Manchester City capitalise on Arsenal's shock loss to top Premier League table

Manchester City enjoyed a near-perfect weekend that lifted them to the top of the Premier League table just before the three-week international break. Champions Arsenal were stunned 3-0 by Brighton on Saturday, and City seized the opportunity a day later, beating Sunderland 5-3 in a thrilling contest at the Etihad Stadium.

Manager Enzo Maresca had called it his side's toughest test of the season so far, and the result capped an impressive start to his tenure after replacing Pep Guardiola in the summer. Maresca had faced criticism following a heavy Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in August, but City have since won seven consecutive matches across all competitions.

City are now the only side across England's top four divisions with a perfect winning record, sitting three points clear at the top of the table. The achievement makes Maresca only the sixth manager in Premier League history to win his first five games in charge of a club, a list that also includes Guardiola himself when he arrived at City in 2016.

Several players stood out in the win over Sunderland, with Enzo Fernandez scoring his first goal for the club, while Erling Haaland's late strike means he has now scored against every one of the 25 Premier League teams he has faced. The victory was not without concern, however, as Sunderland's Brian Brobbey scored a hat-trick despite ending up on the losing side, only the sixth player in Premier League history to do so. Maresca noted that two of the three goals conceded came too easily, both from free-kicks.

City will face a tough test after the break, travelling to unbeaten Liverpool on 11 October.