I think you’re under selling some of the storylines out of the premier league this year. Tottenham has been wildly inconsistent. City is off form(as pointed out here), and there are 4 clubs outside of the big 6 in the top 8. There is still a chance for Brighton and Newcastle to finish top 4, and for Fulham or Brentford to play for Europe. I don’t think any one is touching Arsenal this year, but the race below is absolute madness.
Brighton, Brentford and Newcastle have all looked very threatening with a lot of youth and exceptional defending, so maybe they fade hard, or maybe they stay fit through the year. Also Brentford seem in the mix for Haji Wright, and if Thomas Frank can turn him into an Ivan Toney with fewer parlays, He should get a statue at USSF.
The fact that the bottom of the table doesn’t contain a single team promoted from last year makes nearly every match intriguing for the moment.
Maybe Tottenham and City find themselves and this all goes back to just a slightly more interesting relegation battle, but I think there is a chance for this season to continue to be all kinds of compelling.