6 articles
Arsenal made it four wins from four with a mature 2-0 victory at Sunderland, while Xabi Alonso lamented Chelsea's soft spine after a chaotic 2-2 home draw against promoted Hull City.
Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates before facing Inter Milan, while Europe top clubs prepare for the opening week of the expanded 36-team Champions League.
The champions open at home to Coventry on 21 August, but Mikel Arteta must nurse Bukayo Saka's Achilles and manage a mandatory three-week rest for four England men who played deep into the World Cup.
Bukayo Saka scored twice before the break and again from the spot as England raced 4-0 clear, weathered a France fightback to 4-3, and won 6-4 to claim the World Cup bronze medal.
A league-low 27 goals conceded and 19 clean sheets: inside the system, the personnel and the numbers behind the meanest defence in Europe's top five leagues.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal turned three years of near-misses into a first league title since 2004, finishing seven points clear of Manchester City - here is how the 2025-26 race was decided.
