It is as you were at the top of the Premier League table following the latest round of fixtures, as Arsenal remain five points clear at the summit thanks to a history-making 3-0 win over London rivals Fulham.
Manchester City had briefly reduced the gap by sinking Crystal Palace 1-0, while Manchester United are still safe on the final podium spot despite being held to a goalless draw by Southampton with 10 men.
Tottenham Hotspur ended an abysmal week in style by beating Nottingham Forest 3-1, but Liverpool’s top-four pursuit suffered a damaging blow in a shock 1-0 loss to Bournemouth.
Newcastle United capitalised on the Reds’ slip-up by rising into fifth with a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Chelsea’s resurgence continued with a 3-1 success over Leicester City.
Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Leeds United, Aston Villa and West Ham United shook hands on a point in a 1-1 stalemate, and Everton’s survival hopes were boosted tenfold with a 1-0 success over Brentford.
Here, Sports Mole selects its Team of the Week for the latest round of Premier League fixtures.
DEFENCE
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While Tottenham backup Fraser Forster deserves recognition from going to zero to hero against Forest – being at fault for Joe Worrall’s consolation before saving Andre Ayew’s penalty – Southampton number one Gavin Bazunu, a former product of Manchester City, was impenetrable against Man United, coming up with four crucial saves and world-class stops from Raphael Varane and Bruno Fernandes.
The Saints were arguably unfortunate not to have taken all the spoils, but it was not for the want of trying from Kyle Walker-Peters, who struck the post with a venomous drive and nearly witnessed Scott McTominay turn his cross into his own net, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka was there to cover. Furthermore, four tackles and four interceptions proved pivotal to Southampton’s defensive efforts in a well-earned point.
A week on from exploiting Arsenal’s set-piece deficiencies, Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi repelled a barrage of Liverpool attacks – albeit weak ones – to play his part in a famous Bournemouth win, making seven clearances, two tackles and winning four of his five ground duels in an assured display.
Speaking of Arsenal and set-pieces, the Gunners experienced no such misfortune from dead-ball situations in their own penalty area at Fulham, but it was a different story for the Cottagers. Rising highest to meet Leandro Trossard’s corner for the opening goal, Gabriel Magalhaes continued his penchant for scoring against Marco Silva’s side, as Arsenal became the first side in English Football League history to win five successive London derbies with five clean sheets.
Welcomed back to the King Power in no uncertain terms by the Leicester faithful, ex-Foxes full-back Ben Chilwell enjoyed giving some back to the home crowd after firing home a sumptuous volley to open the scoring, while he also created three chances for his teammates to cap off a brilliant week for the Englishman.
MIDFIELD
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Not quite able to match Philip Billing’s nine-second feats from last week, Everton wing king Dwight McNeil scoring within just 35 seconds to sink Brentford was nothing to be sniffed at whatsoever, and the ex-Burnley man also came up with a crucial goal-line clearance from Ethan Pinnock as the Toffees left the dotted line behind, for now.
However, several days on from silencing the Emirates crowd – albeit briefly – Bournemouth talisman Billing would make Liverpool fans’ journey south a miserable one with a well-taken winner against the Reds, while his three clearances, two interceptions and two tackles were also vital to the Cherries’ memorable success.
Making his return to the first XI following a brief injury absence, Newcastle midfielder Joe Willock ran the show during the visit of Wolves, slipping in Miguel Almiron for the winning goal while completing four successful dribbles, two tackles and three accurate long balls in a sterling all-around performance.
Going through all the emotions at Elland Road on Saturday, Jack Harrison had seemingly undone his good work in picking out Patrick Bamford with his own goal, but the Englishman more than made up for his unfortunate error with a wonderful curler to steal a point off the Seagulls.
ATTACK
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Once again proving himself to be a gem of a January signing for Arsenal, Leandro Trossard made a rapid recovery from a groin problem to set up all three of the Gunners’ goals against Fulham and make history in the process – no Premier League player had ever set up three goals in the first half of an away game before.
Two North London attackers hog the spotlights in the final third, as Harry Kane made it 19 and 20 for the Premier League season against Forest – directing a header into the corner before crashing a penalty down the middle of the goal – as the England captain brought up 20 Premier League goals in a single campaign for the sixth time – only Sergio Aguero and Alan Shearer also achieved such a feat.
Sports Mole’s Premier League Team of the Week (4-4-2): Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Senesi, Gabriel, Chilwell; McNeil, Willock, Billing, Harrison; Trossard, Kane
