Arsenal dominate team of the week with Chelsea and Man U
Four Gunners plus two each from United, City and Chelsea make this week's pick of the picks
After a weekend on which the traditional big guns all won, with the exception of poor old Liverpool, there is a familiar look at the top of the Premier League table with Chelsea now leading the two Manchester clubs.
Arsenal are also on the rise after victory over Newcastle and could force their way back into the top four next weekend.
The performances of the four big clubs means that they contribute ten players to this week's best XI. So who exactly makes the team? Here's our pick of the weekend's picks.
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Goalkeeper:
David de Gea (Man United)
Little doubt about who wears the gloves this week. The United stopper was in sensational form as he single-handedly kept Liverpool at bay in the big game at Old Trafford on Sunday. "This was another wonderful performance from David de Gea, not just because of his uncommon hand-to-eye co-ordination but the way his best moments came in key periods of the game," says The Guardian.
Defence:
Hector Bellerin (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Man City), Michael Carrick (Man United), Michael Keane (Burnley)
Young full back Bellerin has not had the easiest of times during his fledgling career at the Emirates, but "he was superb for Arsenal as they beat Newcastle United, both at the back and in terms of his raiding runs forward", says website Caughtoffside. Mangala is another defender who has had his critics this term but Garth Crooks of the BBC was impressed by his performance against Leicester and says: "He is starting to look like he's worth every penny Pellegrini paid for him."
Man United dropped Carrick into the back four against Liverpool and it paid off. He was "United's best defender, both in terms of his positioning and calmness on the ball," says Caughtoffside. The final berth goes to young Burnley defender Keane, who was the side's "star" in the win over Southampton. "The young man dealt with the threat posed by the likes of Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic really well and looked very accomplished," says Winner Sports.
Midfield:
Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla (both Arsenal), Nemanja Matic, Eden Hazard (both Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Man City)
Arsenal's talisman these days is Chilean Sanchez and although he did not score in the 4-1 win over Newcastle he still provided "a cocktail of creativity and pace", says ESPN. Cazorla did score twice for the Gunners and proved that diving is not necessary in the modern game. "A fabulous display by an honest footballer who plays the game with integrity," says Crooks.
Chelsea were without Matic when they lost to Newcastle last week, but the Belgian midfielder was "back with a bang" against Hull, says Caughtoffside. Meanwhile, Hazard was electric in a more attacking role and the Daily Express says he "rose like a salmon to head home in another impressive display for Chelsea against Hull". His goal and assist also earned him 14 points (the same as Cazorla) and a place in the Premier League fantasy football dream team.
The final spot in a five-man midfield goes to the veteran matchwinner Lampard, who scored City's only goal against Leicester. "Lampard's performance against a resilient Leicester was not only utterly professional but typically clinical," purrs Garth Crooks.
Attack:
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)
On his own up front is yet another Gunner. French striker Giroud scored twice against Newcastle and, according to ESPN's panel, looked like a "proper centre forward" for once as he "proved far too hot to handle for Newcastle's beleaguered back line".
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