SEASON AWARDS

Taken from the accumulative weekly award winners throughout the season

TEAM: ARSENAL

Much like the season, Arsenal were head and shoulders ahead of everyone for the majority, but in the weekly awards, nobody was close enough to stop them as they notched up eight weekly awards.

Just one off the record set by Man City last season. In second with four awards each was Brighton, Man City and Newcastle. In third with three awards were Liverpool and Brentford. Twelve teams failed to claim a weekly award this season. 

GOALKEEPER: DAVID RAYA (Brentford)

This category was very close, as Brentford keeper David Raya tops the list with four awards over the season.

In second with three awards were Leeds’ Meslier, Notts Forest’s Henderson and Manchester United’s De Gea. There were seven goalkeepers in third with two awards each. 

DEFENDER: WILLIAM SALIBA (Arsenal)

This was one of the closest categories as Arsenal defender Saliba takes it with three awards. Even more impressive that he got injured and missed the last few months of the season.

Six defenders finished second with two awards. Chelsea’s James. Brighton’s Estupinan. Arsenal’s Gabriel. Liverpool’s Robertson. Everton’s Tarkowski and Aston Villa’s Mings. 

MIDFIELDER: MARTIN ODEGAARD (Arsenal)

Usually the more closely contested category, this wasn’t the same as past seasons because it was more of a two-horse race. In the end, Arsenal’s Odegaard takes it with four awards.

Manchester City’s De Bruyne was in second with three awards. Third with two awards each was Arsenal’s Nelson. Manchester United’s Casemiro and Southampton’s Ward-Prowse. 

FORWARD: ERLING HAALAND (Manchester City)

I am certain nobody is surprised at this result. It seemed a forgone conclusion from early as the Man City forward obliterated the competition with eight awards.

In second with three awards was Brentford’s Toney. Man Utd’s Rashford. and Tottenham’s Kane. in third with two awards each were Liverpool’s Salah. Aston Villa’s Watkins and Notts Forest’s Awoniyi. 

MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)

Following the theme for much of the season, Arsenal’s Arteta was way ahead of all the other managers as he claimed this with seven awards this season.

Just one off the record set by Claudio Ranieri in season 2015/16. In second with three awards was Brentford’s Frank. Liverpool’s Klopp. Bournemouth’s O’Neil. Newcastle’s Howe and Man City’s Guardiola.

In third with two awards was Leeds’ Marsch. Aston Villa’s Emery. Everton’s Dyche and Brighton’s De Zerbi. 

UNSUNG HERO: CALLUM WILSON (Newcastle)

Traditionally, this is always one of the most difficult decisions, as there are always very few multiple-award winners.

However, only the Newcastle man claims three awards, to equal the record set by Chelsea’s Bakayoko in season 20117/18. Only two other players claimed multiple awards in this category. Fulham’s Willian and Leeds’ Summerville both claimed two awards. 

GAME1: LIVERPOOL 2-2 ARSENAL

Arsenal started the game brightly and took a deserved lead when Saka found Odegaard, who then tried to thread a ball back, which was cut out by Van Dijk.

But he only managed to pass it to Martinelli, who ran through on goal to poke home (8). Arsenal powered on and made it two when Martinelli’s cross from the right was easily headed in by Jesus (28).

Liverpool got a lifeline just before halftime Jones ran into the left side of the box. He back-heeled for the overlapping Jota, whose low cross was deflected by Henderson, into the path to Salah at the back post to stroke home (42).

In the second half, Liverpool had a chance to equalise from the spot, but Salah put his penalty wide (54).

Liverpool finally got their equaliser when Alexander-Arnold beat Zinchenko on the right touchline and put a cross in for Firmino to stretch at the back post and nod home (84). There was still time for Ramsdale to make two big saves at the death to save a point for Arsenal.

GAME2: ARSENAL 3-2 BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth scored the second-fastest goal in Premier League history. From the kicked-off, the ball was played out to the right for Ouattara, who ran to the side of the box, and his deflected cross fell for Billings to side-foot home (1).

In the second half, Bournemouth made it two when Sesesi headed in Rothwell’s corner from the left. Arsenal then pulled a goal back following a corner.

After Neto’s punch, Smith Rowe headed back in for Partey to finish from two yards out (62). Arsenal then equalised when Nelson got down the left and crossed for White to make a good connection, which was too hard for Neto to keep out (70).

Arsenal then won it in literally the last seconds following another corner that fell to Nelson on the edge of the box, who coolly controlled and lashed in with his left foot (90+7). 

GAME3: LIVERPOOL 4-3 TOTTENHAM

Liverpool scored early when Alexander-Arnold’s cross from just outside the right corner of the box found Jones at the far post, who side-foot volleyed home from a few yards (3).

They were two up in no time when Salah fed Gakpo on the inside channel of the box, and his pullback from the byline was finished at the near post by Diaz as he stretched to volley home (5).

It was then three when Gapko was hacked down by Romero just inside the box, and Salah made no mistake from the spot (15). Spurs then got a lifeline when Perisic ran onto a searching ball towards the left side of the box.

He tricked Van Dijk, leaving him on the floor before crossing for Kane to volley home (39). In the second half, Spurs hit the post twice before pulling another goal back when Romero threaded a ball through for Son to run onto and slip past Alisson (77).

Spurs thought they got a point in stoppage time when Perisic’s free-kick from the left, was bravely flicked in by Richarlison (90+3).

However, 90 seconds later, a long ball was played upfield, which Lucas Mora’s volleyed pass back was latched onto by Jota in the left side of the box, who steadied himself and finished with a low left-footed effort into the bottom far corner (90+4). 

GOAL1: JULIO ENCISO (Brighton) v Man City

From almost out of nothing, the ball found its way to Colville inside the Man City half on the left. He slipped it inside the Enciso, some 30 yards out.

He took a touch forward, ran onto it and hit an unstoppable, thunderous effort that curled out to in and perfectly nestled in the top far corner giving the keeper no chance.

GOAL2: DEMARAI GRAY (Everton) v Man City

As Man City was 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.

GOAL3: MICHAEL OLISE (Crystal Palace) v Man Utd

In a game where De Gea was bang in form and looking unbeatable, it had to be something special to beat him.

After Zaha was fouled, Olise stepped up, over 25 yards from goal, just to the right, took two steps, then curled a lovely, accurate effort with pace, just over and out of the reach of the keeper, that thundered off the underside of the bar and in. 

FOOL: FRANK LAMPARD

The tightest category of them all, as there were four options with three awards each. Man Utd, Southampton, Lampard and Chelsea.

However, as Lampard got his name on here with two different teams, it was inevitable to choose him. I am not sure who will next take a chance on him, but there will be other clubs.

However, from both his spells this season at Everton and Chelsea, which was up there for the worst spells these clubs have ever experienced. Whoever does take a chance, it’s certainly at their own risk because Lampard has certainly made himself a hard sell. FOOL!