Premier League Team of the Week as Sancho sings on Chelsea debut

We have put together our Premier League team of the week from the fourth matchday of the season, which saw Arsenal win the North London Derby, Aston Villa come out on top of a five-goal thriller, and Nottingham Forest shock Liverpool.  

Premier League Team of the Week

GK: Robert Sanchez – Chelsea

We were spoiled for choice in the goalkeeping department this weekend. Andre Onana saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet for Manchester United, while Arijanet Muric was impervious for Ipswich Town as they shut out an in-form Brighton side.

But Robert Sanchez put in one of the performances we’ve ever seen from him in the Premier League, saving Evanilson’s penalty and keeping a clean sheet as Chelsea narrowly beat Bournemouth. Only Aaron Ramsdale made as many saves as his seven on matchday four.

CB: Gabriel Magalhães – Arsenal

Another top showing from Arsenal’s defence as they kept their third clean sheet in four games to beat their north London rivals. Gabriel and his colleagues repelled Spurs’ many attacks on Sunday, and it was the Brazilian who made the decisive contribution by exploiting the opposition’s weakness from set pieces.

CB: Matthijs de Ligt – Man Utd

When Southampton put Manchester United under pressure in the first half, Matthijs de ligt was there to sweep up at the back; the Dutchman made six clearances by the time he was taken off late on, including one off the line. He was also effective at the other end, heading home for his first goal since leaving Bayern Munich.

CB: Nikola Milenkovic – Nottingham Forest

I was tempted to include the entire Nottingham Forest backline, because it feels unfair to pick out just one defender from their superb display on Saturday. It took a real collective effort to shut Liverpool out for their first win at Anfield since 1969.

Nikola Milenkovic was central to that effort, marshalling the defence expertly. It was a huge task and he was more than equal to it. The Serbia international made just one tackle in the entire game, but it was the most important, starting the counter-attack that led to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s winner.

RW: Amad Diallo – Man Utd

Right now it feels like everything in Man United’s attack is going through Amad Diallo. The winger followed up a really good cameo against Liverpool with a brilliant performance from the start against the Saints. No player across the weekend created more chances than the Ivorian, whose six key passes included an assist for Marcus Rashford. The youngster seems to be coming of age.

CM: Dwight McNeil – Everton

Sean Dyche’s decision to play Dwight McNeil more centrally was an inspired one, as he played a blinder in the first half of Everton’s breathless encounter with Aston Villa. The 24-year-old made something out of nothing after just 16 minutes, robbing Amadou Onana of the ball before scoring the opener.

A little over ten minutes later McNeil set up the second, sending a free kick right onto the head of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. It’s just a shame for him that the Toffees didn’t hold on for the result that his performance deserved.

Read – ‘Moment of magic’ decides 5-goal thriller as Villa break Everton hearts

CM: Wilfred Ndidi

Wilfred Ndidi could hardly have done more to help Leicester City secure a first win of the season, laying on a pair assists to put the Foxes two goals up on Crystal Palace. He created a highly impressive three big chances, while also making seven recoveries on the defensive side. But a Jean-Philippe Mateta brace earned a point for the Eagles.

LW: Jadon Sancho – Chelsea

Jadon Sancho may have come on at the half, but it only took him 45 minutes to claim the Player of the Match award against Bournemouth with a performance that reminded us he still has plenty to offer in the Premier League. The 24-year-old turned the game in Chelsea’s favour with some excellent wing play and set up the winning goal for Christopher Nkunku.

CF: Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa

Ollie Watkins got over his early season goal drought in some fashion, scoring twice to get Aston Villa out of a hole and ultimately beat Everton at home. He found the net from close range either side of the break, and he could have easily had a hat-trick.

CF: Jean-Philippe Mateta – Crystal Palace

Another slow start from Palace almost proved fatal, but Jean-Philippe Mateta was on hand to save the day against Leicester. The Frenchman’s clever toe poke got the south London outfit back into the contest, before dispatching a late penalty to snatch a point.

CF: Erling Haaland – Man City

A near-permanent fixture in our teams of the week at this stage, Erling Haaland continued his excellent start to the season with a brace for Manchester City against Brentford. The Norwegian was super quick on the turn for his first and used his size and strenght cleveryl for the second, allowing Ethan Pinnock to bounce off his back before dinking the ball over the goalkeeper. He could well have had a hat-trick too, which would have been his third in a row.

Read – Six Premier League players who shone during the international break

See Also – 10 of the best Premier League ‘Barclaysmen’

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