TEAM: MANCHESTER CITY
It always helps when you have two games in a week, as you have two bites of the cherry to impress. But equally, it could go against you with one bad performance.
However, City excelled in both games. They cruised past Villa without barely breaking a sweat. This set them up nicely to go to the Emirates, where they put on a performance that reminded Arsenal that there are levels to this game as their experience and class shone through to take them top.
Well done also to Wolves and Leicester, who were both very close to winning this. Also, Fulham and Man Utd.
GOALKEEPER: DAVID RAYA (Brentford)
Controversy aside, his performance at the Emirates went a long way to helping Brentford claim an impressive away point.
Arsenal streamed forward repeatedly, and he kept them at bay with a solid display of goalkeeping. Arsenal only broke the deadlock late with a good ball to the far post. Other than that, they could not get past him.
Shout out also to Palace’s Guaita. Wolves Sa. Villa’s Martinez. Man Utd’s De Gea. Bournemouth’s Neto.
DEFENDER: HARRY SOUTTAR (Leicester)
It is crazy to think he is only playing in his second Premier League game. The £15m signing from Stoke, fresh from his World Cup appearance, has already fit in like a glove.
I am not sure what it exactly had to do with him, but in his two games, Leicester has won both, scoring four goals in both. This week he was up against Spurs’ record goal scorer and came out of it with flying colours.
Well done also to his teammate Kristiansen. Man Utd duo Martinez and Shaw. Man City’s Dias. Bournemouth’s Senesi. Fulham’s Ream. Wolves’ Dawson. Palace’s Tompkins, Brighton’s Estupinan. West Ham’s Kehrer also Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold.
MIDFIELDER: KEVIN DE BRUYNE (Man City)
He did not need the two games; this was purely for his man-of-the-match performance at Arsenal. Recently, he’s not been hitting the heights, but class is permanent, and big players turn up in big games.
Took his goal superbly after anticipating the poor back pass and made the first-time left-footed effort from outside the box look easy. He then assisted the decisive third goal to settle the game to cap an impressive performance.
Shout out also to hit teammates Rodri & Gundogan. Leeds’ Gnonto. Bournemouth’s Billing, Southampton’s Alcaraz, Wolves’ Traore. Fulham trio Willian, Pereira & Soloman. Chelsea’s Emerson. Man Utd duo Fred & Garnacho. Brighton trio Caicedo, March & Gross. Leicester trio Mendy, Maddison, and Barnes, also Liverpool’s Bajcetic who both were close to winning this.
FORWARD: MARCUS RASHFORD (Man Utd)
Admittedly, I am cheating as technically he should be in the midfielder category, as he plays with a forward ahead of him.
However, he deserved to be acknowledged, and Leeds will be happy to see the back of him. When Leeds led at Old Trafford, his goal got United back in the game midway through the second half and allowed them to get the equaliser.
Then in the away leg, as the game was deadlocked, it was again, the England forward who got the decisive goal on 80 minutes, which allowed his team to go on and win the game 2-0. He is in the form of this life at present, and on fire is an understatement.
Well done also to Wolves’ Gomes. Leicester’s Iheanacho. Arsenal duo Trossard & Saka. Newcastle’s Almiron. Brentford’s Toney. Chelsea’s Felix, Man City’s Haaland. Villa’s Watkins and Liverpool trio Nunes, Salah, & Gakpo.
MANAGER: JULEN LOPETEGUI (Wolves)
There were several good possibilities for this, but it is not often you go away, albeit to the bottom club, go a goal down, then a man down and still come away with a win.
A man, and a goal down at half-time, he made two positive changes, then made two more on the 60th and 70th minutes.
Three minutes later, they got back into the game, and then it was his fourth sub, Gomez, on his debut, who popped up with a dramatic winner on 87 minutes, to move them five points clear of the relegation zone.
Shout out also to Man City’s Guardiola. Fulham’s Silva and Leicester’s Rodgers who was close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: HARVEY BARNES (Leicester)
This was surprisingly a tough one, as there were few good candidates. However, I went with the Leicester midfielder who I feel has been their best player this season.
I must commend his consistency. In a tough season, he has been the one real positive. Now the team are starting to find their feet, and he has again been at the forefront as they demolished Spurs with him rounding off the scoring and again being a bright spark in another man-of-the-match performance.
Well done also to Man Utd’s Shaw. Leicester’s Iheanacho. Fulham’s Willan and Liverpool’s Bajcetic.
GAME: ARSENAL 1-3 MAN CITY
In a thrilling game, Man City took the lead when De Bruyne anticipated Tomiyasu’s poor back pass, and as Ramsdale came running out. On the run, he hit a superb, first-time, side-footed volley from outside the box that bounced into an empty net (24).
Arsenal was level just before halftime when Ederson rushed out and impeded Nketiah to the right of the six-yard box. Saka stepped up and made no mistake from the spot (42).
In a back-and-forth second half, City took the lead when B.Silva cut out a pass just inside the Arsenal half and threaded a ball through for Haalaand, who touched to Gundogan.
He then touched the ball to Grealish, coming in from the left to sweep home into the far corner (72). The points were sealed when De Bruyne found some space in the right of the box and slipped a quick pass inside to Haaland, who lashed home low into the far bottom corner (82).
GOAL: WILLIAN (Fulham) v Notts Forest
A free kick came in from wide left that Willian headed back in from the back post. After several shots that was blocked, the ball fell to Willian just to the right of the box.
He took a touch and jinxed out to the right. Then cut back onto his left. Then with players on the line and no margin for error.
He curled an inch-perfect effort that slammed into the top left corner. There was also a good goal from Leicester’s Mendy.
FOOL: SOUTHAMPTON FC
I had to think about this one, as there were a few to choose from. I am not even going to get into the officials, Lee Mason, Jarred Gillett & Neil Swarbrick in particular.
However, I could not overlook what has been going on at Southampton, and the board has to take responsibility. They have adopted this young player policy, then brought Jones in, who was never the right man from the start.
His recent interviews certainly did not help things. But losing 2-1 at home after being a goal up, then a man up, was an indication of where Southampton are as a club. FOOLS!
