Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.
Moment of the Week
All eyes were on the Etihad this week as Manchester City and Arsenal met in a clash of the Premier League’s top two.
Arsenal went into the game with a five-point advantage over the defending champions, but a wobble of three consecutive draws had allowed City – who have two games in hand – to move within reach. The Gunners faced a challenge of their credentials and nerve, but it took just seven minutes for City to show just why they’ve been crowned champions in four of the past five seasons.
Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne combined to devastating effect, with the two swapping usual roles as Haaland created the opener for De Bruyne.
An emphatic opener! ????@KevinDeBruyne puts us ahead at the Etihad ???? pic.twitter.com/JoNCfFXIJt
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2023
From there it was a one-sided contest, as City taught the league leaders a lesson and took control of the title race. City rose to the occasion, as Arsenal froze. That’s the hallmark of champions.
Player of the Week
Kevin De Bruyne was at his majestic best as Manchester City thrashed Arsenal 4-1 this week.
De Bruyne scored twice and created another in another magnificent big-game performance, with the Belgium international the best player on the pitch on the big occasion.
De Bruyne dovetailed superbly with Erling Haaland as the two combined to take the game away from Arsenal, who for all their success this season lack names proven in performing when it matters most.
Kevin De Bruyne has the most assists across all competitions from Europe's top 5️⃣ leagues, with Messi in 2️⃣ ???? pic.twitter.com/07lbmzGvEy
— 433 (@433) April 27, 2023
Season after season De Bruyne has come alive during the Premier League run-in, with each campaign adding weight to his argument as one of the league’s all-time great midfielders.
Goal of the Week
Jacob Murphy might have bundled this one over the line from close range, but the beauty in our Goal of the Week was in its creation.
Alexander Isak has fast become a favourite at Newcastle and the club’s record signing produced a moment of magic to assist Murphy’s late goal at Everton.
The Sweden international picked up possession just inside the Everton half, before embarking on a stunning solo run that left a trail of blue shirts in his wake.
Stop what you're doing and watch this Alexander Isak dribble ???? pic.twitter.com/Kdq8E09fzo
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 27, 2023
Everton were unable to deal with the quick feet, sharp turns and bursts of acceleration from Isak, who produced one of the assists of the season at Goodison.
Scintillating stuff.
Miss of the Week
Just how big a miss could this turn out to be from Patrick Bamford?
Leeds remain just a single point outside the Premier League’s relegation places after four games without a win and Bamford blew the chance to snatch a vital win against relegation rivals Leicester this week.
The forward somehow turned wide with a gaping goal from close range, as Leeds missed the chance to inflict a damaging defeat on a direct rival.
How has Patrick Bamford missed that?! ???? pic.twitter.com/92UI3acGxw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 25, 2023
Save of the Week
Jose Sa recorded a third clean sheet in four games as Wolves beat Crystal Palace this week, a result which moved Julen Lopetegui’s side eight points clear of the relegation places and to probable safety.
Wolves were reliant on their goalkeeper to keep out a Palace side who have improved under Roy Hodgson, with Sa making a superb save to deny Albert Sambi Lokonga from point-blank range.
Jose Sa.
⚠️ @AWNetworks pic.twitter.com/76Fn29oTL2
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 27, 2023
Stat of the Week
Things are looking pretty bleak at Chelsea right now.
Frank Lampard’s return to the club as interim manager has proven a disaster to date, with Chelsea having now lost five consecutive games in all competitions since Lampard replaced Graham Potter.
Todd Boehly might just be wondering whether he made the right decision to sack Thomas Tuchel earlier in the season, after the Champions League winning coach was hastily removed at Stamford Bridge.
11 – Chelsea have lost 11 of their 26 Premier League matches since Thomas Tuchel departed (W7 D8), as many as they lost in their 63 games under the German between January 2021 and September 2022 (W35 D17 L11). Regrets. pic.twitter.com/2XlpTkun5w
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 27, 2023
It’s been nothing short of a mess at Stamford Bridge ever since.
Donkey of the Week
Everton are in real trouble with a 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle leaving the Toffees mired in the relegation places.
On a harrowing night for Sean Dyche’s side it was Ben Godfrey who struggled most, with the defender enduring a torrid time. Joelinton breezed past Godfrey to set up the opening goal, before Joe Willock did similar to create the second.
Things went from bad to worse as Godfrey was one of several Everton defenders that Alexander Isak led on a merry dance for the fourth goal, with Dyche’s decision not to make a change at right-back one that should be questioned.
Eric Dier deserves a dishonourable mention having had a detrimental impact on Spurs at both ends of the pitch.
Dier gave Marcus Rashford far too much freedom in the build up to Manchester United’s second goal, with the centre-back too cumbersome to get close enough to his England teammate.
The 29-year-old then missed a glorious chance to redeem himself at the other end, as he somehow headed wide with the goal gaping to leave interim manager Ryan Mason exasperated.
Ryan Mason's reaction to Eric Dier's miss says it all…???????? pic.twitter.com/fCWFdMfXCS
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) April 27, 2023
After calling Sunday’s defeat at Newcastle his ‘worst footballing experience’, Dier’s fortunes failed to improve on a personal level as a 2-2 draw with the Red Devils left Spurs’ top four hopes in tatters.
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