Premier League Team of the Week: Arsenal striker stars as Gunners make it back-to-back victories

Premier League Team of the Week: Arsenal striker stars as Gunners make it back-to-back victories

Chelsea, Liverpool and Watford all maintained their 100% starts to the Premier League season with wins over Bournemouth, Leicester and Tottenham.

Manchester United got back to winning ways as they beat struggling Burnley 2-0, while Arsenal and Manchester City also earned three points each against Cardiff City and Newcastle.


Southampton and Wolves also picked up wins, and finally Everton and Fulham drew with Huddersfield and Brighton respectively.

But who were the stand out players from this weekend’s action?

Team of the Week (3-5-2)

GK: Martin Dubravka – Newcastle United

Not often would you pick a goalkeeper from a losing side in your Team of the Week, but Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka saved the Magpies from what could have been much heavier than 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday. The Slovak shot-stopper denied Pep Guardiola’s men on numerous occasions, including a quite brilliant triple save in the second-half.

RB: Cedric Soares – Southampton

Southampton’s Cedric Soares was commended for his attacking abilities last term, however was too often let down by mistakes in his own third. This season however, the Portugal international looks to be evolving into more of a complete full-back. Against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Soares not only produced a wonderful assist for Danny Ings’ opener, but he also made four tackles, seven clearances and four blocks.

CB: Craig Cathcart – Watford 

Watford pulled off the result of the weekend against Tottenham yesterday afternoon, emerging as 2-1 victors in an enthralling tie at Vicarage Road. Cathcart was a monster in both boxes for Javi Gracia’s side, and hit the winner in a memorable win for the Hornets, rocketing a header into the top right from Jose Holebas’ corner.

LB: Jose Holebas – Watford

Tottenham’s Lucas Moura has been hailed for his performances so far this season, however Watford’s Jose Holebas gave the tricky Brazilian winger no joy on Sunday. The Greek international was excellent in defence in the first half at Vicarage Road, and played a key role in Watford’s turnaround in the second – providing the cross for Craig Cathcart’s aforementioned winner. The assist means Holebas has now been directly involved in five goals this season (one goal, four assists), which is more than any other player in the Premier League.

RM: Sadio Mane – Liverpool

Many thought it would be Mohamed Salah who would be the star for Liverpool again this season, but so far, it’s been Sadio Mane. The Senegalese forward was at his usual electric best in the Reds’ 2-1 win over Leicester on Saturday, and hit the opener after just ten minutes for his fourth goal of the campaign. Following the victory, Mane was announced as the PFA’s Fans Player of the Month for August – an accolade he has more than deserved for his performances so far this season.

CM: Ruben Neves – Wolves

Neves has made a fine start to life in the Premier League, and was excellent again in Wolves’ 1-0 win over West Ham on Saturday. The Portuguese star dictated the game throughout with his brilliant range of passing, but showed his dogged side late on too – winning the ball back with a tenacious tackle on the half-way line before setting Wolves on the counter for Adama Traore’s last minute winner. Alongside compatriot Joao Moutinho, the pair look to already be developing one the league’s best midfielder partnerships.

CM: Jean Michael Seri – Fulham 

Seri was the star as Fulham drew 2-2 with Brighton on Saturday. The Ivory Coast star was at the heart of everything good the Cottagers did on the afternoon, and produced a truly sublime assist for Andre Schurrle’s opener – scooping the ball over three defenders for the German to slam home on the volley in equally impressive fashion. It is easy to see why Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona were all interested in the 27-year-old this summer, but he instead chose Fulham – who look to have landed themselves a bonafide world-class midfielder.

CM: Phillip Billing – Huddersfield

Goals don’t always mean everything when it comes to an individual display, but when your side has found the net just once in all competitions this season – they certainly help your case. Huddersfield’s Phillip Billing used his towering 6’ 5” frame to best effect on Saturday when he opened the scoring against Everton, heading home from a 33rd minute corner to score his first ever top flight goal.

LM: Eden Hazard – Chelsea

Many didn’t expect Hazard to be at Chelsea this season following a turbulent summer of rumours linking him with Real Madrid. But he is, and the Belgian is already reminding us why he’s the best player the Premier League has to offer. The 27-year-old wore Bournemouth’s defenders (and midfielders) ragged all afternoon at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and was rewarded for his efforts late on when he was teed up by Marcos Alonso to make it 2-0. That’s two goals and two assists in just 223 minutes of football for Hazard this season, who is thriving under new manager Maurizio Sarri.

ST: Alexandre Lacazette – Arsenal 

Lacazette earned himself a first Premier League start this weekend following his impressive display from the bench against West Ham last weekend. And the Frenchman repaid his manager’s faith in him with another terrific display against Cardiff on Saturday. Lacazette first set-up striker partner Aubameyang, who made it 2-1 with a fine finish from outside the box, before scoring the winner himself in the 81st minute – slamming the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Arsenal look a better outfit with both Lacazette and Aubameyang on the pitch together. Unai Emery must stick with the pair of them against Newcastle in a fortnight’s time.

ST: Romelu Lukaku – Manchester United

Romelu Lukaku was simply unstoppable against Burnley on Sunday. The Belgian opened the scoring after 27 minutes with a powerful header from Alexis Sanchez’s cross, and doubled United’s lead just before the break with an instinctive finish as Burnley failed to clear the ball from their own box. He could have had two more had he a) been slightly more clinical in front of goal and b) not been denied by a blatant Ben Mee handball – but it was nevertheless a terrific performance that both he and his side separately needed.