TEAM: ASTON VILLA
This is harsh on Bournemouth after their two away wins and Fulham, who recorded two 5-0 wins this week.
On another day, it would have been either of them. But I couldn’t ignore Villa, who put in two very different but equally phenomenal 1-0 wins over Man City & Arsenal.
They battered City, who were lucky to come away with just a one-goal deficit. Then, with tired legs against Arsenal, they got the early goal, then showed grit, determination and concentration to defend for their lives to earn the clean sheet.
Well done also to Bournemouth. Fulham. Liverpool and Everton.
GOALKEEPER: JORDON PICKFORD (Everton)
As per usual, in a double week, this was an extremely difficult one. However, I had to go with a keeper who recorded two clean sheets this week.
From those four keepers, it was extremely close. Two keepers faced six shots, and two keepers faced seven. However, in the end, I went with the Everton man who, antics aside, had to put in the work in both games, especially early against Chelsea, to earn two clean sheets.
Shout out also to Everton’s Pickford. Bournemouth’s Neto. Villa’s Martinez. Fulham’s Leno. Chelsea’s Sanchez. Man City’s Ederson. Sheff Utd’s Foderingham. Liverpool’s Alisson. Burnley’s Trafford and Wolves’ Bentley.
DEFENDER: MARCOS SENESI (Bournemouth)
Not only did he play an integral role in Bournemouth’s two away wins and clean sheets at two tough places to go, Selhurst Park and Old Trafford.
But he managed to score in both the games. At Palace, he scored the important first goal. At Old Trafford, he wrapped up the game with the third.
Well done also to his teammates Smith, Zabarnyi & Kerkez. Everton duo Tarkowski & Branthwaite. Spurs’s Romero, Porro & Udogie. Brighton’s Gross & Hinshelwood. Fulham’s Bassey & Adarabioyo. Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold & Van Dijk. Villa’s Carlos, Konsa & Torres. Wolves’s Toti & Dawson. Forest’s Toffolo and Luton’s Osho.
MIDFIELDER: ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE (Everton)
There were a few candidates for this, but not many scored in both games this week.
Once again, the talisman turned up for Everton. Not just putting in energetic performances and covering every blade of grass.
But he is again scoring important goals, with the second against Newcastle to seal the game and the opening goal against Chelsea when his team really needed it for two vital wins in a week.
Shout out also to Everton duo McNeil. Bournemouth trio Tavernier, Christie & Billing. Fulham’s Palhinha, Willian, Wilson & Iwobi. Liverpool’s Szoboszlai & Elliot. Villa’s McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara & Luiz. Man Utd’s McTominay. Chelsea’s Palmer. Wolves’ Semedo & Lemina. Sheff Utd’s McAtee. West Ham’s Ward-Prowse. Man City duo B.Silva & Grealish. Luton duo Barkley & Doughty, also Arsenal duo Havertz & Rice.
FORWARD: RAUL JIMENEZ (Fulham)
He was only one of two strikers to score in both games this week. It’s good to see him back playing regularly and scoring, with four in his last five league games.
He took his two goals against Forest very well, the second a lovely and cheeky backheel. Against Fulham, he opened the scoring with a typical clinical headed finish to set his team on a second 5-0 home win in a few days.
Well done also to his teammate Vinicius. Aston Villa’s Bailey. West Ham’s Bowen. Brentford’s Mbeumo. Everton’s Dobbin. Bournemouth duo Solanke & Moore. Wolves trio Sarabia, Cunha & Hwang. Burnley’s Odebert. Arsenal duo Martinelli & Jesus. Brighton’s Adingra. Spurs duo Son & Richarlison and Luton’s Adebayo who was close.
MANAGER: ANDONI IRAOLA (Bournemouth)
I again had to think about this one. Five teams recorded two wins this week. But only two clubs won both their games away, and Bournemouth’s two were the most impressive.
Bournemouth have been on a great run recently and topped it with a professional display at Palace. Then followed it with a surprising 3-0 destruction of United at Old Trafford.
Shout out also to Liverpool’s Klopp. Everton’s Dyche. Also, Fulham’s Silva & Villa’s Emery were both close to winning this.
UNSUNG HERO: EZRI KONSA (Aston Villa)
Going from centre-back to full-back is one of the hardest things to do in football.
This was his fourth consecutive game at full-back. But from playing almost exclusively at centre back, then having to fill in at right back, and coming up against the forward line of Man City and Arsenal, in a matter of days, putting in two solid performances with two clean sheets was phenomenal.
Well done also to his teammates McGinn & Bailey. Brighton duo Gross & Hinshelwood. Fulham’s Wilson. Bournemouth’s Christie and Everton duo Branthwaite & Dobbin.
GAME1: LUTON 3-4 ARSENAL
Arsenal opened the scoring when Jesus took a quick throw on the right, allowing Saka to run in a pullback for Martinelli to score just before the defender got to the ball (20)
Luton was soon level when Osho nodded in Doughty’s corner (25). Arsenal went ahead just before halftime when Jesus headed in White’s cross after Saka slipped him through (45).
In the second half, Luton equalised. This time Adebayo headed in Doughty’s corner as he challenged the keeper (49). Luton then went ahead. Barkley was fed by Townsend, and his shot from the inside left of the box slipped under Raya (57).
But three minutes later, the game was level. Jesus did well with his back to goal and defender close to guide a bouncing ball, with a pass for Havertz to run onto. He then did well with a bouncing ball to touch past the keeper (60).
Just as the game was heading for a draw, with virtually the last kick of the game. Odegaard crossed in from the left for Rice to head past Kaminski and win it (90+7).
GAME2 ASTON VILLA 1-0 ARSENAL
Villa took a much-needed early lead when Tielemants found some space in midfield and played Bailey in down the right.
He ran down the inside right of the box and pulled it back for McGinn to control with his back to goal, swivel and score with his left (7).
Arsenal had several chances to equalise. One was then saved off the line. Saka scored, but it was disallowed for offside (62). Havertz thought he equalised at the death, but that was disallowed for a handball (90). But Villa held out for a memorable victory.
GOAL1: PASCAL GROSS (Brighton) vs Brentford.
Joao Pedro picked up the ball in the centre of the Brentford half and played it wide to Mitoma just outside the box.
He ran towards goal with two Brentford defenders blocking his path. As he got inside the box, he shifted it to his left for the on-rushing Gross.
Gross took one touch with his right, which allowed the ball to move forward a yard. Then let fly with his left, thundering an effort into the bottom far corner.
GOAL2 HARRY WILSON (Fulham) vs West Ham
West Ham lost the ball just inside their half. The ball was played inside to Iwobi, who touched it back for Cairney.
He moved forward and played a ball right to Wilson, just outside the box. He picked the ball out of the sky with his left foot, took a touch inside, another to steady himself, then curled an unstoppable effort into the top far corner.
There was also a good goal from Sheff Utd’s McAtee vs Brentford.
FOOL: CHELSEA FC
There were a few candidates for this. Four teams lost both their games this week. Of the four, only one spent about £1b in the past 18 months.
What makes Chelsea look even worse was they got turned over easily by Man Utd in midweek, and a few days later, United got destroyed at home by Bournemouth.
Chelsea are now twelfth in the table, they are closer to the relegation zone than the top four, and for all the billions they have spent, they look like a bonafide mid-table team. FOOLS!
