TEAM: ARSENAL
Though three teams secured two wins this week, Arsenal’s performances were the most impressive.
They had to be patient at Forest, who defended well but eventually broke them down to secure a 2-1 win. Then at home to league leaders Liverpool, they put in one of their best performances of the season to earn an impressive 3-1 win.
Well done also to Man City, Man Utd and also Luton.
GOALKEEPER: JORDAN PICKFORD (Everton)
This was probably the most difficult, especially due to the double week. Although a few were in contention, I went with the England keeper.
He helped get a point at Fulham, with some lovely saves and one outstanding save. Then at home against Spurs, although beaten twice, he still made saves to keep his team in the game, which allowed them to get a late equaliser.
Shout out also to Bournemouth’s Neto. Burnley’s Trafford and Brentford’s Flekken.
DEFENDER: JARROD BRAITHWAITE (Everton)
Although Everton got two draws this week, they could be two decent points where the 21-year-old played his part in both.
They secured a decent point at Fulham, where although they needed their keeper, he played his part defensively. Then at home to Spurs, he popped up with a 94th-minute goal to snatch a dramatic equaliser.
Well done also to his teammate Tarkowski. Newcastle’s Schar. Luton duo Bell & Osho. Fulham duo Castagne & Robinson. Liverpool’s Bradley. Spurs’ duo Udogie & Van de Ven. Bournemouth’s Senesi.
Burnley’s Al-Dakhil. Wolves’ Kilman, Man Utd duo Dalot & Martinez. Brighton duo Dunk & Hinshelwood. Newcastle’s Trippier. Villa’s Moreno and Brentford’s Ruguilon.
MIDFIELDER: PHIL FODEN (Man City)
Naturally, it was an easy one to call. Obviously, due to his hat-trick at Brentford when his team came from a goal down. Scoring either side of halftime.
His link-up play and off-the-ball movement was again impeccable, which was also on show against Burnley, where he picked up an assist.
Shout out also to his teammates De Bruyne, Rodri and Nunez. Man Utd trio Garnacho, Mainoo, & McTominay. Arsenal duo Rice & Jorginho. Luton duo Doughty & Barkley. Liverpool’s Szoboszlai.
Fulham’s Palhinha. West Ham’s Ward-Prowse. Wolves duo Gomez & Lemina. Spurs’s Maddison. Palaces Eze. Sheff Utd’s McAtee. Chelsea’s Palmer. Forest’s Hudson-Odoi. Villa trio McGinn, Bailey & Tielemans. Brighton duo Gross & Buonanotte and Newcastle duo Longstaff & Barnes.
FORWARD: ELIJAH ADEBAYO (Luton)
In a good double week for forwards, it was the Luton man who scored the most. A hat-trick in a thrilling demolition of Brighton at home.
Then the fourth at Newcastle, which should have sealed a second win in a week, but Newcastle got it back to 4-4. However, it was a good week for the Luton man, who has nine league goals now.
Well done also to his teammates, Ogbene &. Morris. Tottenham’s Richarlison. Arsenal foursome Saka, Jesus, Martinelli & Trossard. Man Utd duo Rashford & Hojlund. Man City’s Alvarez. Wolves trio Cunha, Neto & Sarabia. Aston Villa’s Watkins. Burnley’s Fofana.
Liverpool duo Jota & Diaz. Forest’s Awoniyi. Palace duo Olise & Mateta. Sheff Utd’s Diaz. Brentford duo Toney & Maupay. Bournemouth duo Solanke Kluivert. Chelsea Nkunku. Brighton’s Joao Pedro and Fulham’s Muniz.
MANAGER: ROB EDWARDS (Luton)
Although three managers got two victories this week and may have deserved this. I had to give it to the Luton man.
After surprisingly destroying Brighton at 4-1 at home. They were minutes from victory at Newcastle, one of the hardest grounds to win on.
Nevertheless, scoring four twice this week, picking up four points, and now sitting a point outside the relegation zone, he is already going beyond expectation.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta. Man Utd’s Ten Haag and Man City’s Guardiola.
UNSUNG HERO: MATHEUS CUNHA (Wolves)
Even though Chelsea have been terrible, it’s still a surprise to see them concede a hat-trick on their home pitch.
It’s not often you score a hat-trick and not get a weekly award, so I had to give him this. He ripped Chelsea apart with his direct running, skill, footwork and clinical finishing to make it nine league goals for the season.
Well done also to his teammate Neto. Liverpool’s Bradley. Man Utd’s Mainoo, Luton’s Barkley and Newcastles’ Schar.
GAME1: WOLVES 3-4 MAN UTD
United took an early lead when Dalot played the ball into the box for Hojland to touch back for Rashford to side-foot high into the net (5). It was two when Shaw’s low cross was touched in at the near post by Hojlund (22).
Sarabia pulled a goal back from the spot when Casimero fouled Neto (71). Sub McTominay made it 3-1 when he nodded Fernandes’ corner into the ground and in (75). From another corner, Kilman chested and volleyed in from a few yards after Dawson’s shot (85).
Wolves equalised from a fast break when Cunha found Neto on the right. He cut inside the box and did Onana with his eyes low into the bottom corner (90+5).
Just as the game was heading for a draw, Mainoo collected the ball just outside the box, on the right, cut inside two defenders and curled a low effort into the far bottom corner (90+7).
GAME2 NEWCASTLE 4-4 LUTON
Newcastle took an early lead when Longstaff steered in Trippier’s low cross from near the right corner flag (7). Luton equalised when Osho headed in after Morris headed back Barkley’s free kick (21).
A minute later, Gordon outpaced his defender down the left, cut inside, and his shot was parried to Longstaff, who rifled home (22). Luton equalised in carbon copy when Barkley fed Doherty, and his shot was parried to Barkley to fire home (40).
In the second half, Morris scored from the spot after Burn tripped Ogbene and needed Var (59). Luton made it four when Barkley fed Adebayo to fire home (62).
Newcastle pulled a goal back from Trippier’s deft volley at the far post from Guimaraes’ lovely outside of the boot cross (67). Substitute Barnes then made it 4-4 when he picked the ball up outside the box and fired in the bottom corner (71).
GOAL1: KOBBIE MAINOO (Man Utd) vs Wolves
In the 97th minute, after just letting a two-goal lead slip in stoppage time. Just to the left of the box, some 30 yards from the goal.
He jinxed past one player going to his left, then darted inside a second, moving to his right. As he ran towards goal, he jinxed past a third defender inside the box and curled a lovely low effort inside the far post.
There were also good goals from Palace’s Eze and Liverpool’s Diaz where every Liverpool player touched the ball before scoring.
GOAL2: JOAO PEDRO (Brighton) vs Crystal Palace
Pedro picked up the ball by the right touchline, cut inside and ran towards goal. He then played a ball into Welbeck with his back to goal.
Welbeck then played a lovely, back-heeled flick for Pedro, who continued his run into the box. Pedro gets to the ball first, between two defenders and hits a sublime, first-time, outside of the boot effort into the far corner.
FOOL: CHELSEA FC
In an already dismal season, this was a disastrous week. Destroyed 4-1 at Liverpool in a scoreline that flattered them, despite a genuine penalty shout, which was one of the few things they could shout about.
But a few days later, at home. They got turned over 4-2 by Wolves, who did the double over them.
Conceding eight goals in a week, doubled by Wolves, sitting eleventh in the league in February after spending close to a billion, is now unprecedented levels of failure. FOOLS!
