TEAM: BRIGHTON
I know, how can I go against Man City? But after three months with no football, naturally, many players and teams would be rusty and much of the games reflected this. However, with no win in 2020, Brighton are teetering on the brink of dropping into the relegation zone. Their prospects looked even worse when Arsenal, who had not lost in 2020, took the lead on the 68th minute. However, Brighton dug deep and got an equaliser with 15 minutes to go, then Maupay grabbed a dramatic 95th minute winner to break Arsenal hearts and ease their relegation fears. Well done also to Man City who looked irresistible on their return in both games, Southampton, Wolves, Palace, Newcastle and Chelsea.
GOALKEEPER: HUGO LLORIS (Tottenham)
If it wasn’t for a late Man Utd penalty, its very possibly he would have returned with a clean sheet, win and probably a man of the match performance. United tried as they might but Hugo was almost equal to everything. He looked steady and confident and it was unfortunate for him that United claimed a late penalty equaliser. Shout out also to Arsenal’s Leno, Palace Guaita, Brighton’s Ryan, Leicester’s Schmeichel, Watford’s Foster, and Sheff Utd’s Henderson.
DEFENDER: CRAIG DAWSON (Watford)
There were a few candidates for this but for his all around contributions to the game, the Watford man takes this. He was strong and commanding at the back, typically throwing his head and body into everything and limited the likes of Vardy to scraps. Then when his team needed something after conceded a late goal, he popped up with an even later equaliser with a superb overhead kick. Well done also Brighton duo Dunk & Bissouma, Villa’s Hause, Southampton duo Bertrand & Stephens, Leicester duo Chilwell & Soyuncu, Everton’s Colemen and Chelsea’s Azpilicueta who was close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: PHIL FODEN (Man City)
There have been many calls for his youngster to get more playing time. Widely touted as the next big thing in England for some time, which brings its own pressures. Came on against Arsenal and bagged the third goal, then started against Burnley, not only was he heavily involved one goal, he scored the first and the last in City’s 5-0 demolition for a very productive first week back. Shout out also to his team mate De Bruyne, Palace’s Milivojevic, Tottenham’s Bergwijn, Man Utd duo Fernandes & Pogba, Southampton duo Redmond & Armstrong, Wolves duo Doherty & Traore, Villa’s Luiz, Chelsea duo Mount & Kante, also Newcastles duo Ritchie & Saint-Maximin.
FORWARD: DANNY INGS (Southampton)
I have to admit, I am really happy for him following his long standing injury issues. He must have been concerned that his luck had gone again after all his injury issues, then coming back, hitting a real purple patch then going into lockdown and losing three months. But credit to him, as he stayed fit, showed no signs of rust and returned like he had never been away with a superb finish and an assist in Southampton’s comprehensive win. Well done also to Man City’s Sterling, Palace’s Ayew, Wolves due Jimenez & Neto, Brighton’s Maupay, Chelsea duo Giroud & Pulisic also Newcastle’s Joelinton.
MANAGER: GRAHAM POTTER (Brighton)
For a team to have no win in 2020, they must have been happy when the world went into lockdown, as they had three months to reflect and regroup. Up against Arsenal, who ironically had not lost a game in 2020, you were fearing the worse after they went a goal down. However, Potter really utilised his five subs well and two of those subs, March for the first and Connolly for the second played major roles the goals that got them their first win of the year.
UNSUNG HERO: RAUL JIMENEZ (Wolves)
Last season he broke the record for most goals scored by a Wolves player in the Premier League, with his goal against West Ham this week, he has now broken that record with his 15th goal of the season. He has been an absolute revelation since he joined, scoring goals galore and improving with every season. There is not much more you can ask for in a striker who has now become one of the best in the league. Dare I say, the vultures will be circling.
GAME: BRIGHTON 2-1 ARSENAL
In a slow burning game in the first half where both teams were getting into their stride with a few chances at both ends, the game bursts into life in the second half when Saka touched a ball to Pepe just outside the box on the right. He then cut inside the curled a beautiful effort into the top far corner (68). This sparked Brighton into life and they duly grabbed an equaliser from a neatly worked quick, short corner by March, his low cross was almost flicked in by Maupay and Dunk reacted quickest to scramble the ball over the line. Brighton then won it at the death when Mac Allister fed a ball into Maupay, who let it run to Connolly and spun into the box, he then received the ball from Connolly and beat Martinez at an angle to win the game (90+5).
GOAL: PEDRO NETO (Wolves) v West Ham
Ruben Neves picked up the ball in midfield and fed it into Traore, who turned and ran at the West Ham defence. He cut between two players then fed a ball out to Doherty on the right, who ran onto the ball and put in a lovely first time cross to the far post. As the ball hung in the air, Neto came onto it, set himself and unleashed an unbelievable first time volley that rocketed into the top corner, giving the keeper absolutely no chance,
FOOL: ARSENAL FC
Not lost a game in 2020, it was unfortunate the world went into a global pandemic, but with that said, they had two opportunities to help their European chances but failed miserably. It wasn’t just the defeats, but the manor of the defeats. Against Man City, it was another capitulation job with a horror show from David Luiz and they ended the game with no shots on goal. Having the benefit of already playing a game, you would have expected them to finish strong against Brighton who was the only team in English football not to win a game in 2020. However, in true Arsenal fashion, they allowed Brighton to come from a goal down in the last 20 minutes to win it in the 95th minute. FOOLS!
