TEAM: ARSENAL
Possibly, they were helped by the occasion, as the atmosphere was much different to when they went there last season.
However, they took full advantage of the situation to nullify anything Brentford had while dominating in all aspects of the game at a place where every top team has had problems. They were barely troubled and looked like a side ready for a title challenge.
Well done also to Tottenham. Fulham. Man City. Everton, and Aston Villa.
GOALKEEPER: NETO (Bournemouth)
It was a masterclass of goalkeeping from the Bournemouth man, and his performance really deserved three points for his team.
Newcastle tried as they might but couldn’t get past him, and it took a penalty for him to be beaten, after he made a string of impressive saves, especially in the first half to frustrate Newcastle.
Shout out also to Everton’s Begovic and Tottenham’s Lloris.
DEFENDER: WILLIAM SALIBA (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s change in fortunes so far this season is down to a lot of things, but one huge thing is his inclusion in the team.
He has been a revelation this season and playing with confidence. He put in a masterclass on how to deal with the pace, power and physicality of the likes of Toney, who is full of confidence. He came up with the opening goal that set his team on their way to victory.
Well done also to his teammates White, Tierney & Gabriel. Fulham’s Tosin. Villa’s Mings. Southampton’s Walker-Peters. Spurs’ Dier. Newcastle’s Trippier and Everton’s Tarkowski.
MIDFIELDER: JOAO PALHINHA (Fulham)
This was probably the toughest decision of the week. However, I went for the Fulham man who has already established himself in this Fulham team and really helped to pull his team back into the game, then go on to win it.
He scored a superb goal to get his team ahead, but his all-around play was smooth, technically, and full of running with added skill and ability throughout. He ran the midfield and looked comfortable doing it.
Shout out also to his teammate Reed. Forest’s O’Brien. Arsenal trio Xhaka, Vieira & Saka. Villa duo Coutinho & Ramsey. Leicester’s Maddison. Bournemouth’s Billing. Everton’s Iwobi. Man City’s De Bruyne, also Spurs’ Bentancur, who was both close to winning this.
FORWARD: HEUNG-MIN SON (Tottenham)
A pretty easy decision. After a poor start to the season, being benched could have been a masterstroke.
When he came on, he played with passion, determination and possibly a level of anger. This saw him unleash a screamer 15 minutes after coming on. Then another with his left foot six minutes from time.
He then completed his hat-trick two minutes later as Leicester was ripped apart by his running on and off the ball, and finishing. Well done also to his teammate Kane. Forest’s Awoniyi. Man City trio Grealish, Haaland & Foden. Everton duo Maupay & Gray. Newcastle’s Isak and Arsenal’s Jesus.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
The term has been “trust the process” it seems now that process is starting to take shape. Arsenal seems now to be a team full of confidence but also a skill, ability and newfound steel at the back.
All the components seem to be coming together for something exciting, and the way they comfortably turned Brentford over in their own backyard is proof of this. Shout out also to Fulham’s Silva.
UNSUNG HERO: GRANIT XHAKA (Arsenal)
The much-maligned former captain of Arsenal has come back well. There was a time when you couldn’t see him playing for the club again, but in the absence of new captain Odegaard,
He again dawned the armband and put in a mature captain’s performance, much like he’s been doing all season. No frills, no controversy, just sticking to the game plan, marshalling the midfield and even putting in a lovely cross to create the second goal in an impressive performance.
GAME: TOTTENHAM 6-2 LEICESTER
Leicester took a shock lead when Justin was fouled on the left line of the box. Tieleman’s scored at the second time of asking after Lloris saved the first but stepped off his line (6).
Just two minutes later, Kulusevskit swung a ball to the far post for Kane to head home from a yard out (8). Spurs were then ahead when Dier headed in Perisic’s corner from the left. (21).
Just before half time, Leicester were level when Castagne won a header just outside the box on the right and crossed in for Maddison to expertly guide home a first time effort into the far corner (41). Just two minutes into the second half, Bentancur caught Ndidi napping, ran to the edge of the box and coolly curled a low shot in at the near post (47)
Spurs then took control of the game when Bentancur won the bail by the right touchline then played it to Son, who travelled with the ball to just outside the box, took a touch and unleashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner (73).
Son then got his second when he controlled and curled a beautiful left-footed effort into the far corner from just outside the box (84). Son then completed his hat-trick when Hojbjerg played him in, and he slipped a ball under the keeper after VAR overruled the offside flag (86).
GOAL: HEUNG-MIN SON (Tottenham) v Leicester
Bentancur did great to rob Justin just by the right touchline in his half and play a ball inside to Son, running onto the ball from inside the Spurs half.
With two defenders in front, he ran at both until just before the edge of the box, where he touched the ball to the right, making half a yard to unleash a powerful, curling effort that flew into the top right-hand corner of the net.
There was also a good goal from Fulham’s Palhinha, Arsenal’s Vieira and Son’s second.
FOOL: NATHAN COLLINS (Wolves)
He was my defender of the week last week, so this is also for leaving me with egg on my face. However, he is only young and will learn from this, but he can have no complaints or excuses for such a horrible challenge on Grealish in the first half.
It was high, reckless and down right stupid, deserving a straight red to leave his team, who were already down by two goals, to play against one of the best teams in the world with a man less. FOOL!
