Penalties were the theme of the week on Matchday 16 of the Premier League as five sides scored winning goals from the spot in a controversy-filled weekend of action. Ralf Ragnick’s Manchester United registered their second consecutive 1-0 win in the league while Arsenal got back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton.
Here is our Man’s Life Premier League Team of the Week.
GK: David de Gea (Manchester United)
David de Gea ensured Manchester United left Carrow Road with three points intact, making five saves to keep Norwich City at bay. The Spaniard made a crucial intervention from Teemu Pukki’s second-half strike before denying centre-back Ozan Kabak with a spectacular diving save from a close-range header.
RB: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
Joao Cancelo was at the heart of every Manchester City attacking move in their 1-0 victory over Wolves at the Etihad, creating four chances and completing a game-high 102 passes.
CB: Vitaly Janelt (Brentford)
The German centre-back produced an excellent all-round display for Brentford on Friday night, creating two chances while also completing the most dribbles (3) and winning the most duels (14) in the match.
CB: Gabriel (Arsenal)
Gabriel completely neutralized the threat of Southampton forwards Armando Broja and Adam Armstong before scoring his second Premier League goal of the season in another comfortable 3-0 home victory for Arsenal.
LB: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Andrew Robertson has been back to his best in recent weeks for Liverpool and the Scottish left-back produced another masterful display at home to Aston Villa, creating the most chances (4) in the match.
CM: Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace)
Conor Gallagher’s dream stint at Crystal Palace continues as the Chelsea-loanee scored another spectacular brace in a 3-1 win over Everton. Gallagher opened the scoring with a drilled shot into the bottom corner before sealing the victory in extra time with the goal of the weekend, a sublime strike into the top corner that rattled the crossbar before going in.
CM: Jorginho (Chelsea)
Jorginho showed off his nerves of steel in Chelsea’s 3-2 win over Leeds United, with the Italian scoring two second-half penalties – including an injury-time winner – to hand the Blues an important three points in the title race.
CM: Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
Youri Tielemans produced an all-action display in central midfield in his 100th PL appearance for Leicester, dictating the tempo of the game while also adding a brace to take the Foxes into the top half of the table.
RW: James Madison (Leicester City)
James Maddison put in a classy performance for Leicester City against Newcastle, with the midfielder having a hand in all four goals for the Foxes. Maddison won the penalty in the first half before coming into his own in the second period, producing a sublime flicked through ball for the second and a tidy finish for the fourth goal.
ST: Patson Daka (Leicester City)
Patson Daka ensured that Leicester didn’t feel the absence of Jamie Vardy as the Zambian striker registered a goal and an assist in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Gabriel Martinelli produced his best all-round performance in an Arsenal shirt this season as the Brazilian constantly troubled the Southampton backline with his movement and dribbling. Martinelli created four chances in the match and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, striking the woodwork in the second half with an excellent long-range effort.
Manager of the week: Patrick Vieira (Crystal Palace)
After a run of four winless games and three defeats in the league, Patrick Viera’s Crystal Palace got back to winning ways at home to Everton. The Eagles dominated the proceedings from start to finish, registering an impressive 17 shots while also limiting Everton’s attack to shots from distance.
Shivaan Shah