Everton were hammered by some Brighton and Spurs to commencement disconnected their run earlier nan aforementioned capitulation astatine location to Bournemouth compounded an already dismal August.

Two weeks aft that, nan Toffees suffered a lawsuit of deja vu. This clip they raced into a two-goal lead astatine Aston Villa earlier yet again they conceded 3 goals without reply to lose.

While those first 4 paragraphs are a beautiful damning read, not each dream is mislaid for a broadside that has ne'er been relegated from nan Premier League. They are unbeaten successful their past 3 convention games and moreover picked up their first triumph against Crystal Palace earlier nan adjacent of September.

A relegation conflict seems for illustration it will beryllium connected nan cards again for Dyche's men, but if they proceed their caller tally of shape they will consciousness assured that a spot successful nan Premier League awaits them erstwhile much adjacent year.

Grade: D- 

Fulham

Position: 8th  Points: 11

Fulham are flying astatine nan moment, and that's an understatement. After six games, they had made their best-ever commencement to a Premier League run pinch 3 wins, 2 draws, and a solitary loss.

You tin now adhd different conclusion to nan file aft they succumbed to nan Champions astatine nan Etihad connected Saturday. Don't fto that condemnation fool you, though. On different day, nan westbound London broadside whitethorn person travel distant pinch each 3 points.

The Cottagers person been superb, truthful far. After losing to United successful nan season's curtain-raiser, nan shot Silva's broadside person displayed has been a joyousness to watch.

The signing of Emile Smith-Rowe from Arsenal has proved inspiring, while Raul Jiminez has stepped up his crippled hugely astatine nan apical of nan transportation pinch 3 goals and an assist.

After starting past play truthful poorly, Fulham fans could not person hoped for a overmuch amended commencement to nan run this clip around. They already person arsenic galore wins arsenic they managed successful nan first 12 matches successful 2023-24.

While their onslaught has been cardinal to their bully form, it is nan sturdiness of Fulham's backmost 4 that has laid nan foundations for immoderate superb performances. Prior to nan City loss, they had only conceded 5 convention goals. 

Grade: B+ 

Ipswich Town

Position: 17th  Points: 4 

After 22 years distant from nan Premier League, nan anticipation up of Ipswich's return to nan big-time was sky-high.

However, nan first 7 games person not rather gone to scheme for nan Tractor Boys. At nan clip of writing, they are still yet to sensation triumph successful nan apical formation and they beryllium connected 4 points.

With teams specified arsenic Ipswich, though, you request to beryllium observant erstwhile criticising them. Kieran McKenna's broadside were promoted for a reason, their unthinkable intelligence spot collaborated pinch their relentless pressing and possession-based style strangled teams successful nan Championship.

Nevertheless, nan Premier League is simply a trim supra and Ipswich person had to accommodate their style erstwhile taking connected immoderate of nan champion teams English shot has to offer.

Their run could not person sewage disconnected to a tougher commencement arsenic they faced some Liverpool and Manchester City. Unsurprisingly, they came distant from those 2 matches pinch zero points, but that is not to opportunity they did not springiness nan brace of Premier League giants a scare.

Ipswich's strategy and willingness to spell toe-to-toe pinch nan apical teams is admirable, but much equilibrium needs to beryllium recovered if they are to commencement picking up immoderate amended results successful their bid for survival.

Only Everton, Wolves, and Southampton person conceded much goals than nan Tractor Boys, truthful far. The 4 that they shipped distant astatine West Ham took nan full to 14. they will request to tighten up that backline aft nan world break, that's for sure.

Grade: D