TEAM: ARSENAL
To be fair, this decision was touch and go, but I had to go with the league leaders, who stretched their lead at the top to seven points and are looking good.
Not many teams go to Brighton and play them off the park, let a long scoring four. But Arsenal are purring at the moment and looking unstoppable.
Well done also to Brentford. Crystal Palace. Man Utd. Fulham. Liverpool and Aston Villa were close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: ILLAN MESLIER (Leeds)
This was another decision that was touch and go, but apart from Arsenal, Newcastle are the form team and are scoring goals, especially at home.
However, the Leeds keeper was certainly on his game and pulled off several top saves in a man-of-the-match performance to earn a valuable clean sheet and an even more valuable away point.
Shout out also to Wolves’ Sa. Everton’s Pickford. Southampton’s Bazunu and Brentford’s Raya.
DEFENDER: JAMES TARKOWSKI (Everton)
There were a few candidates for this, but he played a huge role in helping his team to an unlikely point at Man City.
Not only was he putting his head in and making vital blocks. But his reading of the game was exceptional and never looked too stretched.
Well done also to his teammates Coady & Patterson. Villa duo Young & Mings. Man Utd’s Shaw. Palace due Andersen & Guehi. Newcastle’s Trippier. Brentford’s Mee. Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold also Forest duo Aurier and Boly, who were both close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: MARTIN ODEGAARD (Arsenal)
I had to think long and hard about this, and it was mighty close. However, I went with the form man who is turning in top performance after top performance.
He notched another goal, and for Arsenal’s fourth goal, he probably put in one of the assists of the season, with a first-time pass from inside his half for Martinelli’s goal.
Shout out also to Forest’s Gibbs-White. Man Utd’s Casimero. Everton duo Gueye & Gray. Brighton duo Mitoma and Ferguson. Leicester’s Dewsbury-Hall. Brentford trio Da Silva, Norgaard & Jenson. Villa duo Buendia, also Luiz and Fulham’s Palhinha, who were both close to winning this.
FORWARD: IVAN TONEY (Brentford)
He was an absolute handful, and West Ham just could not cope with him. A goal and an assist to sink the Hammer in their own backyard and a performance that continues to prove any and all doubters wrong.
He reacted quickest and should strength to nudge home the opening goal, then turned the provider with a ball over the top for Da Silva to score.
Well done also to Arsenal trio Saka, Martinelli & Nketiah. Villa’s Watkins. Chelsea’s Sterling. Man Utd’s Rashford. Palace duo Ayew & Olise and Man City’s Haaland.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
Another decision I had to think about for a while, but Arteta is well and truly proving to be the right man for the job.
The way his young team brushed aside Brighton, playing with freedom, fearlessness and more importantly, seems to have a bit of steal and strength that makes you think they can really go all the way.
Shout out also to Brentford’s Frank and Aston Villa’s Emery who was close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: JOAO PALHINHA (Fulham)
He has missed out on this award several times previously, so it was long overdue. He is or has been an unsung hero in every sense of the word.
I saw a stat that showed he has won the most duels in the Premier League this season. His tenacious style was again on show against Southampton, but he also possesses quality on the ball and an eye for goal, as he demonstrated with the headed winner.
Well done also to Forest’s Aurier.
GAME: BRIGHTON 2-4 ARSENAL
Arsenal took the lead early when Partey won the ball from Lamptey in midfield, Zinchenko played it to Martinelli on the left, and his shot ricocheted off a defender and fell to Saka’s feet seven yards out to sweep home (2).
It was two when a corner was headed out to the edge of the box for Odegaard to strike into the floor and nestle in the far corner (39). In the second half. Arsenal made it three when Partey fed Martinelli running in on the left. His near post shot was parried by Sanchez, and Nketiah reacted quickest to stab home from a yard (47).
Brighton pulled one back when Gilmour threaded a lovely ball through the midfield for Gross, who played a reverse pass for Mitoma to sweep into the bottom corner (65). Arsenal sealed the points when Odegaard played a delightful first-time pass from in his half, that sent Martinelli running down the left wing.
He outstripped Lamptey and poked home through the keeper (71). Brighton pulled a goal back when Ferguson’s run onto Dunk’s through ball, Saliba got in a tangle, and Ferguson took advantage to slide past Ramsdale (77).
There was still time for Mitoma to get another goal ,but it was harshly ruled out for an earlier offside.
GOAL: DEMARAI GRAY (Everton) v Man City
As Man City were probing for an opening, Gueye intercepted a ball deep in the Everton half and played it forward to Gray to run onto in the Man City half.
He carried the ball with pace right into the right side of the box. Cut back inside onto his right foot.
Faked to play it down the line, turned back onto his right foot, slipped, regained his footing and hit an unstoppable effort into the far top corner, coming off the underside of the bar and in.
FOOL: WOUT FAES (Leicester)
Unfortunately, he has written himself into Premer League history by becoming only the fourth player to score two own goals in the same game.
The first was a horrendous mistake, Alexander-Arnold’s cross looked like it was going to roll into the keeper’s hands until his horrible slice that took the ball over his head and under the bar into the net.
he second, running back as the ball came back off the post, was harsh on him, but when your luck it out, it certainly is out. It’s worse his team took the lead and looked good until his two own goals settled the game. Fool.
