Outside90’s Rob Officer selects the best individual performances from the latest round of Premier League action for our team of the week.
Fraser Forster – Goalkeeper – Southampton
In just his fourth league match of the campaign, the 27-year-old kept a clean sheet in Southampton’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Emirates. Forster made 10 saves to keep Arsenal scoreless with nine of the saves coming from shots inside the penalty area. The Englishman, standing at 201 centimetres in height, beat his previous best saves per game of seven, which also happened against the Gunners.
Joel Ward – Right-back – Crystal Palace
Despite being in the losing side, which makes it difficult to justify selection as a defender, Joel Ward put in a typically hard-working display in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth at Selhurst Park. The 26-year-old Englishman fought hard in defence and battled forward to try and get his side back on terms throughout the second half.
Nicolás Otamendi – Centre-back – Manchester City
It was second versus second-last in the Premier League and Otamendi may have been forgiven for being complacent. The 27-year-old Argentine might have expected an easy match but was quick to find out Sunderland meant business and found himself under pressure as the Black Cats managed 11 shots to City’s six for the match. Otamendi came to City’s rescue with a ‘take no prisoners’ approach toward the death, his late goal-line clearance saving three points and keeping his side within reach of league leaders Leicester.
Sebastian Prodl – Centre-back – Watford
The Austrian defender played a vital role in Watford’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea. The 28-year-old was playing his 11th match of the season and stood up when it mattered to keep the champions at bay. Prödl managed a shot on target, 32 passes, won six of nine duels attempted, won all three tackles attempted and made some important blocks and interceptions.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson – Left-back – Manchester United
The young centre-back took to the left on what was his 19th birthday to start for Manchester United at Old Trafford. Not a bad present for the young Englishman, assisting Jesse Lingard’s 14th-minute header in the 3-0 win over Stoke City. It was an impressive display from the youngster and we can expect to see more from him in the future.
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Riyad Mahrez – Midfielder – Leicester City
Mahrez has been the talk of the season, showing his quality for Leicester week in, week out. He was lively from the very start in the league leaders’ 2-0 win over Liverpool when he came very close to scoring in the opening moments. Mahrez created a copious number of chances, including the ball that set up Jamie Vardy’s opening stunner.
Mark Noble – Midfielder – West Ham United
‘Mr West Ham’ was at it again in his side’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Boleyn Ground. Noble owned the midfield, playing 112 passes at an incredible 93% accuracy. Of these passes, 41 were forward. Noble managed two shots and four shot assists, as well as the assist for Michail Antonio’s opening goal. Noble drifted a ball in from halfway that Antonio headed home.
Michail Antonio – Midfielder – West Ham United
The Englishman made his 12th appearance of the season and had a big impact, as the Hammers cruised to a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. The 25-year-old had six shots and scored once, latching onto an inviting ball played by Mark Noble near the halfway line and Antonio headed home from near the penalty spot.
Anthony Martial – Attacking-midfielder – Manchester United
An impressive all-round display has given the Frenchman a place in this week’s edition, but it was a difficult choice. Martial had five shots and scored a brilliant goal in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Stoke City, calmly whipping the ball into the top-right corner of the goal from the top-left corner of the penalty box. His goal and assist were enough to nudge Arsenal’s Mesut Özil out of the Team of the Week.
Jamie Vardy – Striker – Leicester City
He was at it again. Jamie Vardy’s “chat s***, get banged” has become one of the football world’s most popular sayings and in Leicester’s 2-0 win over Liverpool, he certainly did the banging. Vardy’s opening strike was a stunning first-time hit from well outside the box that left Simon Mignolet helpless and others just watching in awe. After the brilliance of the first, his second was in typical Vardy style, terrorising the defenders, never giving up and getting the reward.
Harry Kane – Striker – Tottenham Hotspur
Despite a slow start to the year, England international Harry Kane has proved he is no one-trick pony, scoring twice as Tottenham breezed past Norwich 3-0 at Carrow Road. Kane scored from the penalty spot and tucked away his second into the bottom-left corner of the goal at the end of regular time.
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