TEAM: MANCHESTER UNITED
This week, there were so many outstanding performances that on another day, they would have earned this award. However, there could be only one, and none were as impressive as Man Utd’s win at Arsenal.
Especially after dominating Man City last week. Now, in back-to-back games against the two teams that are likely to win the league this season, they dominated and fully deserved to win.
Well done Aston Villa. Bournemouth. Notts Forest. Chelsea. West Ham. Fulham and Man City.
GOALKEEPER: EMILIANO MARTINEZ (Aston Villa)
There were not many good keeper performances to choose from, but there were several decent ones. Of all of them, the Villa keeper pulled off the best saves.
He had to be at his best on two occasions to keep Newcastle out. One with his legs to stop what would have been a fantastic individual goal. The other was from a header, which he tipped over the bar in another stunning save to earn a clean sheet.
Shout out to Burnley’s Dubravka. Chelsea’s Sanchez and Newcastle’s Pope.
DEFENDER: HARRY MAGUIRE (Man Utd)
There were several very worthy candidates for this, and although Arsenal did score two, from a fortuitous own goal and a corner from a yard out.
Other than that, he was colossal at The Emirates and the proverbial rock. He showed his commitment by winning all six of his duels to restrict the Arsenal forwards to scraps.
Well done to Forest foursome Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina & Williams. Villa duo Konsa & Torres. Fulham’s Anderson. Bournemouth’s Senesi. Chelsea duo Chalobah & Cucurella.
Man City duo Nunez & Guehi. Burnley duo Tuanzebe & Esteve. Spurs due Van de Ven and Romero. Leeds duo Struijk and Bornauw. Everton’s Tarkowski. Brighton’s Dunk and Palace’s Richards.
MIDFIELDER: ESTEVAO (Chelsea)
At just eighteen, he is already showing himself to be one of the main players in the team and a player Chelsea looks to.
He once again was the main flair player, opening the goal with a lovely run and finish. He then assisted the second, which practically sealed the game in an inspiring performance.
Shout out to his teammates Enzo & Santos. Man Utd trio Fernandes. Dorgu & Casamiro. Villa duo Buendia & Rogers. West Ham trio Bowen, Fernandes & Summerville. Fulham duo Wilson & Chukwueze.
Forest duo Anderson & Sangare. Bournemouth duo Jimenez & Adli. Man City’s Semenyo. Liverpool’s Szoboszlai. Brighton’s Ayari and Leeds duo Justin and Stach.
FORWARD: MATTHEUS CUNHA (Man Utd)
Though it was a hard decision this week, and Cunha only played about 30 minutes in the game, his impact was the most pivotal from any forward this week.
After they were pegged back to 2-2, most were expecting Arsenal to go on and get a third. But minutes later, it was his lovely turn and exquisite finish from outside the box that got the third and ultimately won a dramatic game to cap off an impressive win.
Well done to his teammate Mbeumo. Forest duo Igor Jesus & Awoniyi. Villa’s Watkins. Chelsea’s Joao Pedro. Bournemouth’s Evanilson.
Man City’s Marmoush. Everton’s Barry. Sunderland’s Brobbery and Burnley’s Foster.
MANAGER: MICHAEL CARRICK (Man Utd)
In his first two games against the two teams battling for the title, he took a struggling United team, and they dominated both games.
Not only did he inflict on Arsenal their first home defeat of the season, but it was the first time Arsenal had conceded three goals in over two years. It was also over two years since Arsenal had lost after scoring first.
Shout out to Villa’s Emery. Bournemouth’s Iraola. Forest’s Dyche. Chelsea’s Rosenior and West Ham’s Espírito Santo.
UNSUNG HERO: MURILLO (Notts Forest)
It was a really tough decision this week as there were several candidates. However, I felt the Forest defender deserved the most recognition.
Languishing just above the relegation zone, they need points. At Brentford, a place where Liverpool, Villa, Man Utd and Newcastle have lost. He was a leader in every sense, to reduce Brentford to just one shot on goal to earn a clean sheet and an inspiring away win.
Well done to Villa’s Buendia. Man Utd duo Dorgu & Casemiro. Fulham’s Wilson and Bournemouth’s Senesi.
GAME: ARSENAL 2-3 MAN UTD
Arsenal opened the scoring when Odegaard’s shot came off Martinez, under pressure from Timber (29). United equalised when Zubimendi’s poor pass was picked up by Mbuemo, who rounded the keeper and slotted home (37).
In the second half, United took the lead from Dorgu’s rocket off the underside of the bar following an exchange of passes with Fernandez (50). Arsenal equalised when Marino touched in on the line following a corner (84). But minutes later, Cunha won it with a wonderful strike from outside the box, curling low, inside the near post (87).
There was also a good game at Bournemouth, where they beat Liverpool 3-2.
GOAL: PATRICK DORGU (Man Utd) vs Arsenal
After a loose pass in midfield, Dorgu picked up the ball and exchanged two passes with Fernandes between the Arsenal players towards the goal.
After the second pass, he hooked the ball into his path. It bounced off his hip, then he set himself and, in an instant, unleashed a thunderous effort, cutting across the ball to see it swerve away from the keeper and slam in off the underside of the bar.
There were also good goals from his teammate Cunha. Villa’s Buendia and West Ham’s Fernandes.
FOOL: VIRGIL VAN DIJK (Liverpool)
Not only was he at fault for the first goal with a lazy clearance that didn’t get out, but he also reacted slowly to stop the cutback. He was then partially at fault for the second goal, playing Jimenez onside.
Then, in stoppage time, he was involved in a calamitous long throw, where he stated he was blocked, allowing Bournemouth to get the winner, but replays showed his own player blocked him. FOOL!
