A week, they say, is a long time in football.

Since we last spoke, on the eve of the new campaign, Richarlison’s become the reincarnation of Dixie Dean at Everton, West Ham have gone from dark horses to the same old Hammers and Dele Alli’s defied the laws of biology with a new goal celebration.

And this weekend’s fixtures look like they’re going to throw up some equally intriguing storylines for us all to get our teeth into.

😃 Game of the weekend

Chelsea v Arsenal

Maurizio Sarri makes his Stamford Bridge bow in the late kick off on Saturday, in what looks like the most mouth-watering of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures.

The Blues got off to the perfect start last time out against Huddersfield, and although they struggled in the first 30 minutes against the Terriers, a storming debut from Jorginho and a brilliant cameo from Eden Hazard ensured the west London club claimed all three points in Yorkshire.

All the signs are there that despite only being under the Italian’s tutelage for less than four weeks, this Chelsea squad are already absorbing his ideas and putting them into practice. This weekend though, is their first true test.

Arsenal were very Arsenaly against Manchester City, and looked exactly like what they are – an unbalanced squad finding their way under a new manager.

It will be interesting to see whether Unai Emery sticks with Petr Čech after his poor performance between the posts, whilst Lucas Torreira surely has to start at the base of their midfield in place of Mattéo Guendouzi.

Whatever happens, it will be a fascinating watch.

😢 Potential upset

Tottenham v Fulham

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A win’s a win but the signs were there last weekend that all may not be right with Tottenham.

Despite their World Cup stars only returning from holidays on Monday, five of those of played in the semi-finals in Russia started against Newcastle. A first half Dele Alli header won it but better finishing from Rafa Benítez’s side would have seen a very different result.

Harry Kane and the crazy anomaly that is his August goal-scoring record continues. It’s now 988 minutes the striker has gone without finding the net in the opening month of the campaign, and that should be a worry for Mauricio Pochettino.

Spurs are wholly reliant on Kane going forward – not only for his goals but his movement as well – and the 26-year-old looked completely out of sorts at St James’ Park.

That won’t be a worry for Fulham though, who travel across the capital for the second all-London clash of the day.

Despite losing to Crystal Palace last week, Slaviša Jokanović’s men looked every inch the Premier League side, and an extra week will only help their 10 new signings gel.

Easiest 3️⃣ points

Manchester City v Huddersfield

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In what seems an ominous portent for the campaign to come, Manchester City completely steamrollered their way past Arsenal and picked up exactly where they left off in May.

Just one indicator as to quite how well Pep Guardiola’s side played came from the bookmakers. Before kick off Manchester United were second favourites for the title at 7/1; after City’s win they went out to 16/1.

There perhaps has never been a favourite so strong in the division’s history at this point in the season.

Benjamin Mendy’s return to fitness has added a whole new dimension to the way they attack down the left-hand side, and although they didn’t manage to sign that extra midfielder Pep was after, those inside the club are apparently seeing assistant Mikel Arteta as like a new arrival.

The man linked with the Gunners job over the summer has stepped up so much in a coaching sense that he’s reportedly coming up with tactical ideas even Guardiola hasn’t thought of.

It’s Huddersfield at home this weekend and it has 4-0 written all over it.

🙏 We hope to see

A tasty East Midlands derby

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One of the more intriguing encounters on matchweek two comes at the King Power. Leicester never looked like winning against Manchester United last Friday, but in James Maddison they seem to have unearthed a real gem.

We’re not sure if you can ‘unearth’ a €30m player but in his first Premier League appearance – having joined from Norwich in the summer – the England youth international was assured on the ball, brave in possession and capable of unlocking the best defences.

He’ll be up against Ruben Neves of Wolves on Saturday, who also seemed to be born for England’s top division after his all-action display versus Everton.

👀 Keep an eye on

The first Monday night football

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Selhurst Park is unarguably the best stadium in the Premier League and has been for the past few seasons.

The Holmsdale Ultras have carved out a reputation as the loudest, most intimidating group of supporters in the league and have made that corner of south London a veritable fortress.

With the news this week that Wilfried Zaha has signed a new long-term contract with the club, the arrival of Liverpool on Monday night for their first home game of the season can’t come soon enough.