Arsenal's avalanche propels them to the summit

Week three of The Athletic's Premier League performance table — a ranking system that judges teams purely on how they played in their previous match rather than the official standings — has thrown up a familiar-looking leader and a familiar-looking struggler. Arsenal, after a 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea, are top. Fulham, after a 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace in which they had 25 shots and an xG of 3.13, are bottom. Again.

The methodology is simple but brutal: a clean slate at the start of each gameweek, with the 1-to-20 rankings assessed purely on performance after watching all 10 matches in full. As the writers noted, this was a weekend in which there was "precious little to choose between a dozen or more sides" — but a handful of teams separated themselves, one way or the other.

1. Arsenal — from seventh to first

Mikel Arteta called it an "avalanche." The Arsenal manager was talking about the way his team responded to going a goal behind inside two minutes, and the wave after wave of attacks that produced a sense of inevitability that the champions would turn the game around against Chelsea.

Martin Odegaard ran the show. Kai Havertz reminded everyone why he is such an intelligent footballer. New signing Ezri Konsa introduced himself to the Emirates crowd with a superb challenge on former Aston Villa team-mate Morgan Rogers, and Riccardo Calafiori continues to thrive in a position best described as "everywhere." Christos Tzolis was back on song after a difficult evening at Villa Park — his pass, Havertz's nonchalant dummy and Odegaard's emphatic finish delivered the match's defining moment. With and without the ball, Arsenal were hugely impressive.

2-6. Sunderland, Leeds, Liverpool and Bournemouth impress

Sunderland (up to second from eighth) produced an outstanding first-half performance in a 1-1 draw at Brentford. "It's probably one of the best first halves we've had in the Premier League," said head coach Regis Le Bris. Brian Brobbey's hold-up play was exceptional, and Noah Sadiki was so good he got the better of Brentford's Mamadou Sangare, who was subbed at half-time.

Leeds (13th to 3rd) took out their frustrations on Brighton after being outplayed the previous week, racing into a 6-0 shot count after 25 minutes. "At half-time, we should have been out of sight," said manager Daniel Farke. Ao Tanaka caught the eye in midfield, hitting the crossbar and seeing a goal disallowed.

Liverpool (12th to 4th) looked "more like an Andoni Iraola team" in a 2-0 win at Ipswich. Cody Gakpo's two assists for Alexander Isak set the tone inside nine minutes, while Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo impressed at right-back.

Bournemouth (10th to 5th) drew 2-2 at Newcastle despite relinquishing a two-goal lead — the third game running they have let an advantage slip late. "We have to finish games," said new head coach Marco Rose. "If we are not finishing games, then we need to defend our goal like it's the last game in our life."

7-8. Coventry above City; Chelsea competitive in defeat

In the most eye-catching quirk of the table, Coventry sit seventh — above Manchester City in sixth — despite losing 1-0 at the Etihad. Frank Lampard got his tactics spot on, with Taiwo Awoniyi, Jack Rudoni and Ellis Simms all going close. City's Enzo Maresca admitted: "Not all the performances are going to be nice. You also need ugly moments." Erling Haaland's goal proved the difference, with Elliot Anderson and Rayan Cherki the standouts for the hosts.

Chelsea (fifth to eighth) were beaten but competitive in a way they "haven't been in this fixture for some time." Pedro Neto hit the post and Estevao forced David Raya into an exceptional save, but the makeshift midfield was exposed for Odegaard's winner.

9-11. Everton's deadline-day saviour; Palace smash-and-grab

Everton (11th to 9th) rescued a 2-2 draw against Manchester United through Ainsley Maitland-Niles, signed on deadline day, who struck a once-in-a-lifetime effort into the top corner after Benjamin Sesko had looked to have won it for United in the 88th minute. Fellow substitute Hayden Hackney was involved in the build-up to both goals.

United (second to 10th) boss Michael Carrick said: "We should have seen the game out." Two goals conceded in each of their opening three games is a worrying trend, though Luke Shaw's eagerness to break forward was a positive.

Crystal Palace (18th to 11th) earned a restorative 3-2 win at Fulham. "It's like with the car, when you put some petrol inside you can drive," said manager Pierre Sage after his side scored from only two shots on target. Anan Khalaili and Ben Chilwell were the heroes, but Palace have now conceded eight goals in three matches.

12-16. Newcastle fight back; Forest and Spurs stalemate; Villa and Hull drab

Newcastle (third to 12th) came from behind to draw 2-2 with Bournemouth, Harvey Barnes and substitute Jacob Ramsey scoring. New coach Matthias Jaissle admitted his side "couldn't match" Bournemouth's first-half intensity.

Nottingham Forest and Tottenham played out a 0-0 draw that satisfied neither. Forest's Oliver Glasner lamented a disallowed Neco Williams goal, insisting "the goal must stand. It's not 'Clear and obvious'." Spurs' Roberto De Zerbi said: "We need to make better decisions" after his side managed no shots on target despite superior xG.

Aston Villa (15th to 15th) drew 0-0 at Hull and are still without a goal after three games. Unai Emery said: "We weren't being clinical, we weren't being ruthless." Hull (ninth to 16th) sit seventh on points but continue to grind out results, conceding nothing while averaging 30 per cent possession.

17-20. Brighton recover; Brentford stumble; Ipswich and Fulham sink

Brighton (14th to 17th) laboured to a 1-1 draw with Leeds, though Malick Yalcouye and 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic offered hope. Fabian Hurzeler admitted: "We had a real lack of intensity and energy in the first half."

Brentford (fourth to 18th) were brought down to earth by Sunderland. Keith Andrews made three half-time changes and conceded: "I thought it was poor defending from us" for the late penalty.

Ipswich (16th to 19th) were blown away by Liverpool inside nine minutes. Gary O'Neil said: "I thought we were excellent" — a verdict the performance table firmly disagreed with.

And Fulham (20th to 20th) remain bottom after a 3-2 home loss in which Josh King was the standout performer but the team were "loose out of possession... defensively naive and an accident waiting to happen." Three games, no points, seven goals conceded.