TEAM: ARSENAL
This was a relatively easy one. After a rocky December, the Gunners are now in the form of their season.
They destroyed West Ham on their patch, where they lost last season. But it was very different, and West Ham were lucky to concede just the six.
Well done also to Man Utd. Brentford. Newcastle. Sheff Utd. Chelsea. Tottenham. Fulham and Liverpool.
GOALKEEPER: ANDRE ONANA (Man Utd)
This was a hard decision this week, mainly because there were so few candidates.
However, I went with the United keeper, who made several good saves to thwart and frustrate Villa, allowing United to go on and get a dramatic late winner.
Shout out also to Sheff Utd’s Foderingham. Brighton’s Steele. Liverpool’s Kelleher. Also, Brentford’s Flekken, who was close to winning this.
DEFENDER: NATHAN COLLINS (Brentford)
I had to debate for a while on this, as there were not many to choose from, but a few were in contention. However, I was impressed with the Brentford man.
They have been on a terrible run of one win in their last ten games. With Toney back scoring, they need to be better at the back. His performance was a big reason why Brentford stopped Wolves from scoring in a 19th home game in a row.
Well done also to his teammate Dalot. Man City’s Stones. Newcastle’s Schar. Brentford duo Collins & Pinnock. Sheff Utd’s Robinson. Bournemouth’s Senesi. Burnley’s O’Shea. Fulham’s Robinson and Arsenal duo Saliba & Gabriel were both close to winning this.
MIDFIELDER: DECLAN RICE (Arsenal)
After a few very under-par performances at his old club, this time, he came back with a vengeance and something to prove.
Not only did he dominate the midfield in defence and attack, but he also developed a new skill as a set-piece taker with two assists. But to rub salt in the wounds, he sealed it with a stunning strike.
Shout out also to his teammates Odegaard & Havertz. Forest duo Elanga & Hudson-Odoi. Brentford’s Norgaard. Spurs duo Sarr & Johnson. Sheff Utd duo Vini Souza & McAtee. Liverpool’s Elliot. Man Utd’s McTominay.
Fulham’s De Cordova-Reid. Villa’s Douglas Luiz. Man City’s De Bruyne. Palace’s Lermer and Chelsea trio Gallagher, Palmer and Enzo Also, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes was very close to winning this.
FORWARD: BAKAYO SAKA (Arsenal)
He looks to be back to his thrilling best with a blistering display against hapless West Ham. He scored his 50th and 51st goals, to make in five in his last five games.
His direct running and trickery were too much for West Ham, after winning and scoring a pen before netting another in the second half with a clinical finish.
Well done also to his teammate Trossard. Fulham’s Muniz. Man City’s Haaland. Brentford’s Toney. Man Utd’s Hojlund. Liverpool trio Jota, Diaz & Nunez. Sheff Utd’s Archer and Luton’s Morris.
MANAGER: MIKE ARTETA (Arsenal)
He has got his team firing on all cylinders and ready for a title charge heading into the business end of the season.
He has to be given credit for the turnaround after where they were at the turn of the year. They are now playing full of confidence and put everyone on notice the way they destroyed West Ham on their patch.
Shout out also to Man Utd’s Ten Haag. Brentford’s Frank. Sheff Utd’s Wilder. Newcastle’s Howe. Spurs’ Postecoglou. Fulham’s Silva. Man City’s Guardiola and Liverpool’s Klopp.
UNSUNG HERO: CONOR GALLAGHER (Chelsea)
This was probably the most difficult decision this week, especially as a few players were pushing for and could have easily won other individual awards.
There were some really good candidates, but I went with the Chelsea man whose first two goals of the season in the second half after a terrible first half turned the game around for his team.
Well done also to Fulham’s Muniz, Sheff Utd’s Vini Souza and Newcastle’s Bruno Guiramaes who was very close to winning this.
GAME: NOTTS FOREST 2-3 NEWCASTLE
Newcastle took the lead from a short corner rolled back to Tripper. His first-time cross to the back post was excellently dispatched on the volley, with the laces by Guimaraes (10).
Forest equalised following Gibbs-White’s through ball that Elanga latched onto between two defenders and slipped under the on-rushing keeper (26).
Schar then regained Newcastle’s lead after a free kick when he fired in from the edge of the box following Botman’s nod back (43).
Just a few minutes later, it was 2-2 when Hudson-Odoi collected the ball on the left touchline, ran towards the box, played a one, two with Dominguez and hit a deflected effort from just outside the box that wrong-footed the keeper (45+6).
In the second half, Newcastle won it when Brune Guimaraes won the ball in midfield and curled a lovely effort into the far bottom corner (66).
GOAL: DECLAN RICE (Arsenal) vs West Ham
As Arsenal worked their way down the right flank with Saka and Martinelli, the ball found its way to Ben White in the box. He turned and played a ball back out the box, but between Odegaard and Trossard.
Just as you thought the move had ended, in came Rice, running onto the ball from all of 25 yards out. He hit a thunderous, first time effort that flew into the far corner,
There were also a good goal from Crystal Palace’s Lermer and Newcastle’s’ Guimaraes.
FOOL: WEST HAM FC
No matter who you are, which league you are in and who you are playing, there is just no excuse for being embarrassed 6-0 at home.
What made it worse was that it looked like they had given up in the first half. Credited, they only conceded two in the second, but that was scant consolation to an abysmal showing. FOOLS.
