TEAM: ARSENAL
Before Monday, Man City were taking this. However, how could I ignore their goal fest in Sheffield? Arsenal’s six goals came from six different scorers.
Even for their recent standards, they were in scintillating form. It started as early as the 4th minute, and Sheff Utd were lucky they took their foot off the gas in the second half. However, it was total domination with Arsenal having the most possession of any team this season with 81%.
Well done also, to as stated Man City. West Ham. Fulham. Newcastle. Aston Villa. Liverpool. Bournemouth and Tottenham.
GOALKEEPER: ALPHONSE AREOLA (West Ham)
At a crucial time in the season, He has hit form to help his team’s European Charge. He started with a penalty save in the first half to silence the Evertonians and keep it 0-0.
In the second half, he made an early save. Although he was beaten, Everton had their tails up, but he made several superb saves to keep the score down, which galvanised his team to go on and claim a late victory.
Shout out also to Bournemouth’s Neto. Fulham’s Leno and Liverpool’s Kelleher.
DEFENDER: CRISTIAN ROMERO (Tottenham)
This was the hardest decision this week. I had to think long and hard about who to give it to, but on the thinnest of margins, I decided on the Spurs man.
Showing a more mature head this season. He played his part in keeping Palace quiet after they went in front. Then, the unlikely man to pop up with a crucial goal, to put his team in front and put them on the path to a late victory.
Well done also to his teammate Van de Ven. Man City’s Stones. Chelsea’s Disasi. Brentford’s Reguilon. West Ham’s Zouma. Villa’s Digne. Liverpool’s Van Dijk and Arsenal duo White and Kiwior.
MIDFIELDER: PHIL FODEN (Man City)
He loves the Manchester derby, soon we might have to call it the Foden derby. It was another derby day masterclass with two goals when his team needed it.
Just as Man Utd were starting to have hope of getting something, he broke their hearts with a thunderous strike to equalise. Then, following a neat one-two, he finished to put his team ahead and seal the game.
Shout out also to his teammate Rodri. Luton duo Chong and Doughty. Villa’s Douglas Luiz. Bournemouth duo L.Cook & Kluivert. Brentford’s Roslev. West Ham duo Soucek & Alvarez. Fulham duo Wilson & Traore. Chelsea’s Gusto. Liverpool’s Mac Allister and Arsenal duo Odegaard and Rice.
FORWARD: OLLIE WATKINS (Aston Villa)
Two more goals this week to take his tally up to 16 in the league and 21 for the season. He is now a top striker who seems certain to go to the Euros in the summer.
Once again, all his striking abilities were on show. The first was an instinctive header, and the second showed his awareness to think fast, touch to control and clinical finish.
Well done also to Luton’s Morris. Fulham’s Muniz. Liverpool’s Nunez. Man City’s Haaland. Man Utd’s Rashford. Bournemouth’s Semenyo. Newcastle duo Isak & Gordon. Spurs duo Werner & Son. Brentford’s Wissa. Chelsea’s Jackson. Everton’s Beto and Arsenal trio Martinelli, Saka & Havertz.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
They are the only unbeaten team this year, with eight straight wins and are fully on the title hunt.
He will be happy that his team shared their six goals around the team, not to mention the attacking football they are playing, which is making them look unstoppable.
Well done also to Man City’s Guardiola. Liverpool’s Klopp. Fulham’s Silva. Newcastle’s Howe. Villa’s Emery. Bournemouth’s Iraola. West Ham’s Moyes and Spurs’ Postecoglou.
UNSUNG HERO: DARWIN NUNEZ (Liverpool)
Naturally, not unsung, but in a game where Liverpool was below par and heading for two dropped points.
Off the bench, after injury, getting stick from the Forest fans, not to mention all season from rival fans. With virtually the last action of the game, and following superb movement, he found space to nod in a 98th-minute winner to send the scousers into pandemonium.
Shout out also to his teammate Mac Allister. Fulham’s. Muniz. Man City’s Stones. Everton’s Digne. Also, Arsenal duo White and Havertz.
GAME: LUTON 2-3 ASTON VILLA
Villa opened the scoring when Bailey whipped in a corner from the right, which Watkins met at the near post to guide home (24).
It was then two for Villa. Douglas Luis took a quick free kick to send it over for Watkins, unchallenged to control outside the box with his left and slid past the keeper into the far bottom with his right foot. Confirmed after a lengthy var check (38).
In the second half, Luton pulled a goal back after a scramble in the box, which was blocked off the line twice. It fell to Chong, who lashed home (66). Luton then equalised following Doughty’s wicked free kick from the left and was finished first-time, low at the far post by Morris (72).
Just as the game was heading for a draw. Diaby put in a left-footed cross from the right for Digne to steal in at the back post, to head down inside the near post (89).
GOAL: MARCUS RASHFORD (Man Utd) vs Man City
Onana hit a long but measured goal kick up field for Fernandez to run onto. As the ball dropped just outside the box, he held it up and turned, waiting for support.
Fernandez did well to hold off the defender on the edge of the box, then laid a ball back for Rashford, running onto the ball. He hit a thunderous, first-time effort from 25 yards out. Straight and true, that slammed off the underside of the bar and in.
There were also good goals from Man City’s Foden. West Ham’s Soucek. Brentford’s Wissa and Palace’s Eze.
FOOL: SHEFF UTD
Wave the white flat. Call the fight off. End the steam. Come on now, how many beatings do they need to take?
It’s worse that their biggest defeats this season have come at home. With no shots on target and only 19% possession. They were devoured, devastated, torn apart, ripped to shreds, battered, destroyed, and crucified by Arsenal in front of their fans. FOOLS.
