The Arsenal striker netted twice against Leeds to open his account for the Gunners during another action-packed round of games
Though perhaps the most intriguing fixture of the Premier League round of games is still to be played on Monday when Newcastle host Alexander Isak-chasing Liverpool, it has already been another strong weekend of English top-flight action for fans to get their teeth into as the new campaign begins to click into gear.
Played out against the backdrop of an increasingly shocking summer transfer window, this was a weekend when title hopefuls Arsenal and Chelsea unshackled themselves after reserved performances to start the season while Everton, Burnley, Bournemouth and Brentford were able to bounce back from opening-day defeats to get their first wins of 2025-26. Manchester United, however, are still searching for their first victory, while their near neighbours, Manchester City, also had a weekend that didn't go their way.
But who were the winners and losers from the past three days' action? GOAL has picked out three of each for your consideration, but let us know your thoughts in the comments:
Getty Images SportWINNER: Thomas Frank
Not many doubted Tottenham's decision to appoint Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou's successor; rather, most believed this was an overdue opportunity for the Dane to prove himself with a 'big six' club following his years of good work at Brentford. Not even the most hopeful Spurs fan, though, would have envisaged just how well things have gone so far this season.
The Europa League winners were seconds away from deservedly defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup as Frank made his competitive debut in the dugout, and while his side swatted newly-promoted Burnley aside on the opening day, it is Saturday's win at Manchester City that has backed up the theory from that PSG game that Tottenham can yet again mix it with the very best in both England and Europe.
They were truly exceptional at the Etihad Stadium as the visitors' press suffocated Pep Guardiola's side while Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven marshalled Erling Haaland superbly. Frank's midfield trio of Joao Palhinha, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur were particularly impressive while his decision to start Richarlison over Dominic Solanke up front continues to bear early fruit.
Frank joined Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte as the only coaches to have won away matches against Guardiola with two different clubs, and while Spurs beating City is nothing new, this was still a statement of intent from the team that finished 17th in last season's Premier League. After a week to forget in the transfer market, Tottenham have shown they should again be taken seriously on the pitch, and that's largely down to Frank's early impact.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: James Trafford
Despite his record-breaking exploits for Burnley last season, as well as his heroics for England Under-21s during their run to win the 2023 European Championship, James Trafford still has a lot to prove at the highest level. He ended up being dropped before the end of an error-strewn first top-flight campaign with Burnley back in 2023-24, and though Man City paid an initial £27 million ($36m) to bring their former academy star back to the Etihad this past summer, Trafford still has to prove he belongs among the elite.
Saturday's performance against Spurs, then, did not help his cause. It might be harsh to suggest he could have done better for Brennan Johnson's opening goal, even though the Wales international's finish was fired back towards the goalkeeper, but Trafford was absolutely at fault for the second shortly before half-time as his ill-advised pass into Nico Gonzalez's feet on the edge of the City box was picked off by Pape Matar Sarr and eventually turned home by Joao Palhinha.
Trafford was also fortunate to avoid seeing red for a challenge on Mohammed Kudus when he came rushing out of his box to deal with a ball over the top as his overall performance suggested the 22-year-old was at best nervous, and at worst out of his depth, while making his home debut for Pep Guardiola's title hopefuls.
Guardiola's decision to start Trafford over the fit-again Ederson suggested that the youngster will get the chance to establish himself as the No.1 over the course of the campaign, and perhaps even stake a claim to become a starter for England before the World Cup this summer. But after Saturday's showing, all Trafford may have done is hasten the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma to Manchester and subsequently condemned himself to a season warming the bench.
AFPWINNER: Viktor Gyokeres
What was all the panic about?… The amount of column inches and airtime that was given to whether Viktor Gyokeres' Arsenal debut at Old Trafford felt a little over the top, even if he failed to set the world alight on the opening weekend. And while the Swede will face greater tests than trying to break down the Leeds defence this season, his finishing prowess was on view for everyone as he made his competitive home debut on Saturday.
Just days after Gyokeres' main competition for the No.9 role at the Emirates, Kai Havertz, had gone down with a knee injury, and just minutes after another creative player to provide him with chances to score, Eberechi Eze, had completed his move to the Gunners, the £64m ($86m) summer signing from Sporting CP opened his account for the club with superb individual goal which saw him chase a ball over the top, cut inside from the left-hand side and arrow a finish into the bottom corner at Lucas Perri's near post.
Gyokeres added a second from the penalty spot in stoppage time, and so on a day of mixed emotions at the Emirates, with the arrival of Eze and debut of 15-year-old wonderkid Max Dowman offset by injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, it was the club's new No.14 who was able to silence the doubters – for now…
Getty Images SportLOSER: Graham Potter
Unconvincing end to last season? Check. Poor results to kick-off the new campaign? Check. Public vote of confidence from above? Check. Losing your cool with journalists? Check.
If you were playing early-season managerial sacking bingo, then you'd be closing in on a full house when it comes to Graham Potter's potential fate at West Ham. Friday's embarrassing 5-1 home loss to Chelsea has left the Irons rock bottom through two matches as Potter's grip on his job continues to weaken.
It's true that the Irons haven't yet done enough in the transfer market to give their manager what he needs to succeed, but the nature of their capitulations against both Sunderland and now Chelsea suggest that this is a dressing room where the players are not wholly convinced by their coach, leaving Potter in a race against time to prove he can still cut it in the top-flight.
"You're under pressure all the time in these jobs, in this situation, that's how it is," the ex-Brighton boss said following his latest loss at the London Stadium. "I know the territory, I know what comes with poor results, and I accept my responsibility. I don't want to say it's a lack of fight because I know the players care and I know the players desperately want to do well."
Potter will be praying that is true, because if Sunday brings with it another woeful performance at Nottingham Forest, the international break may well come at an inopportune time for a man who was being widely tipped to become the new England manager this time last year.
