TEAM: CHELSEA
All the money spent could finally be coming to fruition. Chelsea is starting to click, and it’s looking promising.
They brushed West Ham aside in their back yard and it felt like they didn’t get out of third gear. The future looks very bright.
Well done also to Fulham. Liverpool. Tottenham and Aston Villa.
GOALKEEPER: DEAN HENDERSON (Crystal Palace)
Playing against his old club, was an opportunity to make a point and he took that opportunity with a man-of-the-match performance.
Henderson thwarted Man United with several good saves to preserve a clean sheet for his team and frustrate his old club.
Shout out also to Chelsea’s Sanchez. Man Utd’s Onana. Liverpool’s Kelleghr Arsenal’s Raya. Spurs’ Vicario and Southampton’s Ramsdale.
DEFENDER: GABRIEL (Arsenal)
It was close but he was seconds away from scoring a winner at the Etihad to break Man City’s long-standing undefeated home record.
After going down to ten men, he was key, with the help of his teammates, as they sat in and made life difficult for City, with endless blocks, tackles and headers, and were seconds away from a memorable away victory.
Well done also to his teammates Saliba, Timber and Calafiori. Man Utd trio Mazraoui, De Ligt & Dalot. Liverpool duo Konate & Alexander-Arnold. Villa’s Konsa. Palace’s Guehi.
Spurs duo Udogie & Porro. Southampton’s Bednarek. Ipswich duo Greaves & O’Shea. Leicester’s Justin. Fulham’s Tete. Chelsea’s Colwill. Forest’s Murill & Brighton’s Van Hecke.
MIDFIELDER: JAMES MADDISON (Tottenham)
He was instrumental throughout Spurs’ victory to help pull his team back into the game after going a goal down. He won the ball to start the move in both their two, first-half goals.
Then in the second half, he got the goal his performance deserved with a neat finish to seal the game.
Shout out also to his teammate Johnson. Man City duo Savinho & Stones. Liverpool duo Gravenberch & Mac Allister. Leicester duo Ndidi & Mavididi. Everton’s Ndiaye. Ipswich’s Morsy.
Fulham trio Traore, Smith Rowe & Iwobi. Newcastle’s Barnes. Villa trio Tielemans, Rogers & Onana. Chelsea duo Caicedo & Palmer. Brighton’s Hinshelwood and Forest’s Sosa.
FORWARD: NICOLAS JACKSON (Chelsea)
Coinciding with Chelsea’s recent good form, he has sprung into life and his two goals and one assist in the dismantling of West Ham was evident.
He opened the scoring with a good run and finish, added a second with an even better finish then assisted the third for an all-around top performance.
Well done also to Spurs’ Solanke. Liverpool duo Diaz & Nunez. Aston Villa duo Watkins & Duran. Southampton’s Dibling. Man City’s Haaland. Brighton’s Welbeck. Forest’s Wood. Wolves’ Cunha and Brentford’s Mbeumo.
MANAGER: ENZO MARESCA (Chelsea)
Although it is early days, he has his Chelsea team purring and they look every bit like the multimillion-pound team they are.
He seems to have a settled squad and a trusted first team, with Jackson scoring, Sancho enjoying his football, Palmer being Palmer and a solid defence as they eased past West Ham, barely breaking a sweat.
Shout out also, to Liverpool’s Slot, Aston Villa’s Emery and Fulham’s Silva.
UNSUNG HERO: LUIS DIAZ (Liverpool)
Several candidates fit this category more. However, missing out on the forward award, I thought he deserved to be acknowledged.
He has started the season on fire and looked back to his menacing, all-action best. His two quick goals turned the game for his team to make it five already for the season.
Well done also to his teammate Konate. Southampton’s Dibling. Fulham’s Smith Rowe. Villa’s Duran and Arsenal’s Timber.
GAME: MAN CITY 2-2 ARSENAL
In a game with almost everything Haaland scored his 100th goal equalling the record for the quickest to it with a good finish (9). However, Calafiori marked his debut with a lovely finish from the edge of the box (22)
Gabriel then powered in a header to put Arsenal 2-1 up (45+1). But the game turned when Trossard’s barge then booting the ball away saw him get a second yellow and red (45+8).
Just when you thought Arsenal were going to hold out for a memorable victory, Stones got a very late equaliser (90+8).
GOAL: DARWIN NUNEZ (Liverpool) vs Bournemouth
Konate picked the ball up in the right back position and played a high ball down the line. Nunez, coming short flicked it with the back of his head to Salah inside.
Salah then played a first-time ball back down the line for Nunez, who galloped down the line to the edge of the box. Nunez cut back onto his left and curled a lovely effort inside the far post.
There were also good goals from Villa’s Mbuemo, Brighton’s Wellbeck and Arsenal’s Calafiori.
FOOL: LEANDRO TROSSARD (Arsenal)
Many will say it’s harsh and unwarranted, and talk about ref inconsistency. But the fact remains he blatantly barged into a player, then if that wasn’t bad enough, he booted the ball away.
Having already been on a yellow card, after going a goal up at Man City, on the stroke of halftime, with the stakes as high as it can be. You have to say Trossard’s decision-making was horrendous and he only has himself to blame. FOOL!
