TEAM: ARSENAL
Although it was too little too late, and some may say they performed when the pressure was off. It was still a memorable last-day victory to sign off the season in style.
They battered Wolves from the first whistle and never let up throughout the game to score five goals in an extremely comfortable victory that will at least end the season on a high. Well done also to Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton, Man Utd, Leicester and Brentford.
GOALKEEPER: MARK TRAVERS (Bournemouth)
I could give this to De Gea for his superb penalty save. However, on the final day of the season, there were not many keepers to choose from, so I had to go with one who lost.
However, the Bournemouth keeper almost made it a disastrous day for Everton as he thwarted their efforts on several occasions until a wonder strike beat him midway through the second half. But that’s what was needed to beat him.
As well as De Gea, shout out also to Newcastle’s Debravka. Villa’s Martinez and Palace’s Johnstone.
DEFENDER: ETHAN PINNOCK (Brentford)
This was another category that didn’t have a lot of candidates and credited Brentford were playing against a Man City team that had already won the league and looking forward to two cup finals.
However, after beating City away, not only was he solid at home, but he was the unlikely player to score the winner to help his team to a double over the champions.
Well done also to his teammates Mee & Henry. Arsenal duo Gabriel & Kiwior. Chelsea’s Thiago Silva. Forest’s Worrell. Fulham’s Tete. Leicester’s Faes. Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold and Everton trio Mina, Coady & Tarkowski.
MIDFIELDER: ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (Everton)
When the team needed a hero, he stepped up to score the vital goal that kept Everton in the league. He wore his heart on his sleeve with a performance that looked like he was playing for and responding to the fans.
It was a perfect culmination of the form he had been in with goals and assists that ultimately helped his team to Premier League survival.
Shout out also to his teammate Garner. Arsenal duo Odegaard & Xhaka. Villa trio Luiz, Bailey & Ramsey. Chelsea’s Sterling. Newcastle’s Gordon. Forest’s Gibbs-White. Palace trio Olise, Eze & Hughes. Tottenham’s Porro, Leeds’ Harrison. Leicester’s Barnes. West Ham’s Fornals, Man Utd trio Fred, B.Fernandes, and Sancho also Southampton’s Ward-Prowse.
FORWARD: HARRY KANE (Tottenham)
In a team that was poor for most of the season and failed to qualify for Europe. He maintained lofty standards, and not only did he break a record for scoring in the most games this season.
But his two goals against Leeds made it his best tally for a season with 30 goals. Both goals were taken with typical predatory instincts, and Spurs will do well to keep hold of him.
Well done also to his teammate Moura, Villa’s Watkins, Brighton’s Undev. Forest’s Awoniyi, Arsenal trio Saka, Trossard & Jesus, Leicester’s Iheanacho. Southampton duo Armstrong & Sulemana also Liverpool trio Jota, Firmino, and Gakpo.
MANAGER: UNAI EMERY (Aston Villa)
There were several candidates, but it was most worthy for the Villa manager, for the culmination of the job he did this season.
When he took over the Villa job, they were 16th in the league and just a point above the relegation zone. After beating Brighton in their final game of the season, they finished seventh, ten points off fourth and qualified for the European Conference league.
Shout out also to Arsenal’s Arteta. Tottenham’s Mason. Brentford’s Frank and Everton’s Dyche who was close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: GRANIT XHAKA (Arsenal)
It has been a turbulent Arsenal career with some very lows but some highs. Although the season ultimately ended in disappointment, the way he bounced back and performed as one of the key senior members in a team.
A team who surprised everyone to challenge for the title tells you a lot about his character. And it was good to see him sign off his Arsenal career on a high with two goals in a dominant victory.
Well done also to Villa duo Luiz & Ramsey. Everton’s Mina. Forest’s Awoniyi. Spurs’ Porro and Liverpool’s Firmino.
GAME: SOUTHAMPTON 4-4 LIVERPOOL
Liverpool opened the scoring when a poor ball across their box, was pounced on by Jota to slot into an empty net (10). Liverpool soon got a second when Alexander-Arnold threaded a ball to Fabinho on the edge of the box.
He then slipped it to Firmino, who sat down two defenders and slotted the ball through the keeper’s legs (14). Southampton pulled a goal back after clever work from Alcaraz on the right, and he played it across the box for Ward-Prowse to lash into the far bottom corner (19).
Southampton equalised when Walcott threaded a ball through for Sulemana to sweep home (24). In the second half, Southampton got a third when Sulemana picked up the ball in his own half, ran the length virtually unchallenged, and from the edge of the box, curled into the far corner (47).
It was four when Henderson gave the ball away to Armstrong, who travelled into the box and swept the ball inside the bottom at the far post (64). Liverpool pulled a goal back when Elliot fed Alexander-Arnold down the right, and his low ball across the box was tapped into an empty net by Gakpo (72).
Just a minute later, they equalised when Diaz from the left byline found Salah in the middle of the park, and he slipped a ball through for Jota to run onto goal and hit a first-time effort into the roof of the net (73).
GOAL: LUCAS MOURA (Tottenham) v Leeds Utd
Moura picked up the ball wide on the right just inside the Leeds half. He then cut inside one defender and ran towards the goal.
He then ran in between two Leeds players as he glided into the box, then jinxed past another, and as he got to the six-yard box, as the keeper approached him, he dinked it over into the net. There were also good goals from Everton’s Doucoure and Southampton’s Sulemana.
FOOL: LEEDS UTD
So, they sacked Marcelo Bielsa, who got them to the Premier League. They then sacked Jessie Marsch, who survived relegation on the final day last season.
They hired Sam Allardyce, who had not coached in a few years, and in his last job, he got relegated with West Brom. His Leeds record was four games, one draw and three defeats, which saw Leeds relegated on the final day with a 4-1 home drubbing against Tottenham.
Let’s hope the Leeds board do not continue with these terrible decisions in the Championship otherwise, it will be another 16 years until they are back. FOOLS!
