Only four years ago, Jamie Vardy was playing for Fleetwood Town F.C. in the fifth highest level of English football: the Conference Premier. This is a division containing a mixture of full-time and semi-professional clubs, so it is clearly a long way off from the level of play that soccer fanatics are accustomed to seeing. Vardy’s raw talent and determination eventually earned him a transfer to Leicester City in 2012, and his career has really taken off in the past few years. Today, Vardy is the top scorer in the Barclays Premier League, smashing in twelve goals in Leicester’s first twelve matches of the season. Whereas established superstars like Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero strike fear into the hearts of the opposition with their dazzling skills, Vardy is a constant menace for a different reason. His strong performances mainly result from his tireless energy and refusal to ever let opposing defenses rest easy. He has helped Leicester dismantle nearly every team they have faced so far with his pure grit and aggression. Vardy’s rags-to-riches story exemplifies why England’s top division is widely regarded as the most entertaining league in all of soccer. Each and every year, underdogs and unknown talents emerge and help construct an interesting narrative over the course of the season.

Mainly thanks to its high-flying English striker, Leicester has been the biggest surprise so far, currently sitting at third place in the table roughly a third of the way into the campaign. However, it certainly hasn’t been the only dark horse to surface this season; West Ham has arguably been equally as impressive. West Ham has been particularly phenomenal in its away games, recording major upsets at Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City in the opening weeks. It is currently in sixth place, and similarly to Leicester, will be hoping it can sustain its magical form for the rest of the season and secure a spot in one of the major European competitions next year. Summer signing Dimitri Payet has been a revelation thus far, already notching five goals and three assists. However, after suffering an ankle injury against Everton, Payet is expected to be out for three months, serving as a major blow to his club’s high aspirations.

Perhaps even more astonishing is the demise of last season’s champions, Chelsea. The Blues have seven losses this season and find itself hovering around the relegation zone, already fifteen points behind joint leaders Manchester City and Arsenal. The collapse of this team, especially in the defensive department which was so sturdy and reliable last year, is one that no one anticipated, and has also sparked rumors that manager Jose Mourinho’s job may be in danger. However, rather than acknowledge his side’s obvious flaws and focus his attention towards improving their performances, Mourinho has instead shifted the blame by condemning referees for their decisions against his team. This has inevitably led to fines as well as a one-match stadium ban. As a result, he was absent from Chelsea’s most recent calamity, a 1-0 defeat at Stoke City where his team again struggled to break down an organized defense. With world-class talents such as Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas, and Pedro Rodriguez in its ranks, it is likely that Chelsea will eventually turn things around, but the potential for another title challenge looks increasingly out of reach.

At the top of the table, a three-horse race comprised of Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United has arisen. Injuries to the aforementioned Aguero and star playmaker David Silva have surprisingly done little to slow down the Sky Blues’ hot start. The expensive acquisitions of Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne have paid off so far, and City remain the odds on favorite to lift the trophy in May. Meanwhile, the Gunners have showcased its enormous potential with a number of impressive victories, including a morale-booster against Bayern Munich in the Champions League (despite being outclassed in the rematch a few weeks later). While goalkeeper Petr Cech has instilled a newfound resilience and confidence in the defense, the main difference-maker has been Mesut Ozil. Having been lamented for his supposed lethargic and careless demeanor in the past, the German midfielder has been on a mission this year to silence his critics, with statistics showing that he is covering more ground than any other Arsenal player and making more sprints per game than ever before. Furthermore, Ozil leads the league with ten assists so far, on pace to break club legend Thierry Henry’s single-season record of twenty. If Ozil and his teammates can continue to find ways to demolish their opponents and if the team’s seemingly annual injury crisis subsides, then Arsenal’s fortunes seem destined to improve. Lastly, while United has several glaring weaknesses, such as a lack of creativity and offensive spark, it is only two points away from the top and should certainly be regarded as a contender. The outstanding play of keeper David de Gea and the emergence of Chris Smalling as one of the league’s best centre backs have resulted in a much improved defense, evidenced by its five consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.

While this is how things are currently looking in Premier League, there is still a long way to go in the season before we truly discover which teams are worthy of success. The coming months will reveal which squads are physically and mentally tough enough to sustain their early season form and fulfill their ambitions, whether it be winning the title, finishing in a respectable position, or merely avoiding relegation.