In a week where the top teams reasserted their dominance, Arsenal and Liverpool provided the stand-out performances.
Arsenal’s Petr Cech celebrates after the game
Petr Cech (Arsenal vs. Chelsea)
The first of a host of Arsenal players, Petr Cech may not have had his busiest afternoon against his former club, but showed great composure and emitted an aura of calm that seemed to have a knock-on effect on the team. Whilst his kicking may have been a little off, Cech showed is value yet again as he made two terrific saves late in the day to prevent a nervy finish to proceedings.
Hector Bellerin (Arsenal vs. Chelsea)
The young Spaniard seems to go from strength to strength and is truly establishing himself as one of the best attacking full-backs in the world, let alone the Premier League. Bellerin was a constant thorn in the side of Chelsea, taking advantage of Eden Hazard’s unwillingness to track back on a number of occasions, and laying on the assist for Theo Walcott to double Arsenal’s lead. Perhaps a greater sign of the Spaniard’s development though, is his ability to spot danger, making a fantastic last ditch challenge on Pedro as his countryman raced clear of the defence, to ensure there was no way back for their London rivals.
Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal vs. Chelsea)
Whilst it was many of Arsenal’s attacking players that took the plaudits as the Gunners convincingly beat London rivals Chelsea, Laurent Koscielny and central defensive partner, Shkodran Mustafi, put in a formidable display against Chelsea’s usually tyrannical forward, Diego Costa. In recent years, Arsenal defenders have succumbed to the Brazilian-born Spaniard’s physicality, but Koscielny and Mustafi dealt with Costa fantastically, nullifying his attacking threat, and winding him up in the process.
James Milner (Liverpool vs. Hull City)
Many raised an eyebrow when James Milner was deployed at left-back earlier in the season, but with his only real competition coming in the form of the error-prone, Alberto Moreno, Milner has made the position his own. Milner’s composure on the ball and high work-rate provides Liverpool with industry on the flank, and his link-up play with Phillipe Coutinho to release the Brazilian for the visitors opening goal was terrific. To top off his display, Milner ended the game with a brace, showing his composure not just once, but twice, to slot the ball the City keeper with aplomb.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City vs. Swansea City)
What a season the young Englishman is already having under Pep Guardiola. Last season, Sterling looked a shadow of the player that almost helped catapult Liverpool to their first ever Premier League title. But with the confidence of his manager, Sterling is running riot. His pace and close control provides the perfect outlet for midfield maestro, Kevin De Bruyne, and his composure in the box adds goals from midfield to City’s arsenal. Sterling found himself on the score-sheet for the fourth time this season, skipping past Kyle Naughton and coolly finishing into the bottom corner.
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling in action with Swansea City’s Leon Britton and Gylfi Sigurdsson
Paul Pogba (Manchester United vs. Leicester City)
In the absence of club captain, Wayne Rooney, the world record signing had free reign of the pitch and showed his doubters what he is capable of with a commanding display in the centre of the park. Pogba showed energy and strength as well as his prowess on the ball, playing a number of forward-thinking passes that consistently probed the Leicester City defence. Pogba appears to have developed a great understanding with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and beneffited greatly from Ander Herrera’s great use of possession in the middle. Pogba turned in a Man-of-the-Match performance against the Premier League champions, and scores his first goal for Manchester United to boot.
Phillipe Coutinho (Liverpool vs. Hull City)
Coutinho ran the show yet again for Jurgen Klopp’s men, laying on two assists and bagging in style, with a powerful effort from outside the box. It seems the Brazilian will be vital to any success Liverpool may have this season, as he provides impetus to the Red’s attack, and has developed a penchant for the spectacular.
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal vs. Chelsea)
Being the nephew to a Premier League legend such as Jay-Jay Okocha can put a great weight of expectation on the shoulders of any player, let alone one that is of such a young age. It doesn’t look like the young Nigerian has any qualms with the expectation however, as he turned in another impressive display in an Arsenal side littered with attacking talent.
Iwobi’s combination play and willingness to move the ball on quickly has had a great impact on Arsenal’s fluidity going forward this season, and in a team with great playmakers like Mesut Özil and Santi Cazorla, there can be no higher praise for the youngster.
Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur vs. Middlesbrough)
Son is making up for lost time after a disappointing debut season last year, with a second brace in successive weeks as Tottenham dispatched a plucky Middlesbrough side. Son looks full of energy and confidence, as he frequently demands the ball and provides a constant threat in the final third.
It appears the Tottenham attacker is being given free reign by Mauricio Pochettino, popping up on both sides of the pitch and providing a direct route to goal. In the absence of goals from Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min is happily taking on the responsibility for the North Londoners, and Spurs fans will be hoping he can keep up his emphatic displays.
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min in action
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City vs. Swansea City)
Little needs to be said about the Argentinean superstar. He is the best striker in the Premier League, and one of the best in the world. If he’s fit, he’ll grab you goals, and he showed this again with a well-taken brace against Swansea city.
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal vs. Chelsea)
Sanchez was lively up top and got his reward for pestering the Chelsea defence, causing the woeful Gary Cahill to play his pass short before running clear and chipping Thibault Courtois in style. The Chilean appears to have his finishing touch back, and played a fantastic interchange with Mesut Özil after a perfectly timed run took David Luiz and Gary Cahill out of the game, before lifting the ball back to the enigmatic German to finish Chelsea off in the first half.
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