Taken from the accumulative weekly award winners throughout the season
TEAM: ARSENAL
Much like the last two seasons, Arsenal was the team most likely for most of it, which was reflected in the weekly awards. They claimed the most team awards again this season with seven.
Surprisingly, in second with five awards was Newcastle. In joint third place were, Liverpool and Manchester City, each with three awards. There were only four other teams with multiple team awards this season. Notts Forest, Wolves, Aston Villa and Tottenham all finished on two.
GOALKEEPER: ALPHONSE AREOLA (West Ham)
The goalkeeper category was very close for most of the season. However, the West Ham man was a clear winner with six awards, equalling the record set by Man Utd’s David De Gea, twice.
In joint second with four awards were Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Man Utd’s Andre Onana. There were three keepers in joint third on two awards. Luton’s Thomas Kaminski. Wolves’ Jose Sa and Burnley’s Arijanet Muric.
DEFENDER: JARRAD BRANTHWAITE (Everton)
Once again the Defender Award was a close-run thing with not many multiple weekly award winners. Only five defenders claimed multiple weekly awards, finishing on two.
However, the Everton man took the season award, as he also won an Unsung Hero award.
The four other defenders who finished on two awards were Chelsea’s Disasi. Liverpool’s Robertson. Man Utd’s Dalot and Arsenals Saliba.
MIDFIELDER: COLE PALMER (Chelsea)
This was a two-horse race as two England midfielders were head and shoulders above the rest on five awards each. It was the closest battle I can ever remember, as both also claimed one unsung hero award.
However, I went for the Chelsea man, as his awards were spread more evenly across the season, and he won them with a criminally underperforming Chelsea team over Foden, who was winning the title with Man City.
In second, on three awards was Arsenal’s Rice. In third on two awards were Arsenal’s Odegaard and Man City’s Rodri.
FORWARD: OLIVER WATKINS (Aston Villa)
It’s somewhat of a surprise to see the winner of this award. The Villa man was one of only eight players to win multiple forward awards and finish on two.
However, he just sneaked this award as he was the only player to win one in the first and second half of the season.
The seven other forwards to win two awards were Newcastle duo Isak and Gordon, Tottenham’s Son, Bournemouth’s Solanke and Crystal Palace duo Olise & Mateta.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
Much like the team award, Arsenal have been all over this for the past two seasons. Arteta was way ahead, winning six weekly awards, just one less than he won last season.
In second, on three awards was Liverpool’s Klopp, Aston Villa’s Emery and Man City’s Guardiola. In third on two awards were Notts Forest’s now ex-manager Cooper and Luton’s Edwards.
UNSUNG HERO: KAI HAVERTZ (Arsenal)
Traditionally, this is always one of the most difficult decisions, as there are always very few multiple-award winners.
But there was a clear winner this season as only one player claimed more than one award, and that was the Arsenal man who proved doubters wrong with his performances this season.
GAME 1: CHELSEA 4-4 MAN CITY
Haaland opened the scoring from the spot (25) before goals from Thiago Silva (29) and Sterling (37) put Chelsea ahead. However, Akanji pulled City level in first-half stoppage time (47+1).
Early in the second half, Haalend’s second put City ahead (47) before Jackson pulled Chelsea level (67). Rodri then looked to have won it late for City (86). However, a late Palmer penalty gave Chelsea a point (90+5).
GAME 2: CHELSEA 4-3 MAN UTD.
Goals from Gallagher (4) and Palmer from the spot (19) gave Chelsea an early two-goal lead before Garnacho pulled a goal back (34) and Fernandes equalised (39).
In the second half, Garnacho put United ahead (67). Just when you thought United were heading for victory, Palmer equalised from the spot in stoppage time (90+11). However, a minute later, Palmer won it to send Stamford Bridge into pandemonium (90-11).
GAME 3: LIVERPOOL 4-3 FULHAM
A Bernd Leno OG put Liverpool ahead (20), but Wilson quickly equalised for Fulham (24). Mac Allister restored Liverpool’s Lead (38) before Tete equalised in first-half stoppage time (45=3).
De Cordova-Reid put Fulham ahead late in the second half (80), but two goals in a minute from Endo (87) and then Alexander-Arnold (88) won it dramatically for Liverpool.
GOAL 1: ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (Man Utd) vs Everton
Rashford picked up the ball on the right and played in Dalot running towards the byline. He took a touch and whipped a cross into the back post.
As the ball swung in the box, Garnacho, with his back to the goal and running in the opposite direction, improvised and angled his body to execute a picture-perfect overhead kick in midair.
With perfect connection, the ball fired off his boot and flew into the far corner.
GOAL 2: KAORU MITOMA (Brighton) v Wolves
Mitomo picked up the ball on the left touchline. He cut inside a defender, continued forward, and surged past another, pulled back but kept going forward.
As he raced into the box, he skipped past a third defender, avoided another pull back and slotted the ball past the keeper into the bottom far post.
GOAL 3: MOISES CAICEDO (Chelsea) vs Bournemouth
From inside his half, Jackson turned and played a ball for Sterling to run onto. The keeper anticipated this and came rushing out to win the ball and clear upfield.
The ball then fell to Caicedo, inside his half. With the crowd shouting shoot, he let fly a yard into the Bournemouth half and lobbed a delightful effort over the keeper and a defender rushing back for a sensational first goal in Chelsea colours.
FOOL: CHELSEA FC
This has often been a very tight category, but this season, one fool rose above all others. Unfortunately, Chelsea claimed six awards, breaking the record of four, previously held jointly by seven teams.
Chelsea’s season went downhill fast from extreme ecstasy in the summer transfer market, spending almost half a billion, to being out of the title race by Christmas and losing the League Cup final to Liverpool’s kids.
They recorded the most losses (16), most conceded (63), and the least amount of points (63) since the Abramovich era started. So, fully deserved the “Fool of the Season” award.
