TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
Although a city victory was to be expected, you still couldn’t deny the type of football they played and the way they were ruthless and clinical right from the start.
What is supervising is the fact that they only scored the five and conceded one, as the 5-1 score line doesn’t even begin to do the game or their performance justice.
Well done also to Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Burnley and Newcastle who were very close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: ILLAN MESLIER (Leeds Utd)
In keeping with how things have been, there wasn’t many options to choose from, even though there were a few clean sheets. However, one keeper who claimed a clean sheet really had to work for it.
The Leeds keeper performed heroics to keep Palace out all game and there were times where you were thinking how Palace have not scored, that’s how good he was.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Ramsdale, Newcastle’s Dubravka, West Ham’s Fabianski, Tottenham’s Lloris and Burnley’s Pope who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: ANDREW ROBERTSON (Liverpool)
In the Merseyside derby, a game that seems made for him and his style, he really excelled and showed his worth in more ways than expected.
Not only was he solid in defence and gave massive energy up and down the left flank. With his team desperately needed it, he popped up with vital goal to help his team on their way to three points.
Well done also to his teammate Van Dijk, Brentford duo Brentford’s Rasmussen, Janssen and Henry, Newcastle duo Lascelles and Targett, Man City’s duo Cancelo & Zinchenko, Leicester’s Justin, Arsenal’s Tavares, Watford’s Kamara, Man Utd’s Dalot, Chelsea duo Alonso & Silva, Leeds’ Cooper. Burnley duo Tarkowski & Taylor also Crystal Palace’s Guehi.
MIDFIELDER: JAMES WARD-PROWSE (Southampton)
The saints captain is the epitome of a talisman. How many times has he won a game or clawed his team back into one.
This week he did the later, when his team were trailing by two goals. He first pulled a goal back with a superb but typical long-range free kick where now only Beckham is ahead of him in the league. He then equalised with another sweetly struck effort from outside the box.
Shout out also to Brentford’s Eriksen, Man City duo Rodri and De Bruyne. Arsenal trio Saka, Odegaard and Xhaka, Liverpool duo Thiago & Fabinho. Watford’s Kamara, Chelsea’s Loftus-Cheek. Brighton’s Caidcedo, Burnley’s McNeill and Newcastle duo Guimaraes and Joelinton who was close to winning this.
FORWARD: GABRIEL JESUS (Man City)
Obviously this was a pretty easy one. There are not many week a player will score four goals, even when they are playing for Man City.
He has been in and out the team but he has always been reliable. This was one to remember as he took his four goals in clinical fashion showing, movement, awareness and pure finishing for a very good day at the office.
Well done also to Man Utd’s Ronaldo, Liverpool duo Salah and Origi, Chelsea’s Pulisic, Brighton’s Welbeck and Burnley’s Vydra.
MANAGER: EDDIE HOWE (Newcastle)
Although they did beat a team who look destined for relegation, I cannot ignore the transformation his team has made since his arrival.
I must say I was sceptical, but he has made some very good signings, as well as good tactical changes and his team are flying. This away win at Norwich is their fourth in a row and they are up to tenth in the league.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta and Man City’s Guardiola.
UNSUNG HERO: JOELINTON (Newcastle)
Although it is credit to the manager, he has taken to the change if position like he had always been playing in midfield.
I didn’t much fancy him as a striker, but seeing him as an all-out committed, workhorse with touch, a bit of skill and now an eye for a goal midfielder with his two goals this week, has really changed my mind on how good a footballer he is.
GAME: ARSENAL 3-1 MANCHESTER UTD
Arsenal started very early when Gabriel played a ball out left to Tavares, who played a ball back for Xhaka to put a first-time ball into the box.
First Varane, the Telles took swipes at the ball missing both times, it then fell to Saka, who cut inside, and his left footed shot was parried by De Gea, only to see Tavares following in at the back post to tap home (3).
Man Utd had two penalty claims before Arsenal were two up when Telles collided with Saka in the box and the ball fell to Nketiah, in space to lash home. var first adjudged him offside, then gave a penalty for the Telles challenge and Saka made no mistake from the spot (32).
Just minutes later, Man Utd were back in it when Matic put a ball in to the back post for Ronaldo to sneak between two defenders and steer home (34). In the second half, Man Utd had a chance to equalise from the spot when a corner hit Tavares’s arm.
But Fernandes’ hope skip and jump effort hit the outside of the post (57). The win was secured in the second half when Xhaka received the ball just outside the box and hit a rasping drive that flew inside the near post (70).
GOAL: RODRI (Man City) vs Watford
The move started when Jesus ran down the right, but his run was snuffed out in that same corner. However, he quickly won the ball back cutting out a pass back down the line.
He then turned, looked up and played a chipped ball to outside the box. As the ball came across, Rodri took on his chest and almost having to step around De Bruyne who was lying injured on the floor.
He unleashed a power effort with the laces, from just outside the right of the box, that few diagonally into the top left-hand corner. There were also good goals from Arsenal’s Xhaka and Newcastle’s Guimaraes.
FOOL: BRUNO FERNANDES (Man Utd)
There were a few candidates, the Spurs forward line, Norwich, Watford, West Ham’s Dawson and Chelsea’s Jorginho. As well as a few refs.
However, not content being part of a terrible team who were fools of the week last week. As the captain, with a chance to pull your team back in the game from the spot and maybe go get a win in the second half. Bruno should have done the best thing for the team and hand the ball to Ronaldo.
Instead, he took responsibility and flopped royally. He should have also got sent off for a horrendous tackle. He probably would welcome the suspension, enough said really. FOOL!
