Xabi Alonso said Chelsea are currently not consistent enough to compete with Premier League rivals for the full 90 minutes, after they were thrashed 3-0 by Brentford.

Having started their first campaign under Alonso impressively with back-to-back wins over Fulham and Brighton, the Blues are now winless in three league games.

They made the short trip to the Gtech Community Stadium off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal and a 2-2 draw with Hull City, and they were without August’s Premier League Player of the Month, Joao Pedro, after he sustained a knee issue.

They combined a lacklustre attacking performance with some rookie defending in the second half as Brentford ran out comfortable winners, with the goals coming from Jaidon Anthony, Igor Thiago and Fabio Carvalho.

The 12 goals Chelsea have conceded this season are the most in the Premier League, ahead of the weekend’s fixtures, while they have also given up the most expected goals against (8.82 xGA).

Speaking afterwards, Alonso said: “I’m disappointed with the second half and with the result. This is not enough to compete in the Premier League.

“We were not able to maintain our level for the full 90 minutes and that’s why we were punished today.

“At the moment, we are not consistent enough to compete throughout the whole game – 45 minutes is not enough.

“You need to maintain it for the whole game, knowing that every detail is important, and every action can be decisive.”

Asked how Chelsea could plug their leaky backline, he added: “It’s about everything.

“It’s about the mentality, the football and the tactical things that we need to keep improving. We can do much better.”

Alonso also refused to use Joao Pedro’s absence as an excuse for Chelsea only managing two shots on target and 0.85 expected goals, compared to Brentford’s six efforts on target and 2.65 xG.

“It’s not about looking for excuses. We need to look at each other and know that we have to work and improve because there is still a long way to go,” he said.

“We have to check many things. We got into situations, but we were not precise enough with the final action. That’s why we didn’t score.”

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has “elevated the team to a different level” in recent years.

Raya joined Arsenal from Brentford in 2023, initially on a season-long loan before joining permanently the following year, and has made 153 appearances for the Gunners.

Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Raya has kept more clean sheets (72) than any other goalkeeper in the top five European leagues, while he has saved 72.3% of the shots he has faced.

In that same time, only Caoimhín Kelleher (five) has saved more penalties among Premier League goalkeepers in all competitions (excluding shoot-outs) than Raya, following the Spaniard’s save against Enzo Le Fee last time out.

Raya helped Arsenal win the Premier League last season, claiming his third consecutive Golden Glove in the process, and reach the Champions League, and Arteta praised his goalkeeper’s impact on the squad.

When asked if Raya has been his best signing at Arsenal, Arteta said: “He’s been a tremendous signing, there is no question about that.

“Whether he is the best or not is just an opinion. It doesn’t matter, we are so happy to have him.

“He has elevated the team to a different level and now we have to maintain that level.

“I think it’s his mentality. David has tremendous quality but he has overcome a lot of difficulties and challenges to reach this point. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, he had to dig in and prove himself.

“Now, he has the right to be one of the best.”

Arsenal will look to maintain their perfect start to the season when they face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Gunners have won four of their last six Premier League games against Brighton (D2), as many as they had in their first 12 against the Seagulls (D3 L5).

Alexander Isak revealed he has never regretted joining Liverpool since his move from Newcastle United last summer.

The 26-year-old joined the Reds for a British record transfer fee of £125m on deadline day in September 2025, but struggled under Arne Slot before a leg break in December ruled him out for four months.

Isak scored just four goals in 22 appearances last season, but has made a better start this term under Andoni Iraola, netting three times in six matches.

Liverpool are currently unbeaten in 2026-27, despite winning just one of their four Premier League games (D3) ahead of visiting Bournemouth this Sunday.

And despite their struggles last season, Isak has not had any feeling of regret since leaving Newcastle.

“No, never. I would never think like that,” Isak told BBC Sport’s The Football Interview when asked if he had any regrets.

“[The leg break] was tough. Anyone who had a long injury would know. But on the other hand, when you’re in a good place and when you feel good, you don’t really tend to look back because it doesn’t really benefit you.

“So, I’m just looking forward and feel really optimistic and excited about the season, and what it can bring to us.”

Bournemouth, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first Premier League win under Marco Rose (D3 L1), who succeeded Iraola in the summer.

However, the Cherries will enter this match with plenty of confidence after defeating Real Sociedad 2-1 in the Europa League – their first-ever match in a major European competition.