Premier League Power Rankings: Arsenal knocking on the door

The Premier League returned from the international break last weekend and defence was the name of the game as 10 teams were held scoreless in Matchweek 4.

Despite this, three games were actually decided by three-goal margins, as certain sides scored early and often.

Now the next weekend of action lies ahead as six teams return to league play after starting their Champions League journeys during the week, while four more returned from Carabao Cup matches.

We try to make sense of it all in the latest power rankings, which are not meant to look at the overall picture, but rather to provide a snapshot based on current form, strength of opposition and other factors. Additionally, these power rankings are based on Premier League play only.

• Read next | Premier League Team of the Week for Matchweek 4: Arsenal foursome lead the way
• Read next | Premier League weekend wrap-up: Postecoglou's humbling Forest debut, West Ham back to reality and Liverpool's late show

Here are DAZN News' power rankings heading into Matchweek 5.

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1. Liverpool (no change)

The old saying "you have to be good to be lucky" applies to Liverpool this season, who have won their first four matches all via game-winners scored in the 83rd minute or later. In Matchweek 4, it was a Mo Salah penalty kick five minutes into stoppage time that sealed the victory for the Reds.

Next match: Sept. 20 vs. Everton

2. Arsenal (up 1)

A dominant 3-0 victory at home against Nottingham Forest was just what the Gunners needed after losing their top-of-the-table clash against Liverpool.

Next match: Sept. 21 vs. Manchester City

3. Chelsea (down 1)

The Blues remain undefeated but will surely feel aggrieved in the way they threw away two points by allowing a late Brentford equaliser in their 2-2 draw.

Next match: Sept. 20 at Manchester United

4. Manchester City (no change)

Man City's up and down start to the campaign continued with a 3-0 rout over their struggling neighbours in the Manchester derby. Their big margins of victory in their two wins so far are the sole reason they remain this high in the power rankings.

Next match: Sept. 21 at Arsenal

5. Newcastle (no change)

The Magpies earned a comfortable 1-0 victory over Wolves, which is the minimum required against a relegation candidate.

Next match: Sept. 21 at Bournemouth

6. Fulham (up 3)

See above, but replace those teams with Fulham and Leeds United.

Next match: Sept. 20 vs. Brentford

7. Brentford (down 1)

Brentford did well to earn a draw at home against Chelsea, but not enough to avoid a slight drop here.

Next match: Sept. 20 at Fulham

8. Aston Villa (no change)

Villa's still waiting for their first Premier League goal of the season after a 0-0 draw at Everton. This ranking is helped by the club's defence, which has only allowed four goals, but it can only remain overinflated for so long.

Next match: Sept. 21 at Sunderland

9. Nottingham Forest (down 2)

The new manager bounce did not take effect for Forest, who fell 3-0 at Arsenal. That's the second straight three-goal loss for the club, who have dropped four places in two weeks in these power rankings and are in imminent danger of a free-fall.

Next match: Sept. 20 at Burnley

10. Tottenham (up 4)

A three-goal win at West Ham United is great news for Spurs, who get back to winning ways. The win over the Hammers is tempered by the fact that (almost) everyone beats West Ham, but Thomas Frank's side are still the biggest climbers this week.

Next match: Sept. 20 at Brighton

11. Brighton (no change)

The Seagulls' 2-1 loss at Bournemouth was fairly unremarkable, and they'll face a bigger test this weekend.

Next match: Sept. 20 vs. Tottenham

12. Everton (down 2)

Everton's rebuilt attack was shut down by Villa despite generating 20 shots, and now the Toffees prepare for the next chapter of the Merseyside derby.

Next match: Sept. 20 at Liverpool

13. Bournemouth (down 1)

Sometimes the algorithm can give confusing results, and this is the case with Bournemouth. The Cherries have won three straight in the league, albeit all by one goal apiece, and they will surely climb if they keep winning.

Next match: Sept. 21 vs. Newcastle

14. Crystal Palace (down 1)

A bore 0-0 draw with Sunderland kept Palace undefeated, but one win and three draws isn't very inspiring.

Next match: Sept. 20 at West Ham

15. Manchester United (no change)

Ruben Amorim's seat must be red-hot again after United's 3-0 loss in the Manchester derby.

Next match: Sept. 20 vs. Chelsea

16. Sunderland (up 1)

The Black Cats have had a decent start to the campaign, and their scoreless draw at Crystal Palace gives them two matches in a row without a loss. They've yet to look truly convincing, though.

Next match: Sept. 21 vs. Aston Villa

17. Leeds United (up 2)

Leeds are up slightly despite losing last weekend, but that has more to do with other teams dropping below them than their own performance.

Next match: Sept. 20 at Wolves

18. Wolves (up 2)

See above. Wolves are still very bad.

Next match: Sept. 20 vs. Leeds United

19. Burnley (down 1)

Moral victories are great, but a loss is a loss. Burnley showed no real interest in anything other than defending in their 1-0 loss to Liverpool, and rightly so. Still, the end result was what we all expected.

Next match: Sept. 20 vs. Nottingham Forest

20. West Ham (down 4)

The Hammers showed that their Matchweek 3 win against Nottingham Forest was the blip and last weekend's 0-3 loss to Tottenham was their true identity. All three of their losses were blowouts, so while they may have more points than two of the teams above them in these power rankings, it's becoming clear that they are the punching bags of the Premier League.

Next match: Sept. 20 vs. Crystal Palace

How to watch the Premier League in Canada

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With Fubo Sports on DAZN, Canadians can catch Premier League action as well as Serie A. Additionally, DAZN is the home of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Bundesliga and more.

For pricing information and to sign up to watch, click here.