TEAM: TOTTENHAM
After a torrid few weeks, it seems Spurs have turned the corner. A good home win last week and an excellent away win this week.
They played some thrilling attacking football, and the biggest compliment I could pay them is when they went down to 10 men after 70 minutes, they still looked the better team.
Well done also to Arsenal. West Ham. Chelsea. Aston Villa. Newcastle and Everton, who were close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: ANDRE ONANA (Man Utd)
Although it feels this is almost by default, he did have to pull off a few good saves to earn his clean sheet at Anfield.
United were the first team to come away from Anfield with something, and though Liverpool didn’t have their shooting boots on, they did have eight shots on goal that Onana all dealt with to earn a point.
Shout out also to Palace’s Henderson. West Ham’s Fabianksi and Newcastle’s Dubravka.
DEFENDER: RAPHAEL VARANE (Man Utd)
I don’t know why and how he was left out of the United team for so long, but you can clearly see the difference since he has been back.
Although Liverpool had plenty of the ball, and several shots on goal. It was his presence that reduced the quality of those chances, with his know-how and experience in a spirited defence performance to earn a valuable away clean sheet.
Well done also to his teammate Evans. Arsenal’s Gabriel and Saliba. Newcastle’s Burn. Spurs’ Davies and Everton duo Tarkowski and Keane who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: LUCAS PAQUETA (West Ham)
There were several in contention for this, and it was hard to decide. However, with a hat-trick of assists, I went for the Brazilian.
He ran the show in midfield, picking passes and creating chances. Everything he did was positive and entertaining, Wolves just couldn’t cope with him.
Well done also to Arsenal trio Rice, Havertz and Odegaard. Villa’s Moreno. Chelsea’s Palmer. Man City duo Grealish & Lewis. Palace duo Schlupp & Olise. Newcastle duo Guimaraes & Miley. Everton’s Onana and Spurs’s Kulusevski who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: MOHAMMED KUDUS (West Ham)
He is fast becoming a fan favourite at the London Stadium. Although technically playing just behind Bowen, he showed he is every bit of forward with two lovely finishes.
His first was a lovely left-footed strike from outside the box. His second was a cool finish, with his right into the bottom far corner for this sixth of the season.
Shout out also to his teammate Bowen. Arsenal duo Jesus and Saka. Brentford’s Lewis-Potter. Aston Villa’s Watkins. Chelsea’s Jackson. Palace’s Mateta. Newcastle’s Almiron and Spurs’s Richarlison.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
It’s not that he did anything special. However, while all managers are dropping points around him, apart from one blip, his team remains consistent and leading the league.
To add that, after the scrutiny of the singing of Havertz, the German now seems to be coming good in the midfield role and scoring important goals recently.
Well done also to Spurs’ Postecoglou. Everton’s Dyche and West Ham’s Moyes.
UNSUNG HERO: KAI HAVERTZ (Arsenal)
After a very tough start to his Arsenal career, just maybe, he is starting to come good with three goals in his last five league games.
Playing in the deeper midfield role, he seems to have found his position, making late runs into the box and finding space to score important goals.
Shout out also to Newcastle duo Guimaraes and Miley. Chelsea’s Palmer and Spurs duo Richarlison & Kulusevski.
GAME: BRENTFORD 1-2 ASTON VILLA
Brentford got the breakthrough on the stroke of halftime when Ghoddos swung in a corner from the left. As it bounced off a defender, Lewis-Potter reacted quickest to get there in front of a player, control and finish in one motion from 12 yards out (45).
Unfortunately, the game changed from a var decision. Mee’s challenge on Bailey was originally given as a yellow, but after a check, it was upgraded to red (71).
Maupay then had a penalty shout waved away. Then, up the other end, Bailey crossed from the right to the far post for Moreno to equalise (77).
Villa won it when Ramsey’s corner from the left was flicked on with Kamara’s heel, for Watkins to head home from six yards out (85).
There was still time in the closing stages for the ref to dish out nine yellow’s and one red to Villa’s Kamara.
GOAL: MOHAMMED KUDUS 1st (West Ham) v Wolves
Following a Wolves corner that was flicked on, but cleared at the far post by Emerson. It then came to Alvarez, who stretched to get a foot to the ball and clear it out of the box.
Paqueta was brave to get the ball first and head it past a Wolves player. He then cut inside on his left and from a central position, played a lovely reverse pass to Kudus running down the right.
One on one with a defender, Kudus cut inside onto his left, and from about 20 yards out, his a powerful, low effort that nestled into the bottom corner.
FOOL: RAUL JIMENEZ (Fulham)
There were several candidates for this. David Coote’s officiating again, Forest keeper Turner. Ben Mee’s bad challenge. Burnley are struggling, as are Sheff Utd & Forest.
However, fresh off his best scoring form in a long time. Not only did his reckless challenge give him a red after just 22 minutes, to put his team under immense pressure after back to back 5-0 wins.
But now he will have to face a three-match ban, in what is the most intense and fixture-heavy time of the season. FOOL!
