TEAM: MANCHESTER UTD
Although there were important games to decide relegation, the biggest game was at The King Power stadium where Leicester and Man Utd went head to head in a straight shoot out for a Champions League place. In the end, it seemed a non event as United controlled the game, nullified Leicester’s attack and made it much less intense than we all expected, as they strolled past Leicester, literally and figuratively into the Champions League. Well done also to Man City, Liverpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chelsea, Southampton and Arsenal.
GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Arsenal)
He has been a real revelation since Leno got injured and eased all Arsenal fans fears. Probably has been their best player since the return. He again demonstrated his fine form as Watford, fighting for their Premier League lives tried to stage a miraculous comeback in he second half but the Arsenal man frustrated and thwarted them, making two superb late saves to help get three points and send Watford down. Shout out also to Bournemouth’s Ramsdale, Man City’s Ederson and Southampton’s McCarthy.
DEFENDER: VIRGIL VAN DIJK (Liverpool)
He has oozed class all season and there was no change in this game. Becomes only the fifth player to play every minute of a Premier League title winning season and as usual was unfazed and untroubled. If there was any doubt of his all around game, as Liverpool trailed to the quickest goal of the season, he popped up at the other end to head in an equaliser to put his team back on track to win the game, equalling the most wins in a Premier League season. Well done also to his team mate Gomez, Villa duo Konsa & Mings, Arsenal’s Tierney, Southampton’s Walker-Peters, Newcastle’s Fernandez, Man Citys’ Walker, Burnley’s Pieters, Man Utd’s Wan-Bissaka, Bournemouth duo Kelly & Rico, Chelsea’s Zouma and Brighton’s Lamptey.
MIDFIELDER: KEVIN DE BRUYNE (Man City)
It was another vintage display from the mercurial midfield man. A lot of the talk was about D.Silva’s last league game in England, but the Belgian put on a vintage masterclass with two superb goals and an assist (equaling the Premier League assist record) for a typical man of the match performance, something we have come to expect from him. Well done also to Liverpool’s Keita, Man Utd duo Fernandes & Lingard, Palace’s Schlupp, Bournemouth duo King & Stanislas, Chelsea’s Kovacic, Sheff Utd’s Lundstram, Brighton’s Bissouma and Villa’s Grealish who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: CHE ADAMS (Southampton)
With not much to play for and maybe you could say that’s the reason for the goals, but I am sure he does not care. Having gone through a long baron spell without a goal, after scoring a beauty against Man City, he will be happy with his two finishes on the final day of the season to end on a real high. It’s finally a glimpse of his striking abilities, and with not a long turnaround until the new season, he could go into it on a real high. Shout out also to his team mate Ings, Chelsea duo Mount & Giroud, Newcastle’s Gayle, Liverpool due Origi & Mane, Man City duo Sterling, Jesus & Mahrez, Bournemouth’s Solanke, Tottenham’s Kane, Burnley’s Wood, Brighton’s Connolly, Watford’s Welbeck and Arsenal’s Aubameyang who was close to winning this.
MANAGER: OLE GUNNER SOLSKJAER (Man Utd)
Has to be given credit for dragging his team back into the Champions League. The signing of Bruno Fernandez in January went a long way to his teams upturn in form, but they churned out results, especially since the lockdown to put themselves in a great position for a shoot out against Leicester, where they showed their superiority to brush Leicester aside in their own back yard, to finished third and storm into the Champions League.
UNSUNG HERO: TARIQ LAMPTEY (Brighton)
If Brighton are lucky, they will work hard and fast to get him on a permanent basis, but the way he has been playing, I doubt Chelsea will want to sell him. This kid is only 19 years old but playing with a maturity and influence of a seasoned professional. Strong and sturdy at the back, energetic and explosive going forward, he looks exciting every time he is on the ball and is such a joy to watch. I have a feeling he could be a real star of the future.
GAME: ARSENAL 3-2 WATFORD
Arsenal opened the scoring very early when Lacazette was clattered in the box by Dawson and after a considerable amount of time, VAR awarded a penalty which Aubameyang coolly slotted home (5). Arsenal then went two up when Pepe from the edge of the box curled a ball in for Aubemeyang to take down on his thigh, touch back for Tierney who side footed home, low into the far corner (24). Arsenal then went three goals up in the first half when a long throw came in from the left, Aubameyang with his back to goal, just inside the six yard box, controlled with the sole of his boot and as the ball bounced up, he hit an acrobatic shot over his shoulder into the net (33). Watford pulled a goal back at the end of the first half when Luiz fouled Welbeck in the box and Deeney blasted home from the spot (43). In the second half, Watford pulled another goal back following good work from Mariappa and Sarr down the right, where Sarr’s low cross from the byline evaded Martinez and was turned in by Welbeck (66). Watford then had further chances but could not get past Martinez and were relegated to the Championship.
GOAL: KEVIN DE BRUYNE (Man City) v Norwich
Walker picked up the ball in midfield and played a ball into B.Silva just inside the box, who played a one, two back to him. Walker then played a first time ball to the left to De Bruyne lurking just outside the edge of the box. He controlled, stood the defender up, showed nifty footwork to roll the ball from one side to another, then dragged it back through his legs, then took another touch to the right to avoid the challenge, before unleashing a powerful effort that curled into the far top corner of the net. Brighton’s Bissouma also scored a great goal this week.
FOOL: WATFORD FC
There were a few candidates for this, Norwich, Everton, Leicester, Evans and Schmeichel, however, I gave it to Watford for a second week in a row. Knowing they had just slipped into the bottom three with their Premier League lives hanging from a thread, you would have thought or expected them to come out with intent and determination. However, they were horrendous in the first half, going three goals down and showing no fight whatsoever. Credit they came out in the second half and made a fight of it, but it was too little too late as their disastrous first half gave themselves too much to do, confining them to the Championship. FOOLS!
