TEAM: ARSENAL
It’s only eight games into the season, but it could be a pivotal moment in the title race. Arsenal lost home and away to Man City last season, had they got a victory in one of those games, they would be the defending champions now.
It wasn’t a great game, but I am sure everyone connected to Arsenal couldn’t care less as their team showed resilience, concentration, and determination to hand Man City back-to-back league defeats.
Well done also to Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Tottenham, and Man Utd.
GOALKEEPER: SAM JOHNSTONE (Crystal Palace)
His team needed his man-of-the-match performance to earn a clean sheet and a point against Forest, as they were second-best for most of the game.
He frustrated Forest who found him in excellent form with several good saves, in a game Forest would feel they did enough for a win if it wasn’t for Johnstone’s heroics.
Shout out also to Everton’s Pickford and Brentford’s Strakosha.
DEFENDER: MICKY VAN DE VEN (Tottenham)
He became the unlikely hero to not only help secure a clean sheet with a solid defensive performance after being down to ten men from halftime.
But he also popped up at the other end to score the only goal of the game and secure a victory to take his team to the top of the league.
Well done also to his teammate Romero. Aston Villa’s Torres. Palace duo Anderson & Guehi, Foreest duo Boly & Murillo. Man Utd’s Maguire. Brentford’s Pinnock, Everton duo Young & Tarkowski, Arsenal duo Saliba & Gabriel. Newcastle’s Trippier and Brighton’s Dunk.
MIDFIELDER: SCOTT MCTOMINAY (Man Utd)
There was only going to be one winner for this, as the Scotsman’s two stoppage-time goals snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. United have been on a dismal run and were heading for a seventh defeat in eleven games.
But McTominay came on in the 87th minute with his team 1-0 down, and by the 98th minute, he managed to score two goals with two good finishes to win the game.
Shout out also to Forest’s Gibbs-White. Brentford duo Jensen & Norgaard. Everton trio Doucoure, Harrison & Garner. Chelsea duo Gallagher and Caidedo. Spurs’ Maddison. Arsenal’s Rice. West Han duo Soucek & Paqueta also Brighton’s Adingra.
FORWARD: GABRIEL MARTINELLI (Arsenal)
Although there were some good candidates for this, I gave it to the Brazilian whose introduction in the second half changed the game.
After a stalemate and rather dire first half, his direct running and all-around energy in the second half made the difference. Although the goal was a deflected shot, the breakthrough was always going to come from him as he was ultimately the star of the show.
Well done also to Fulham duo De Cordova-Ried & Willian. Everton’s Calvert-Lewin. Burnley’s Odobert. Chelsea trio Palmer, Jackson and Sterling. West Ham’s Kudos. Also, Newcastle’s Isak and Liverpool’s Salah both were close to winning this.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
He finally got a decisive win over his mentor Guardiola, which could mean everything come the end of the season.
His team stifled and nullified City’s attack, who had more of the ball. But his second-half introduction of Martinelli changed the game, while his team remained defensively solid to claim three very valuable points.
Shout out also to Chelsea’s Pochettino and Tottenham’s Postecoglou.
UNSUNG HERO: RAHEEM STERLING (Chelsea)
There were several candidates for this, and after much deliberation, I went for the Chelsea man, who on another day would have got the forward award after notching a goal and two assists at Burnley,
However, it was a performance that has been too few and far between since he moved to Chelsea. Trailing at 1-0, he was the game-changer with two assists, then scored the third to turn the game around. He was also involved in their fourth. Chelsea will hope this can get their season back on track.
Well done also to Wolves’ Hwang. Tottenham’s Maddison. Brighton’s Dunk. Everton’s Harrison and Newcastle’s Isak.
GAME: MAN UTD 2-1 BRENTFORD
Brentford took the lead in the first half following United losing the ball in their half.
Brentford streamed forward with Wissa, his pass in the box took two ricochets, then eventually fell to Jenson to coolly side-foot home, past two defenders and through the keeper (26).
United had several chances to equalise and thought they had the breakthrough in the 89th minute, but Martial was ruled offside even though the ball went in off Ajar.
Then, in the 93rd minute, following a poor clearance, McTominay did well to control a high ball and instinctively finish at the near post.
However, he wasn’t done. With one last chance, Dalot swung in a free kick from just inside Brentford’s half. Maguire rose high to head it back across for McTominay in the centre, to nod in and send Old Trafford into pandemonium (90+7).
GOAL: JACK HARRISON (Everton) v Bournemouth
After several crosses into the box, Mykolenko swung another ball in, which Neto came out to punch to the edge of the box.
As the ball bounced, Harrison came onto it just outside the box, and executed a superb and controlled first-time, side-footed effort that sailed over the keeper, and crashed in off the underside of the bar.
FOOL: BOURNEMOUTH FC
This was a difficult decision; Bissouma was lucky not to get this. it’s hardly ever I consider Pep, but back-to-back defeats made him an option. Luton and Sheff Utd are struggling, but everyone expected that. Burnley was also very close.
However, without expecting them to be comfortable, nobody was expecting Bournemouth to be this bad. Their heavy defeat at Everton made it no wins in their opening eight games with 18 goals conceded.
The manager or the board will have to do something drastic to turn this around because I am sure O’Neil got sacked for less than this early last season. Fools!
