TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
Obviously the result was aided by a first half red card, however, City were already two up by that point and looking like they were already cruising to victory. If anything, the red card helped Arsenal, as they could just sit in and defend for the rest of the game, which as we saw this weekend, is not always easy. But City showed how to play against 10 men, as they cut through Arsenal at will and could, maybe should have, scored a few more. Well done also to Everton, Man Utd, Leicester and Tottenham.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA (Manchester Utd)
Over the past 18 months or so, there have been some question marks of the United keeper’s form. However, he has started the season well and this week put in a vintage performance at Wolves. He made a few very good saves and one unbelievable double save from close range to earn a clean sheet, help his team to three hard earned points and claim an impressive away unbeaten record. Shout out also to Chelsea’s Mendy, Brentford’s Raya and Watford’s Bachmann.
DEFENDER: ANDREAS CHRISTENSEN (Chelsea)
It’s never easy as an away team to play at a full house Anfield, it’s even more difficult when you are playing with 10 men, let alone having to do it for a whole half. However, Chelsea were well drilled, well organised and defended superbly, limiting Liverpool to half chances. At the heart of that was the young Chelsea defender, who was the most inexperienced defender in the team, but played like a seasoned veteran. Well done also to his team mates, Thiago Silva, Azpilicueta and Rudigar, Leicester duo Pereira & Thomas, Man City’s Cancelo, Palace’s Ward, Everton’s Coleman, Brentford’s Jansson, Man Utd duo Wan-Bissaka & Varane, Spurs’s Dier, Burnley duo Lowton & Tarkowski also Leeds’ Cooper.
MIDFIELDER: CONOR GALLAGHER (Crystal Palace)
The 21 year old midfielder looks a real find and had already shown flashes of his quality in just two Premier league games, however, in his third, he really delivered. He scored the first goals of his and manager Viera’s Premier League era, in both goals he demonstrated neat close control, skill, quality and finishing ability, to help his team to a decent away point. Shout out also to West Ham’s Fornals, Chelsea’s Kante, Leicester duo Tielemans & Albrighton, Chelsea’s Havertz, Everton duo Doucoure & Gray, Villa’s Buendia, Man City duo Gundogan & Rodri, Southampton’s Elyounoussi, Tottenham’s Son and Burnley’s McNeill.
FORWARD: FERRAN TORRES (Manchester City)
Again, although it was aided by a red card, he still stepped up to notch two goals and an assist, to help destroy Arsenal. He’s not exactly the player you would expect to be leading the line for a multi-billion pound club, but he is certainly there on merit. His movement off the ball and link up play was impeccable and he has proved he knows where the goal is. Well done also to his team mates, Grealish & Gabriel Jesus, West Ham’s Antonio, Newcastle duo Wilson & Saint-Maximin, Brentford’s Toney, Everton’s Calvert-Lewin, Burnley’s Wood, Leeds’ Bamford, Wolves’ Traore, Man Utd’s Greenwood and Leicester’s Vardy who were both close to winning this.
MANAGER: OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER (Manchester Utd)
This was a close one, but I gave this to the Man Utd manager not just for the win at Wolves, where to be honest, his team had to ride his luck. But much like this run where his team now have broken the record for the longest unbeaten away run in English football history. After riding their luck, they made not mistake to go on and win the game and claim the record. Ole has constructed a real quality squad, with quality players and are looking strong this season. Shout out also to Chelsea’s Tuchel and Tottenham’s Espirito Santo.
UNSUNG HERO: HEUNG-MIN SON (Tottenham)
With all the rumours, speculation, issues, arguments, fluctuating forms, superstar talk, fan unrest and adulation. One thing that has been consistent at Spurs, the performances of Son. While Kane gets most of the superstar status, he has maintained his high level of performances, more or less throughout the course of a few years and have been equally as important to Spurs’ prospects as Kane has. He again showed this by getting the winner against Watford to send Spurs top of the Premier League.
GAME: WEST HAM 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE
After a slow start which saw Palace’s Ward clear one off the goalline, West Ham took the lead late in the first half. Coufal cleared from inside his box to Benrahma just inside the Palace half, he turned and fed Antonio running at goal. As he got into the box, he checked back and touched it to Fornals, who touched it first time back to Antonio, he then laid it square for Fornals to side foot home (39). In the second half, Palace equalised when Zaha’s cross from the left was nodded on by Benteke, for Gallagher to take on his chest, running across the six yard box and dugged back in to score (58). Ten minutes later, West Ham went back in front when Cresswell played a long ball from the left. Antonio and Andersen challenged in the air, the ball fell kindly for Antonio, who ran onto the ball and lashed home with his left foot at the near post (68). Palace equalised for a second time when Gallagher collected a pass into the box from the left, in between two players he controlled with his right, checked back with his left, then first a right footed effort into the bottom corner (70).
GOAL: CONOR GALLAGHER 2nd (Crystal Palace) v West Ham
McArthur fired a ball in from the left with pace, which got a slight deflection. Gallagher initially did well to take the sting off the ball and control it with his right foot, while being strong to hold off Dawson on one side, with Rice coming in on the other. Gallagher then showed skill and close control to check the ball back with his left foot, between the two players, giving him a yard to fire the ball in with his right, beating the keeper at the near post.
FOOL: GRANIT XHAKA (Arsenal)
Mike Dean and Stuart Attwell on var are lucky to not be here after their decision at Wolves, which allowed Man Utd to get a win. Also, Liverpool, after failing to score after playing 45 minutes against 10 men. However, once again (for the 11th time in his career) Xhaka see’s a red card and to be honest, he couldn’t really complain. We all know if you leave the floor with both feet off the ground, you will see red. What made it worse is, he did it at the worst place (Man City away) with his team already two goals down and struggling. So now with his team rock bottom, he will have to serve a ban, although some may feel that might help Arsenal lol. FOOL!
