in Opinion/Features, Weekly features

Premier League Awards: Fernandes fluffs his lines, Jesus hits four

Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.

Moment of the Week

Arsenal secured the result of the weekend after beating Manchester United at the Emirates, a crucial win as each of the four teams below the Gunners dropped points in the race for Europe.

The North Londoners had threatened to capitulate after taking a two-goal lead, with Cristiano Ronaldo having reduced the deficit before the conceding of a penalty for Nuno Tavares’ handball.

In a moment that simultaneously impacted the Champions League hopes of both teams as Bruno Fernandes – a surprise taker given the presence of Ronaldo on the pitch – rolled his penalty against the post and ended Manchester United’s momentum.

Granit Xhaka lashed home a third goal for Arsenal minutes later and as Mikel Areta’s side march on into the top four, the beaten Red Devils face an almost certain absence from Europe’s elite next season.

Player of the Week

Gabriel Jesus has been at the centre of transfer speculation over the past week, with reports having suggested that Arsenal are prepared to give the forward a more prominent role than the one he currently enjoys at Manchester City.

The Brazilian returned to the starting side as the Premier League leaders thrashed Watford this weekend, enjoying an afternoon to remember as he scored four goals and created another in the 5-1 win at the Etihad.

Jesus was in clinical mood as the champions ran riot against the struggling Hornets, scoring his first ever Premier League hat-trick in a ruthless individual performance.

The 25-year-old was signed as long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero before moving into a wide role during the current campaign, but he remains a reliable source of goals and has now registered 86 G/A in just 95 Premier League starts since signing for City from Palmeiras.

Erling Haaland’s impending arrival could spell the end for Jesus as he seeks regular first-team football, but he will be a fine signing for any side looking to add potency to their forward options.

Goal of the Week

Xhaka’s sweet strike and Bruno Guimaraes’ audacious effort for Newcastle deserve mentions, but the best goal from the Premier League’s weekend action came at the Etihad.

Jesus might have stolen the headlines with a four-goal haul against Watford, though the anomaly to the Brazilian’s clinical showing was this superb goal from Rodri.

A far from regular goalscorer from midfield, when Rodri finds the net his goals often prove to be memorable.

Miss of the Week

It was a bad weekend for stuttering and skipping spot-kick takers, with both Bruno Fernandes and Jorginho missing penalties.

Jorginho’s effort in Chelsea’s 1-0 win over West Ham was particularly painful viewing, a tame effort that Lukasz Fabianski gratefully accepted into his clutches.

The midfielder’s miss came after two fluffed spot-kicks contributed to Italy’s failure to reach the 2022 World Cup and the once uber-confident Jorginho might now have second thoughts over his spot-kick status.

Fortunately for the 30-year-old, Christian Pulisic’s last-minute winner spared his blushes at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea reinforced their position in the Premier League’s top three.

Stat of the week

James Ward-Prowse earned Southampton a 2-2 draw at Brighton this weekend, scoring twice as the Saints came from two goals down to share the spoils.

The midfielder continued to enhance his reputation as the Premier League’s finest free-kick taker with another set-piece effort, with the 27-year-old having now scored more free-kicks (4) and more goals from outside the box (5) than any other player in the division this season.

Ward-Prowse – who is now just four free-kicks behind David Beckham’s all-time Premier League record – has scored eight free-kicks since the start of last season, twice as many as any other player across Europe’s top five leagues.

Quote of the Week

Divock Origi looks set to leave Liverpool this summer after struggling for opportunities at Anfield, but the fan favourite made yet another impact in what looks likely to be his last Merseyside Derby.

Origi came off the bench to help turn the game in Liverpool’s favour, finding himself involved in the first goal before scoring the second himself, incredibly his sixth career goal against Everton.

The Belgian’s impact led to huge praise from Jurgen Klopp, who told Sky Sports that Origi’s contribution in recent seasons has earned the cult hero ‘legend’ status on Merseyside.

“We will never miss a player like him because if he leaves, he will explode wherever he goes. He is a world-class striker, he is a legend and will stay a legend forever.”

Donkey of the Week

Everton dropped into the Premier League’s bottom three after a 2-0 defeat in the Merseyside Derby, a spirited performance not enough as the Reds ran out winners at Anfield.

Despite encouraging signs from Frank Lampard’s side, it was a dreadful derby display from Allan who endured a nightmare performance.

The Brazilian midfielder incredibly completed just two passes across his 73 minutes on the pitch, both of which came from kick-off.

Read – Premier League Team of the Week – Gameweek 34

Read Also – 10 unforgettable Merseyside derby moments in the Premier League era

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