Al Hilal sit top of the Saudi Pro League with a perfect record, five wins from five games and 15 points, three clear of Al Nassr in second. The latest result was a composed 2-0 victory away at Al Shabab on September 4, with goals from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ruben Neves sealing three points without much fuss. It is a strong start for a club determined to reclaim the title it lost to Al Nassr last season, having also fallen short in the AFC Champions League Elite.

The squad has been reshaped considerably over the summer. Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli completed a £60 million move from Arsenal, arriving after being excluded from Mikel Arteta's plans. His farewell message to Arsenal, which pointedly omitted any mention of Arteta, drew attention, but the focus at Al Hilal is on what he adds going forward. Karim Benzema departed the club by mutual consent after just six months, and Joao Cancelo also left following a breakdown in his relationship with the board. Both exits have drawn scrutiny, though the club has defended its transfer activity and financial governance publicly.

Off the pitch, chairman Prince Nawaf bin Saad found himself at the centre of controversy after comments about the club's financial statements prompted questions about his position. Al Hilal issued an official statement rejecting claims that their transfer spending came from unknown sources.

With the AFC Champions League Elite campaign beginning on September 15 against Al Gharafa, and a home league fixture against Neom SC on September 7 coming first, the club is managing a busy period. The foundation looks solid, but the weeks ahead will test both squad depth and cohesion.