4 things we learned in the Premier League this weekend

Ending Pep Guardiola’s perfect start to life in England’s top-flight with Manchester City was just a bonus, as Tottenham solidified itself as a legitimate title contender as the club nips at City’s heels heading into the international break.

Here’s what we learned after the latest round of Premier League action

De Bruyne-less City can’t cope against established Spurs

Tottenham added some early-season excitement to the title race with a decisive 2-0 triumph to end Manchester City’s perfect Premier League run.

With the pair occupying the top two places in the table, Tottenham shaved City’s lead down to one point with a performance that saw Mauricio Pochettino’s men disrupt City’s momentum and secure the North London side’s best point haul (17) through seven games in the Premier League era.

Led by the impressive performances of Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli, Tottenham overwhelmed a City side obviously reeling following the loss of Kevin De Bruyne earlier in the week.

Arsenal continues to prove doubters wrong

Seconds away from Arsene Wenger’s 20th anniversary celebrations being spoiled, Arsenal ensured the old gaffer wouldn’t have to field the negative questions that would have surely come with a scoreless result against Burnley after Laurent Koscielny’s last-gasp winner.

A failure to collect three points would have been made all the more difficult considering the fact that the two title challengers in Manchester dropped points.

But it was a dramatic, albeit controversial, goal that saved Wenger’s blushes as his side vaulted right back into contention with the victory, which leaves Arsenal just two points back of City heading into the international break.

Wasted chances will haunt United

After a thorough victory over last season’s champs, Leicester City, saw Manchester United close out a difficult month on a high note, Jose Mourinho’s men have seemingly reverted back to the form that saw the club collect just one victory in September.

It was a wasteful display against a lowly Stoke City team that saw United cough up points. Despite dominating play it was ultimately down to the club’s ineptitude in front of as the Red Devils only managed to get one of their nine shots past a red-hot Lee Grant in between the pipes.

Although Mourinho described the display as United’s “best” since taking charge in the summer, the teams failure to flood Stoke’s goal was made even more difficult to digest considering City’s woes in North London.

Firmino proves worth in Liverpool triumph

While its stay in second place was short-lived, Liverpool can take comfort in the fact that Saturday’s win over Swansea is the type of game normally reserved for title contenders, as the Reds overcame an early deficit to snatch a win away from the Welsh outfit.

Yet it was the inspiring play of Roberto Firmino in attack that has fans on the Merseyside feeling confident as the Brazilian continues to show his pedigree as a lethal option in front of goal.

His second-half tally paved the way for James Milner’s winner, as Liverpool enters the break comfortably in the top four.