TEAM: ARSENAL
With all the pressure on them after two draws and a defeat in their last five league games, and Man City closing the gap, they went to Spurs not feeling great.
However, they brushed any doubts, any nerves and any fear away with ease as they brushed past their North London rivals with consummate ease, scoring four goals as they did in the home fixture.
Well done to Fulham. Brighton. Liverpool. Man City and Crystal Palace.
GOALKEEPER: DEAN HENDERSON (Crystal Palace)
Although there were a few goalkeepers in the running for this, the Palace man stood head and shoulders above them all.
He saved a penalty at the end of the first half, and throughout the game, while his team were under par, he made several saves to keep the score level, which allowed his team to go on and win the game late.
Shout out to Man Utd’s Lemmans. Arsenal’s Raya. West Ham’s Hermansen and Man City’s Donnarumma.
DEFENDER: IBRAHIMA KONATE (Liverpool)
In a very poor away performance, he was one of the very few players who could hold his head up high. Forest had much of the play and dominated possession.
In the end, they only had two shots on goal, which had much to do with his performance. He was also the first line of attack, aggressively winning the ball high, and in the end, it allowed Liverpool to win it late, dramatically.
Well done to his teammate Van Dijk. Arsenal’s Hincapie. Bournemouth duo Hill & Senesi. West Ham duo Douf & Wan Bissaka.
Burnley duo Worrall & Esteve. Brighton duo Dunk & Van Hecke. Newcastle’s Hall. Palace’s Richards. Also, Leeds duo Justin and Ampadu.
MIDFIELDER: NICO O’REILLY (Man City)
At just 20 years old, amongst all Man City’s big-money signings, they have found a real gem from the academy.
His goals against Newcastle were two very good finishes that were enough to win the game. This season, he has played centre back, full back, centre midfield and left midfield and has become a very reliable player for Pep.
Shout out to his teammate Rodri. Arsenal’s Eze. Liverpool duo Szoboszlai & Mac Allister. Leeds’ Stach. Fulham duo Wilson & Iwobi. Burnley duo Flemming & Ward-Prowse.
Forest’s Sangare. Palace’s Mitchell. Wolves duoHugo Bueno & Bellegarde. West Ham’s Summerville and Brighton duo Milner and Gomez.
FORWARD: VICTOR GYOKERES (Arsenal)
Despite the alleged troubles of the season, he has now notched ten goals in the league, and his two at Spurs will make him loved forever by the fans.
Both his goals were taken very well, and were very different. The first, showing a touch and clinical finish from outside the box. The second is powerful running and finishing to kill the game.
Well done to Fulham’s Jimenez. Man Utd’s Sesko. Palace’s Guessand. Brighton’s Welbeck. Chelsea’s Joao Pedro and Spurs’ Kolo Muani.
MANAGER: MIKEL ARTETA (Arsenal)
With his team and himself under considerable pressure after their recent poor form, it has allowed Man City right back in the title race.
He pulled a masterstroke by starting Eze, who opened the scoring, then got the important third. To add to his hat-trick in the home fixture, to brush past Spurs and ease the fears.
Shout out to Fulham’s Silva. Brighton’s Hurzeler. Liverpool’s Slot and Man City’s Guardiola.
UNSUNG HERO: EBERECHI EZE (Arsenal)
He has scored six goals this season, and five have come against Arsenal’s North London rivals; that’s one way to right yourself in Arsenal folklore.
He has not had the best of seasons since his big-money signing. However, with five goals against the team the fans love to hate, he will forever be loved.
Well done to Leeds’s Stach. Man Utd’s Lemmans. Brighton’s Milner and Liverpool’s
GAME: MAN CITY 2-1 NEWCASTLE
Man City opened the scoring early when Marmoush won the ball just inside the Newcastle half and surged forward. He fed O’Reilly, who set himself and fired inside the near post from the edge of the box (14).
Hall then equalised following a corner when the ball fell to him just outside the box, and his effort deflected past Donnarumma (22). City then regained the lead when Haaland crossed from the right for O’Reilly to head home (27).
GOAL: ANTON STACH (Leeds) vs Aston Villa
From 3o yards out, to the left of Martinez’s goal. Stach lined up for a free kick early in the first half.
Standing side on, he took two steps and unleashed a tremendous effort that he whipped inside the near post into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM
Spurs were already having a terrible season, languishing just above the relegation zone and sacking their manager after less than a season in charge.
But they also get battered home and away, but their North London rivals are heading towards a league title. Spurs gave no resistance and in both their 4-1 home and away defeats, have considerably helped Arsenal’s title charge. FOOLS!
