TEAM: ASTON VILLA
This was a tight one and in any other week, Arsenal would have take this award. However, although Villa were playing a Palace team that got bruised by Liverpool last week 7-0. Palace must have been determined to make amends and when Mings got sent off in the first half, they would have had not better opportunity. But Villa are made of sterner stuff these days, they remained solid and admirably continued to attack, scoring two more goals in an impressive victory. Well done also to Arsenal, Man City, Everton and Leeds.
GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)
There is absolutely no doubt he has made a huge difference to Villa since his arrival. He just oozes calmness and competence behind the back line and when he is called upon, more often than not performs. This was again evident against Palace, where they weren’t overrun, but he still had to be on top of his game to claim an eighth clean sheet, which is the most in the league thus far. Shout out also to Leeds’ Meslier, Tottenham’s Lloris, Arsenal’s Leno and Southampton’s McCarthy.
DEFENDER: SEMI AJAYI (West Bromwich Albion)
This was toss up between him and his team mate, who were both superb to nullify the Liverpool attack when it looked like they would be overrun in the first 15 minutes. WBA stuck to their game plan, with Ajayi at the forefront staying tight, disciplined and compact to win every ball in the air and block on the feet. Then to finish off the plan, when he got a chance, he headed the equaliser for a valuable point. Well done also to his team mates Furlong & O’Shea, Everton’s Mina, Man City’s Cancelo, Arsenal’s Tierney, Southampton duo Walker-Peters & Bednarek, Fulham duo Aina & Adarabioyo, Brighton’s Dunk, Villa foursome Cash, Hause, Targett & Konsa, Wolves’ Saiss, also Leeds’ Philipps.
MIDFIELDER: BRUNO FERNANDES (Man Utd)
You really do imagine where United would be without him. He has literally been their talisman since he stepped foot in the club and continues to be their driving force Although they did not get a win at Leicester, he was again at the centre of everything good and his goal and assist helped them take the lead twice as they were within a whisker of the three points but it wasn’t to be. However, if it wasn’t for him, i’m sure they wouldn’t even be considered as possible title challengers. Shout out also to his team mate Rashford, Leicester’s Barnes, Everton’s Sigurdsson, Man City’s Gundogan, Arsenal duo Xhaka & Smith Rowe, Villa trio El Ghazi, Grealish & Traore, West Ham duo Soucek & Johnson and Tottenham’s Ndombele.
FORWARD: BUKAYO SAKA (Arsenal)
Whether he meant it or not, it was a superb goal to top off a superb individual and team performance, as Arsenal stopped the rot to get a much needed win against Chelsea. Its crazy to think at the tender age of 19, he has been one of Arsenal’s very few decent performers this season. He is playing with a youthful exuberance and no fear, which shows in his game, where he gave the Chelsea backline the runaround. Well done also to his team mates Martinelli & Lacazette, Man City’s Torres, Leeds’s Bamford, Liverpool’s Mane, Chelsea’s Abraham, Villa’s Watkins and Brighton’s Maupay.
MANAGER: DEAN SMITH (Aston Villa)
How he has transformed the team from fighting relegation last season to fighting for a European place this, is nothing short of amazing. His recruitment has been impressive with the likes of Martinez, Watkins & Barkley, what I loved about the game with Palace was, although Palace are in a bad space at the moment, when they went down to 10 men, instead of conceding space and possession like most teams do, they continued to attack and take the initiative and I was glad to see they got their rewards with two more goals.
UNSUNG HERO: GABRIEL MARTINELLI (Arsenal)
Just like his team mate Saka, at the tender age of 19, its crazy that the hopes of such a big club like Arsenal’s, rested on his return. But to be fair to him and Arsenal, in the two games he has played, you can seen why. Although he has not scored yet, he seems to be infectious in his hunger, desire and running off the ball, that galvanises his team mates and puts the opponents off guard. He showed what he’s capable off last season and him being fit, starting and playing as he can, is vital to Arsenal’s fortunes moving forward.
GAME: LEICESTER 2-2 MAN UTD
In a lively affair where Rashford missed an early chance when he headed over from a few yards, Man Utd opened the scoring when James collected a ball from Martial, came in off the right touch line and played a ball across the edge of the box, for Fernandes, while stretching, managed to get a toe to the ball, which split two Leicester defenders and fell invitingly for Rashford to side foot home first time (23). However, Leicester soon equalised against the run of play when Maddison found Barnes, who took two touches then let fly from 20 yards, with his left foot with pace, to beat De Gea (31). In the second half, Martial had a goal disallowed and Schmeichel produced a good save from Rashford before United again took the lead. Cavani found Fernandes in the box, and his low reverse shot beat the keeper and rolled into the bottom far corner (79). Leicester then got a late equaliser when Justin found sub Perez to the right of the box, and his drilled low cross was struck first time by Vardy, which deflected off Tuanzebe and in (85).
GOAL: BUKAYO SAKA (Arsenal)
Bellerin picked up the ball from inside his own half and galloped forward down the right into the Chelsea half. He then played a ball to the right for Smith Rowe, who played a ball inside for Saka, just outside the box to the right. He took one touch into the box, looked up and hit a curling, floated effort, with swerve, that deceived the Chelsea keeper, who could only look as the ball sailed over him and went in off the inside of the post.
FOOL: FRANK LAMPARD (Chelsea)
This spared Palace and Hodgson’s blushed, who could have been up here for a second week in a row. However, looking for a win to go second in the league, at Arsenal who had not won at home in their last five games. Chelsea & Lampard came into the game with Giroud scoring their last six away goals, yet Lampard left Giroud on the bench against his old club and failed to even put him on. In the game Chelsea were flat as Arsenal brushed them aside. Chelsea looked devoid of ideas, as all game, they just aimlessly put crosses into the box, the type Giroud would have relished if he was on the pitch. Great decision Frank FOOL!
