Arsenal and Sunderland Players Named in Premier League Worst XI Brighton 2026

Key Points

• Arsenal Dominance in Worst XI: Arsenal feature four players—across defence, midfield, and attack—in the Premier League weekend’s worst-rated team following a heavy away loss at Brighton & Hove Albion.
• Sunderland Heavily Represented: Sunderland feature three players in the lineup after falling on the wrong end of an eight-goal thriller away at Manchester City.
• WhoScored Rating Foundation: The selection is derived objectively from statistical player ratings compiled by data provider WhoScored.
• Surprise Omissions: Despite conceding high goal totals elsewhere, no players from Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur were included in the weekend’s worst-performing lineup.
• Cross-League Representation: The remaining positions in the team are occupied by players from Ipswich Town, Hull City, and Bournemouth.

Arsenal (North London News) September 21, 2026 – Premier League champions Arsenal and newly promoted Sunderland have dominated the statistical Worst XI of the weekend following heavily disrupted performances during the latest round of English top-flight fixtures.

The ratings, calculated by football statistics platform WhoScored, reflect a weekend of extreme scorelines, featuring Arsenal’s humbling defeat away to Brighton & Hove Albion alongside Sunderland’s 5-3 defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

As reported by Football365, the compiled statistical lineup highlights the individual struggles of key figures across several top-flight clubs, with four Gunners players joining a trio of Black Cats in the weekend’s lowest-rated starting team.

Which Arsenal Players Were Selected in the Premier League Worst XI?

How did the reigning champions feature so heavily in a statistical worst-rated lineup? As detailed by Football365, Arsenal contributed four individual players to the team following their loss on the South Coast.

In defence, right-back Jurrien Timber registered a 5.73 rating after being substituted early in the second half. As noted by Football365, Timber was

“hooked shortly after neglecting to track Chema Andres when the Brighton new boy buried a free header to kill the champions’ slim hopes of staging a second-half recovery.”

Alongside him, centre-back Ezri Konsa posted a 5.74 rating following a difficult structural defensive outing against Brighton’s attack.

In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes earned a 5.66 rating on his first Premier League start for the club. As cited by Football365, media pundit Paul Merson noted that Guimaraes appeared “a million miles off it” during the contest. Attack-wise, forward Kai Havertz rounded off the Arsenal quartet, receiving a 6.15 rating after failing to influence the final third effectively.

Why Were Three Sunderland Players Included After the Etihad Thriller?

Sunderland’s inclusion stems from an eight-goal encounter away at Manchester City. As reported by Football365, goalkeeper Robin Roefs registered a 5.02 rating after conceding five goals in the 5-3 defeat. Roefs’s score saved north London goalkeepers Antonin Kinsky and David Raya—who both conceded three goals and scored under 6.00—from occupying the goalkeeper slot.

Joining Roefs in the defensive line was centre-back Kevin Danso, who posted a 5.16 rating. In central midfield, Noah Sadiki earned a 5.88 rating as Sunderland struggled to suppress Manchester City’s build-up play throughout the match.

Who Else Made the Statistical Worst XI of the Weekend?

Which other Premier League players rounded out the statistical bottom eleven? As reported by Football365, the remaining positions featured players across several clubs:

• Left-Back: Leif Davis (Ipswich Town) – 5.96 rating
• Attacking Midfield: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth) – 5.56 rating
• Right Wing: Abdul Fatawu – 5.37 rating
• Left Wing: Sorba Thomas (Hull City) – 5.30 rating

Notably, despite significant goal margins across the weekend, no players from Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur were included in WhoScored’s algorithmically selected worst XI.

Background of the Particular Development

The statistical ratings provided by WhoScored evaluate performance metrics including tackles, pass accuracy, aerial duels won, positional errors, and individual turnovers. The presence of four Arsenal players highlights a rare operational drop for the reigning champions, who entered the fixture seeking to maintain momentum at the top of the table.

For Sunderland, high-scoring fixtures against top-tier opposition have resulted in volatile defensive scores, even as individual forward achievements—such as Brian Brobbey’s attack contributions—continue to occur elsewhere on the pitch.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Premier League Selection Strategies

How will these individual ratings and match outcomes impact the teams and squads involved moving forward?

For Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, the sub-6.00 ratings assigned to key defensive and midfield starters like Jurrien Timber and Bruno Guimaraes are likely to prompt tactical rotation ahead of upcoming domestic and European fixtures. Player selection in midfield may shift back toward established units to rebuild control in possession.

For Sunderland, defensive adjustments will be required to stabilize conceded goals, which continue to skew individual player metrics downward despite positive overall team scoring capabilities. The broader audience of fantasy football managers and tactical analysts will likely monitor these ratings as indicators of emerging form drops or immediate squad selection changes.