TEAM: BRIGHTON
It was less about how bad Arsenal were, but more about how good Brighton were. No team have dominated Arsenal like this, and they played with intensity and energy from the first minute to the last.
They then showed quality with their goals, and it’s no understatement to say the scoreline flattered Arsenal, as it could have been much more.
Well done to Brentford. Coventry. Liverpool. Aston Villa. Man City. Newcastle and Everton.
GOALKEEPER: ZION SUZUKI (Aston Villa)
Although he conceded two late goals, Villa were already cruising with a three-goal lead, and he had already done his duties to thwart Spurs.
Though many of the chances looked straight at him, he did pull off two very good ones. It’s important he started the season well after Villa lost one of the best keepers in the world, and the young Japanese international must have felt pressure to fill Martinez’s boots.
Shout out to Hull’s Tzolakis. Fulham’s Leno. Man Utd’s Lammens. Leeds’s Trafford. Everton’s Pickford. Liverpool’s Alisson and Coventry’s Rushworth.
DEFENDER: JEREMY JACQUET (Liverpool)
Although Van Dijk is getting on a bit, it is saying something when his centre-back partner outshines him, but that is exactly what is happening so far this season.
Liverpool’s 21-year-old new signing has made a promising start to the season, and once again put in an inspiring performance at the back to earn his third clean sheet in a row in the league, and remains a standout performer.
Well done to his teammate Araujo. Brighton duo Vuskovic & Struijk. Brentford duo Schuster & Lewis-Potter. Newcastle’s Hall. Everton duo Tarkowski & Braithwaite.
Coventry trio Pinnock, Thomas & Mfuni. Forest’s Murillo. Leeds duo Elvedi & Justin. Palace’s Richards. Bournemouth’s Hill. Spurs’ Van Hecke and Fulham’s Bassey.
MIDFIELDER: PASCAL GROSS (Brighton)
At the ripe old age of 35, the Brighton skipper had one of the best days in his football career.
After dumping Man Utd out of the cup in the week, he bossed the midfield against the league champions with the opening goal, then assisted the third in a dominant performance full of energy, tenacity and quality.
Shout out to his teammates Andres, Gomez and De Cuyper. Brentford trio Janelt, Damsgaard and Carvalho. Man City trio Semenyo, Cherki and Enzo. Aston Villa’s Buendia. Newcastle duo Willock and Barnes.
Coventry duo Dasilva & Rudoni. Liverpool duo Gakpo and Mac Allister. Fulham’s Charles. Spurs duo Savio and Kudus. Hull’s Belloumi and Sunderland’s Le Fee.
FORWARD: BRIAN BROBBEY (Sunderland)
It is hard to score a hat-trick, let alone score three and end up on the losing side. However, he should be commended for scoring three at City.
The Sunderland forward is known for his strength, holding up play and aggression up front, but he added some neat finishing that kept his team level or within one goal of City up until the 81st minute.
Well done to Brentford duo Thiago and Anthony. Brighton’s Kostoulas. Villa duo Manzambi & Jackson. Everton’s Barry. Liverpool’s Isak. Man City’s Haaland. Hull’s Cho and Man Utd’s Cunha.
MANAGER: FABIAN HURZELER (Brighton)
He got respect for the way his team dismantled the champions. They pressed, harassed and outran Arsenal, who had nothing for them.
It’s a philosophy that has followed the team, and Hurzeler has taken it a step further, with Brighton taking Arsenal apart and were lucky to come away with just three conceded.
Shout out to Brentford’s Andrews. Liverpool’s Iraola. Man City’s Maresca. Coventry’s Lampard and Everton’s Moyes.
UNSUNG HERO: JOHAN MANZAMBI (Aston Villa)
Although there were several candidates, I went with the young 20-year-old Villa forward, in his first start of the season and only his second game for the club.
Villa have not had a good start to the season and have struggled for goals. However, he stepped up when Villa really needed a win. He scored the opening goal, then neatly assisted the second, for a very important away win going into the international break.
Well done also to Newcastle’s Hall. Man City’s Semenyo. Coventry’s Dasilva. Brighton’s Kostoulas and
GAME: MAN CITY 5-3 SUNDERLAND
In one of the craziest games of the season so far. Man City took an early lead through Enzo’s free-kick (9). Brobbey equalised it through a neat touch and finish (12). Cherki showed composure to make it 2-1 (29) before Brobbey equalised again, rounding off a good move (33).
Just before half-time, Semenyo gave City the lead again (43). He then stretched Man City’s lead with his second of the game (57). Brobbey then got his hat-trick to tap in from a yard (59), before Haaland finally got his goal at the far post to settle the game (81).
GOAL: EMILIANO BUENDIA (Aston Villa) vs Tottenham
With Villa two goals up late into the second half, McGinn, from the right side of the box, played a ball back across, outside the box, to Buendia, 25 yards out.
He casually rolled the ball out his feet, then as a Spurs defender came out to close him down, he whipped a superb, curling effort from right to left, into the top far corner.
FOOL: TOTTENHAM
After spending just over £300m in the summer on new players, Spurs are bottom of the league on goal difference with no win in their first five games and just two points.
This week’s two goals in a 3-2 home defeat were their first league goals of the season; they have conceded eight, and two of their defeats this season have come at home. Maybe it’s a good thing there is an international break, but on this form, they are heading for another 17th-place finish in the league, or even worse. FOOLS!
