Chelsea
Rosenior judges Chelsea start a six after three wins in four
After 17 days Rosenior rates Chelsea start six as wins, voice and Cole Palmer shape the early spell.
Liam Rosenior has overseen three victories in his first four matches in charge of Chelsea but insisted the opening weeks of his spell merit only a modest score.
Seventeen days into his tenure, Rosenior’s side have scored 10 goals and conceded four, a balance he described to Sky Sports that “could have been worse.” When asked for a numerical assessment he said plainly, “I’ll take six.”
The new manager’s approach is deliberate and personal. He accepts an unorthodox label and is unconcerned with outside perception of his style beyond the walls of Stamford Bridge. “For me, I am myself. I’m not afraid to make a fool of myself at times,” he said, outlining a blend of humour and authority. “I’m not afraid to have a laugh with the players. I’m also not afraid to demand, to shout at them when it’s needed or to raise my tone. I’ve lost my voice a few times already in the last few days.”
Rosenior added that his level of daily contact with the squad has surprised some players: “A few of them [the players] have joked that they’ve never spoken to a manager so much in a short space of time,” he said. “They are probably sick of me already. That’s my way of managing, that won’t change but it doesn’t mean that I’m their best friend.”
That personal, communicative method marks a clear contrast with his predecessor. Enzo Maresca, who appeared to engineer his own exit from the club at the end of 2025 after a very public falling out with the ownership, often pointed to the failings of his players in news conferences. Early indications suggest Rosenior is unlikely to mirror that public route.
Rosenior is also addressing speculation surrounding Cole Palmer. The No. 10 has been linked with a move back north amid alleged homesickness, but Rosenior said: “I’ve had numerous conversations with Cole and he seems very, very happy to be here,” adding, “He’s a huge part of our plans in the long term. He’s an outstanding player.”
Chelsea
Alonso Faces Goalkeeping Call After Martínez Returns To Training
Martínez is back in training early, leaving Alonso to decide between experience and Penders.
Chelsea have received an early boost with Emiliano Martínez back in training sooner than expected after managing a broken jaw with specialist protective gear.
The Argentina international was seen on Thursday wearing a strap around his jaw as well as a hat, a sign that his recovery may be moving quickly. Martínez has looked for equipment that could help speed up his return, and after only three weeks there is now a chance he could be available again. Whether he has been cleared for competitive action is still unclear.
That leaves a decision for Xabi Alonso. If Martínez is ready, he must choose between restoring the experienced goalkeeper to the starting side or keeping faith with Mike Penders, who has recently been handed a chance in the team.
Penders has already experienced the highs and lows of senior football. He made a costly mistake in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, but responded with a clean sheet against Manchester United. In that match, he produced a brilliant save to deny Bryan Mbeumo, a moment that earned him a nomination for the Premier League Save of the Month award for October.
The question now is whether that form is enough to justify an extended run in the side. Martínez was brought in this summer to add experience to the squad, while Penders is still learning at 21 and needs matches to develop. Yet if he remains on the bench, that experience will not come easily.
Chelsea are no strangers to goalkeepers using protection. Petr Čech wore a padded headguard after fracturing his skull in October 2006, and continued with it for the rest of his career. Martínez will hope his own recovery does not lead to anything similar.
Arsenal
Gameweek 10 Premier League predictions as Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea headline
Arsenal, United and Chelsea lead a tight Gameweek 10 set of Premier League predictions.
Gameweek 10 arrives with another international break looming, and Sunday’s late meeting between Manchester United and Aston Villa stands out as the pick of the round. Arsenal are back at Emirates Stadium after a fortnight away, while Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur all face testing trips on the road.
Everton vs Coventry may not light up the weekend, but it still carries weight for both sides. Everton are aiming to move above Liverpool, even if only briefly, while Coventry arrive in decent form and have won three of their last five Premier League matches. A first meeting between the clubs in nearly 26 years adds an extra layer.
Tottenham’s recent surge is harder to ignore. Three straight wins, including their result at Stamford Bridge, have changed the mood around them, and their attacking play is beginning to settle. Leeds, though, are unbeaten in four home matches and may be well placed to frustrate them.
Arsenal look well equipped to handle Hull, who have already caused problems for Man Utd and Chelsea on their return to the division. The champions are again top of the table and appear to have steadied themselves after their Carabao Cup disappointment and recent Europa and league successes.
Fulham and Newcastle both come into their meeting under new managers and both have obvious issues to solve, particularly in attack and in recent form. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, face a difficult evening against a City side seeking a response after back-to-back defeats.
Brighton’s consistency continues to impress after their win at Man City, and Brentford’s draw-heavy record makes them awkward opposition. Liverpool also need a lift after successive defeats, but Crystal Palace’s struggles suggest the visitors should edge it.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s strong run points towards another victory at Ipswich, while Chelsea should have enough to beat Sunderland despite the hosts’ historical success in this fixture. The round closes with Manchester United and Aston Villa, where a draw would do little to ease the pressure on the Red Devils.
Arsenal
October Premier League award nominees announced
Premier League October award nominees include standout performers and managers across the division.
The Premier League has named the contenders for its October 2026 Player and Manager of the Month awards, with eight players and six managers included on the respective shortlists.
Bournemouth forward Evanilson enjoyed a productive month, finishing October with four goals and one assist from four appearances as his team beat Sunderland, Manchester United and Leeds United after a slow opening to the season.
Aston Villa striker Nicolas Jackson also reached four goals in the month. The former Chelsea player scored twice in the 2-1 win over Manchester City and also found the net in draws against Brentford and Fulham.
Arsenal are represented by Ezri Konsa and Declan Rice after a perfect month. Konsa impressed in defence while William Saliba was absent, keeping two clean sheets in three outings and scoring his first goal for the club. Rice contributed two important assists at the other end.
Jack Rudoni’s form has helped Coventry City. The newly promoted side took two wins from four matches in October, with Rudoni scoring three times as they moved further away from the relegation zone.
Tottenham Hotspur also had an unbeaten month, and Jan Paul van Hecke played a key role in wins over Coventry, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. No player attempted or completed more passes than the Dutch defender last month.
Brighton have two nominees in Luka Vušković and Bart Verbruggen. Three clean sheets in four matches brought recognition for the Seagulls’ defence.
On the managerial shortlist, Chelsea scored more goals than any other team in October with nine, while Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta guided his side to the top of the table. Roberto De Zerbi, Unai Emery, Fabian Hürzeler and Marco Rose complete the list after strong runs during the month.
Month
Player
Club
August
João Pedro
Chelsea
September
Pascal Groß
Brighton
Month
Manager
Club
August
Sergej Jakirović
Hull
September
