EPL Game Week 11: Team of the Week Featuring a Manchester United and 3 Arsenal Stars

This week of the Barclays Premier League was just as entertaining and gripping as any other week. It yielded a total of 32 goals and consisted of a game that gave us 8 goals to admire- when Sunderland were at the end of a battering at the hands of Everton at Goodison Park.

And much like the previous week when Harry Kane’s hat trick had demolished Bournemouth at Dean Court, there was a hat-trick hero this time around too, in the form of Everton’s Arouna Kone. And apart from that, there were some other impressive performances too. And those who outperformed the others have got a deserved mention in the team of the week below-

GK: Jack Butland(Stoke City)

The young English stopper was fantastic for the Potters as they held onto a 0-0 stalemate despite facing a Newcastle side, which created many scoring opportunities. Despite all their best efforts to nestle the ball into the net, the Magpies couldn’t find a breakthrough thanks to some sublime and commendable saves from Jack Butland. The 22-year-old made a total of 7 saves throughout the games and was adjudged the man of the match for keeping Steve Mclaren’s men at bay.

RB: Cedric Soares (Southampton)

The former Sporting Lisbon man has come good for the Saints rather early in the season and is known to be a right back who knows how to attack and defend equally well. He won all of his tackles and completed two take-ons, in a game in which Southampton were dominated in the second half by the Cherries.

His defensive contributions down the right flank played a vital part in keeping the likes of Lee Tomlin, Josh King and Charlie Daniels quiet.

CB: Nicolas Otamendi( Manchester City)

The former Valencia man who completed a big-money move to City this past summer has been a bright light for the Citizens this season and has adapted to English conditions very well. He scored a thumping, well-timed header against Norwich and looked solid throughout the game.

The 26-year-old won 56 percent of his aerial duels and won 63 percent of his tackles too.

CB: Chris Smalling( Manchester United)

The Englishman has been a true revelation for United and acted as a wall throughout the Crystal Palace match in which United struggled to defend and were under constant pressure from the Eagles. Alongside Daley Blind, the 25-year-old stood tall above all other United players.

He made 6 clearances and won 50 percent of his aerial duels, and as many tackles in a game in which United struggled to create any chances.

LB: Nacho Monreal(Arsenal)

The Spaniard shone in a game that was expected to be a tricky one for the Gunners, as they took on Swansea that too at Liberty. Arsenal won the game 3-0, with goals from Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell, but the Monreal had a pivotal part to play in the game throughout.

The Spaniard made a total of 5 interceptions and was very good when it comes to tackling, as his tackling accuracy touched 67 percent and his aerial duels statistic stood at 87 percent. He completed 5 take-ons too.

CM: Dele Alli( Tottenham Hotspur)

Nobody could’ve expected someone as young as him to make such impact at a big Premier League club, after making a move from the then League One side MK Dons. But the Englishman deservedly earned an English cap and has been a star performer for Pochetinno’s Spurs, who haven’t lost a game since their opening day defeat at Old Trafford.

Alli was amongst the standout performers too, as he scored once from the edge of the box to double Spurs’ lead at the stroke of half time against Villa. He completed a total of 5 take-ons and was sound defensively too, making 3 interceptions in total.

CM: Steven Davis( Southampton)

A rather hard working yet a under-credited member of Ronald Koeman’s unit, Davis is usually an unlikely outlet for goals, but the Northern Irishman is always an important player for the Saints, one way or another. He contributes to both departments on the pitch and is a tireless worker.

Against Bournemouth in the South Coast derby, Davis opened Southampton’s account with a well-placed effort from close range, off Dusan Tadic’s cross. Apart from scoring, Davis created two chances and looked bright from the start.

LM: Arouna Kone(Everton)

There’s no one in the world who can deny him of a place in this week’s team of the week, thanks to a sublime hat-trick against Sunderland. He seems to bring in new spark into the Everton side and has looked very bright indeed since coming back into the first team fray this season.

His hat trick, which consisted of three different kinds of goals, stands out as an eye-catching show of the week and his Halloween celebration was just as cheeky. Playing on the left, Kone created three chances and looked a threat whenever Everton broke, tearing Sunderland’s 3-5-2 formation to shreds.

CAM: Mesut Ozil( Arsenal)

The man who’s witnessed a truly surprising and a rather pleasing resurgence back to his best, Ozil has been instrumental in Arsenal’s games this season. He’s seen assisting every single game and has been back amongst the goals too. He extinguished detractors who dubbed him to be unfit for the Premier League.

Against Swansea at the weekend, Ozil grabbed an assist and looked very lively whenever he got on the ball. An assist leader right now, Ozil created three chances and as always, was an important creator for the Gunners, as they stayed at second, behind City only on goal difference.

RM: Joel Campbell(Arsenal)

Due to an injury crisis, Wenger had gone ahead with fielding the Costa Rican, who has been on the fringes for some time now at the Emirates. And the youngster delivered a performance that didn’t disappoint Wenger and staked his claim for the first team spot, in the absence of the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Danny Welbeck, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Campbell enjoyed the best game of Arsenal career, to be honest. He scored Arsenal’s third goal that sealed the game and assisted Laurent Koscielny is scoring the second goal. He created a total of 6 chances and was Arsenal’s most creative player on the pitch, being deployed on the right of the three behind the striker.

ST: Jamie Vardy( Leicester City)

Here’s the man who’s been smashing some records in sublime fashion, a bit like his goal-scoring form which has been out of this world. A tireless worker, who won’t stop running until the final whistle, Vardy scored again for the Foxes against West Bromwich Albion, in a rather see-saw game that yielded a result in Leicester’ favor.

Vardy dropped deep to build up play and ran forward with pace equally well. He created two chances and as always looked a bright and ever ready prospect to run at defenders, harry them and win balls back.