TEAM: ARSENAL
This was a really tough decision, but as I always say, I generally go with a good away win over a great home win.
However, Arsenal’s away win can be considered a great one, as no team has brushed high-flying Fulham aside in that manner, let alone on their own patch like that. Although all the goals were in the first half, they then put in a professional display in the second half to comfortably see out the game.
Well done also to Chelsea. Man City. Everton. Tottenham. Newcastle and Bournemouth were very close to winning this.
GOALKEEPER: GAVIN BAZUNU (Southampton)
Another difficult decision this week. However, although he was playing against ten men for about an hour, he still had to pull off several decent saves to maintain his clean sheet and earn a point at Old Trafford.
United didn’t have many chances but had a few very good ones, but they found him in inspired form.
Shout out also to Bournemouth’s Neto. Man Utd’s De Gea. Arsenal’s Ramsdale. Tottenham’s Forster. Everton’s Pickford. Brentford’s Raya. Villa’s Martinez and Wolves’ Sa.
DEFENDER: GABRIEL (Arsenal)
He opened the scoring very soon after the disappointment of getting a goal disallowed for a close offside.
That settled the team and set them on the way in a superb first half. In that time, not only did his team score two more goals that half, but along with his centre-back partner, they were solid as ever, reducing Fulham to half chances.
Well done also to his teammate Saliba. Bournemouth trio Stephens, Senesi & Kelly. Chelsea’s Cucurella. Man Utd’s Wan-Bissaka. Southampton’s Walker-Peters. Newcastle’s Trippier. Everton duo Tarkowski & Keane. Also Man City duo Akanji & Ake.
MIDFIELDER ENZO FERNANDEZ (Chelsea)
Maybe this could be for the inventiveness in his pass to assist the second goal, but other than that, he oozed class throughout the game.
It seemed like he had space every time he had the ball. He controlled and dictated the play, and settled his team down while driving them forward.
Well done also to his teammates Chilwell & Kovacic. Arsenal duo Partey and Odegaard. West Ham’s Benrahma. Bournemouth duo Billings & Ouattara. Everton duo McNeil and Doucoure. Brighton duo Mitoma & Mac Allister. Leeds’ Harrison and Man City’s Rodri.
FORWARD: LEANDRO TROSSARD (Arsenal)
He is arguably one of, if not the January signing of the season. He seemed to fit into the team like a glove and has already contributed to goals and assists.
Against Fulham, he delivered a hat-trick of assists and was a ball of energy and invention playing in that central forward position. Proving how well he has fitted in, and already built key relationships on and off the pitch.
Shout out also to his teammate Martinelli. Tottenham trio Kane, Son & Richarlison. Chelsea duo Havertz & Mudryk. Leicester’s Daka. Villa’s Watkins. Newcastle duo Isak & Almiron. Leeds’ Bamford and Man City’s Haaland.
MANAGER: GARY O’NEIL (Bournemouth)
Once again, this was a tough decision as the Arsenal manager could have easily got this, but as they took the team award, it was only right he got this one.
Especially as Bournemouth were destroyed in a record defeat at Anfield in August. Yes, he was fortunate with the penalty miss, but he set his team out well to be hard to break down, sit deep and catch Liverpool on the break, which is what they did in the first half.
Then in the second half, they showed concentration and determination to keep a valuable clean sheet and move out of the relegation zone. Well done also to Arsenal’s Arteta.
UNSUNG HERO: MIGUEL ALMIRON (Newcastle)
Not exactly unsung, but after having a blistering first half of the season, he had recently gone off the boil with Newcastle losing their last three games, which saw him dropped for this game.
But he came off the bench to win the game late with a lovely move and finish, making it 11 for the season, more than his last four seasons combined. Shout out also to Man City’s Akanji. Brighton’s Mitoma. Arsenal’s Odegaard and Bournemouth’s Billings.
GAME: LEEDS 2-2 BRIGHTON
Brighton took the lead when Webster played a ball down the right channel for Gross. He twisted one way, then another and put a cross into the far post for Mitoma to head back for Mac Allister to nod home (40).
Leeds were level just before the break when Harrison robbed Veltman on the touchline, then squared it to Bamford some 2o yards out. He let fly, and with the aid of a slight defection, the ball slammed off the underside of the bar and in (40).
In the second half, Brighton regained the lead when Mac Allister fed Mitoma on the left inside the box, his run to the byline and cross came off the defender, onto the keeper and bobbled along the line.
Then under pressure, Harrison sliced into his own net (66). But Leeds and Harrison then made amends when from a corner, just inside the right side of the box, checked onto his right foot and curled a lovely effort over the keeper (78).
GOAL: JACK HARRISON (Leeds) v Brighton
Gnonto took a quick short corner from the left to Harrison just outside the left side of the box.
He then sized up the defender and moved into the box. Done one step over with his left, checked back onto his weaker right foot, and at an angle, curled a lovely effort that sailed over the keeper and nestled on the inside netting of the far corner.
FOOL: MO SALAH (Liverpool)
Regrettably, I had to put him up here. Although some were close, like Casemiro, Faes, the Liverpool team in general and referee Andrew Madley, who somehow managed to miss Pope fouling Jimenez in the box.
However, it’s sad as Salah has not missed a pen in 15 months, and it was the first time in 27 penalties he missed the target.
Maybe unfortunate, but when you completely miss the target from 12 yards, then your team goes on to lose to the bottom club 1-0. You have no excuses. You are well and truly to blame. FOOL!
