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SportsQuiet 2d · day 6

Premier League teams graded after first month of 2026-27 season

ESPN's analysis of early-season performance reveals Arsenal thriving, Aston Villa struggling, and Brentford punching above their weight.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 1d ago5 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • Arsenal is the standout early performer after a month of play, appearing even stronger than last season despite losing the Champions League final on penalties.
  • Aston Villa ranks dead last in adjusted goal differential with just 1 goal scored and 7 conceded, with projected season points dropping 9.5 more than any other team.
  • Brentford, operating on the smallest budget outside promoted teams, is statistically in contention for Champions League football with a 28% top-five finish probability.

“Coach Unai Emery has defied the odds, algorithms and just about everything else in his nearly four-year tenure at Villa, but getting this squad back into the European mix would be his greatest trick yet.”

Ryan O'Hanlon, ESPN soccer writer · ESPN Soccer ↗

Ryan O'Hanlon ESPN soccer writerArsenal Premier League teamAston Villa Premier League teamBrentford Premier League team

Premier League teams graded after first month of 2026-27 season
ESPN

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in two hours at Sep 18, 4 AM; 5 pieces over 6 days (4 articles · 1 post) Sep 18, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 18, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quiet 1–23
Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 10:46 AM ET
  1. 3

    Brentford emerges as surprise contender despite smallest budget

    Brentford, which has a smaller payroll than all teams except the three promoted sides, is already in the mix for a Champions League place. Analyst Simon Grayson projects a 28% chance of them finishing in the top five.

    “Based upon the wage estimates at FBref, only the three promoted teams have smaller payrolls than Brentford. But rather than fighting to stay up for another year, it already looks like the Bees might be in the mix for a Champions League place.”
    — Ryan O'Hanlon
  2. 2 days quiet
  3. 2

    Aston Villa rated lowest in adjusted goal differential

    Aston Villa ranks last in adjusted goal differential after scoring just one goal and conceding seven across their opening matches. Their end-of-season projected points have dropped more than any other team (9.5 points) due to poor performances, awful results, and departures of key players. They have not yet faced Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, or Chelsea at home.

    “This was a team that thought it could challenge for a Champions League place again. Instead, it already looks more like they'll be in a relegation fight than a chase for Europe.”
    — Ryan O'Hanlon

    • The first month of Premier League action has flown by, and Ryan O'Hanlon has graded all the teams based on their performances so far 📊 Link for all teams 🔗 :

      ESPNFC@sportsbots.xyzMastodon5d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  4. background

    Arsenal rated top performer despite Champions League final loss — Arsenal, which won the Premier League last season and lost the Champions League final on penalty kicks, is assessed as potentially even stronger this year. With William Saliba injured, the defense remains dominant and the attack is hitting new heights.

  5. 1

    ESPN publishes first-month grades for all 20 Premier League teams

    Ryan O'Hanlon released a comprehensive grading system assessing every Premier League team after roughly 10% of the season has been played, using metrics including adjusted goal differential and points projections.

    “Without the injured William Saliba, the defense remains dominant, and the attack is already hitting heights we didn't see it get to last season.”
    — Ryan O'Hanlon, ESPN soccer writer · source
    1. 2 outlets Grades for all 20 Premier League clubs based on the season so far

      first by nbcsports.com, 2d ago · also Yahoo Sports

    2. 2 outlets first by ESPN, 6d ago · also ESPN Soccer · read ↗