TEAM: BURNLEY
I would not blame anyone from Leicester and maybe Arsenal, to turn up their nose at this, as it was a real tough one to call. However, going by my own judging rules, Burnley’s unexpected away win at Goodison just shades Leicester’s rampant display against Sheff Utd.
Although Everton, like many teams this season have been poor at home, Burnley had only won three away, but it wasn’t a game where they sat back and defended for their lives. They were actually good for the win and fully deserved it.
Along with Leicester and Arsenal, well done also to Man City, Brighton, Man Utd, Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
GOALKEEPER: MARTIN DUBRAVKA
This was another tough one, but only due to not being many or any real candidates. So the Newcastle man takes it. Villa were easily the better team but just couldnt get past the Newcastle keeper, who was in good form.
Even when they did score, it was due to a deflection where Dubravka had no chance. Even then Villa should have been out of site but he kept the score down, which allowed his team to snatch a very late equaliser and valuable point.
Shout out also to West Ham’s Fabianski, Chelsea’s Mendy and Leeds’ Meslier.
DEFENDER: KIERAN TIERNEY (Arsenal)
The Premier League are really rich in top class left backs at present and Arsenal certainly have one of them. He was again influential with a spirited performance in the North London derby, causing trouble up and down the left flank.
His energy was unrelenting but what was even more impressive was his quality of crossing, which caused all sorts of problems for the Spurs defence and created the equaliser.
Well done also to his team mate Gabriel, Brighton duo Dunk or Burn, Spurs’ Reguilon, Man Utd’s Shaw, Leeds’ Llorente, Chelsea’s Rudigar, Palace duo Kouyate & Cahill, Burnley’s Mee, Man City duo Cancelo & Stones, Liverpool’s Phillips’ Villa’s Targett and Newcastle’s Lascelles.
MIDFIELDER: DWIGHT MCNEIL (Burnley)
To think he was actually the youngest player on the pitch, yet he was the most influential player with a man of the match performance.
I’m sure his youth helps his energy to get up and down the park, as he seemed to be everywhere, winning tackles, linking up play and being a threat in attack. He also showed real quality to notch a superb goal which proved to be the game winner.
Shout out also to his team mates Westwood & Gudmundsson, Brighton duo Lallana & Trossard, Leicester’s Perez, Palace’s Milivojevic, Chelsea’s Kante, Man City’s B.Silva and Arsenal’s Smith Rowe.
FORWARD: KELECHI IHEANACHO (Leicester)
This was a real easy one, the Leicester man has hit a real purple patch, scoring five in his last three games.
He notched his first Premier League hat-trick with some very well taken goals, showing just how high his confidence is and is really benefitting from getting a run of games. His movement off the ball was also exceptional, Sheff Utd just couldn’t live with him.
Well done also to his team mate Vardy, Southampton’s Adams, Arsenal’s Lacazette, Brighton’s Welbeck, Everton’s Calvert-Lewin, Burnley’s Wood, Man City’s Jesus, Villa’s Watkins and Liverpool’s Jota.
MANAGER: SEAN DYCHE (Burnley)
As stated previously, although Everton had been poor at home, Burnley had been poor away. But nobody was really expecting Burnley to play this well at an Everton team who were pushing for a Champions League place.
However, Burnley looked more like the top six team, with their free flowing attacking football that really put Everton on the back foot from the first half. Even when Everton got a goal back, you was expecting Burnley to sit deep and defend, but Dyche made his team push on looking for the third and they almost got it.
UNSUNG HERO: EMILE SMITH ROWE (Arsenal)
Sometimes I have to check to see if he is really 20 years old. He plays with such a maturity, it bogles the mind how good he could be as he develops.
In the North London derby, although with no fans, he showed no nerves and had a superb and highly influential 77 minutes in the centre of the pitch and seemed central to everything.
Running with the ball, showing real purpose, playing probing passes, attacking and creating chances for his team mates. It was an extremely impressive performance and Spurs got better after he came off.
GAME: ARSENAL 2-1 TOTTENHAM
Arsenal had more of the play and Smith Rowe hit the bar before, slightly against the run of play Spurs took the lead. Moura controlled Reguilon’s first time volleyed cross in the box and touched it back for Lamela who, with the ball slightly behind him, improvised to great effect with a rabona that beat Leno into the bottom far corner (33).
Soares then hit the post before Arsenal got their equaliser when Tierney went rampaging down the left put in a cross for Odegaard to his a first time, left footed shot that cam off Dier, wrong footed Lloris and in (44).
In the second half, Arsenal got the breakthrough when Pepe picked up a loose ball and played it into Lacazette, who controlled and took a swipe at it and missed kicked but was fouled by a clumsy Sanchez challenge for a penalty, to which Lacazette stepped up to slot home (64).
There was still time for Lamela to got from hero to zero for getting two yellow cards in seven minutes to receive his marching orders (76).
GOAL: ERIK LAMELA (Tottenham) v Arsenal
In the midst of a tight and tense North London derby, Bale played a high, cross field ball from the right touchline, to the side of the box, where Reguilon was waiting.
As the ball dropped, he played a first time volley across the box, which fell to Moura, who controlled and touched back for Lamela.
With the ball slightly behind him, he quickly adjusted his feet to execute a rabona, through the legs of Partey, with a little curl to see the ball nestle neatly into the bottom far corner. There was also an excellent goal from Burnley’s McNeil.
FOOL: SHEFF UTD BOARD
Credited Sheff Utd have been poor this season, but everyone knew it was going to be extremely hard to emulate what they did last season. Sheff Utd more than exceeded expectations last year and it was no surprises to see them struggling.
However, what Wilder has done in terms of raising the clubs statue has been nothing short of a miracle. So for the board to sack him, knowing they are likely to be relegated and not even give him a chance to try and get them back up, especially after all he has done for the club is criminal.
Its funny because Sheff Utd’s first game without him, they slumped to their biggest defeat of the season at Leicester. Be careful what you wish for Sheff Utd board. FOOLS
