It’s another week of the Playmaker Power Rankings after another superb weekend of football. It may only be September but we’re already starting to see what teams are eyeing European places or looking for promotion.

Let’s take a look at who made it into this week’s rankings...

10th, Arsenal

Last 5: WWWWL

Mikel Arteta’s team were finally defeated after a winning run of five games in a row and drop from first in the Power Rankings down to tenth.

But there’s no reason for Arsenal fans to be worried just yet. The Gunners are still top of the Premier League with two winnable games to come against Everton and Brentford before a hectic October period that sees them face Spurs, City, and Liverpool.

=8th, Reading

Last 5: WWWLW

The Royals bounced back from their heavy midweek defeat to league-leaders Sheffield United with a 2-1 win at home to Stoke City. Lucas João scored a brace on his 29th birthday to give Paul Ince’s team another three points.

Reading are performing above expectations this season and are third in the Championship – two points off the top.

The assist from Joe Lumley 🧤🎯

The composure from Lucas Joao 😎⚽

What a way to start the game against Stoke! #REASTK pic.twitter.com/EhytGblvDp

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) September 5, 2022

=8th, Brighton & Hove Albion

Last 5: WWWLW

Graham Potter’s team put five past struggling Leicester City in a 5-2 win. Brighton took full advantage of the Foxes’ frailties. Alexis Mac Allister put in a man-of-the-match performance with two goals scored and one disallowed from midfield.

The Seagulls are fourth in the Premier League after an impressive start to the season, can they keep this kind of form up all season?

=6th, Mansfield Town

Last 5: WWLWW

The Stags had lost all of their away games in League Two until last weekend when they defeated one of the promotion favourites, Doncaster Rovers, 3-1 on the road. 

Zooming out to all competitions, Nigel Clough’s team have won four of their last five. Although they face another difficult game in the league next weekend when they take on Bradford City.

🔄Overhauled a two-goal deficit this season (top 4 tiers):

⭐️ Man City (v C Palace)
⭐️ Bournemouth (v Forest)
⭐️ Millwall (v Coventry)
⭐️ Peterborough (v Cheltenham)
⭐️ Plymouth (v Derby)
⭐️ Mansfield (v Wimbledon)#ManCity #afcb #Millwall #pufc #pafc #Stags pic.twitter.com/m5fpJt5sMD

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 5, 2022

=6th, Stevenage

Last 5: WWLWW

The Boro have won eight of their 10 games in all competitions this season, with only Salford City managing to get a win over Steve Evans’ team.

Stevenage are second in League Two and have excelled in cup competitions too. They’ve already defeated Championship side Reading and League One’s Peterborough United in the Carabao Cup before beating the Posh once again in the EFL Trophy last weekend.

Next up for Stevenage is a game at home to in-form Sutton United.

5th, Manchester United

Last 5: LWWWW

After two miserable opening games of the season, Erik ten Hag has managed to turn the club’s fortunes around with four wins on the bounce including victories over Liverpool and Arsenal.

New arrival Antony marked his debut with a goal while Marcus Rashford scored a brace as he looks to improve after a poor 2021/22 season. 

The Red Devils are now fifth in the league ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool – that didn’t look likely just a few weeks ago.

=2nd, Ipswich Town

Last 5: WWDWW

The Tractor Boys are still top of League One and still undefeated in the league. Conor Chaplin came off the bench to score his fourth goal in five games in a 2-0 win with Wes Burns also getting on the scoresheet.

Kieran McKenna’s team have won all four of their league games on the road, conceding just once in that time.

💪Yet to lose a league game in 22/23 (top four tiers):#PL: Man City, Tottenham
Ch: ❌
L1: Ipswich, Portsmouth
L2: Leyton Orient#ManCity #COYS #itfc #Pompey #LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/bcubgsrQnA

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 5, 2022

=2nd, Bristol City

Last 5: WWDWW

If it wasn’t for a poor start, the free-scoring Robins would probably be at the top of the league. Since back-to-back defeats during the first two weeks of the season, Bristol City have played six times winning four and drawing two. Last weekend they picked up another three points thanks to Tommy Conway and a Nahki Wells brace to give them a 3-2 win at Ewood Park.

Nigel Pearson’s team are fourth in the Championship just three points behind the leaders Sheffield United.

📊Most goals in 22/23 (t4t teams; all comps):

23⚽️: Bristol City
22⚽️: Portsmouth
21⚽️: Man City
20⚽️: Ipswich
18⚽️: Liverpool, Bolton, Exeter, Sheffield Wed.#BristolCity @BristolCity pic.twitter.com/cnxabRhOmN

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) September 5, 2022

=2nd, Sheffield United

Last 5: WWDWW

Much like Bristol City, the Blades have won four of their last six, drawing the other two games. Paul Heckingbottom’s team needed a win on Sunday to retake top spot after Norwich City moved into first position on Saturday.

Sheffield United duly delivered against Hull City with Oli McBurnie and Sander Berge both on target. Although credit must also go to Wes Foderingham for his performance to keep a clean sheet at the other end.

Surprisingly, that was United’s first away win of the season, they’ll need much more if they want to stay top of the Championship.

1st, Norwich City

Last 5: WDWWW

The Canaries didn’t win any of their first three Championship games but have now won five games on the bounce in the second tier. Josh Sargent scored yet again in Norwich’s 3-0 win over Coventry City, it was the American’s fifth goal in his last five games.

Dean Smith’s side are looking for a swift return to the big time – as they so often do – and they will have a familiar foe from the Premier League last season in Friday night’s game as they travel to Turf Moor to take on Burnley. Vincent Kompany’s team are unbeaten at home this season so Sargent and co. will need to be on form once again.

Pukki ➡️ Ramsey ➡️ Sargent 🫡

Our second on the brink of half time!#NCFC pic.twitter.com/DBBwv716IB

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) September 4, 2022