Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.
Moment of the Week
Kai Havertz has had a challenging start to his Arsenal career. Question marks have been asked about how the German fits into Mikel Arteta’s plans, with the uncertainty surrounding his best role extended to international duty as the 24-year-old was experimentally used at left-back this month.
If Havertz has underwhelmed during his time in English football, he has however shown an ability to deliver in big moments. His Champions League winner for Chelsea cemented him into the club’s folklore, before firing home the winner as the Blues beat Palmeiras to lift the Club World Cup.
Havertz has now delivered his first big-game moment for Arsenal, after coming off the bench to score late on at Brentford. The Gunners had struggled to break down the Bees in a tough London derby, but Havertz headed home Bukayo Saka’s 89th-minute cross to earn a precious win.
With Manchester City and Liverpool drawing earlier in the day, the result moved Arsenal top of the Premier League table. How big a win that could prove to be, remains to be seen.
Player of the Week
Anthony Gordon can count himself unfortunate to have missed out on a maiden England call up this month and with the next internationals not until March, the winger needs to maintain his current form over the winter to break into Southgate’s squad.
Gordon is having a superb season for Newcastle, having shed the doubts that came with an underwhelming first six months at St James’ Park to become a fan favourite. He was exceptional once again as Eddie Howe’s side thrashed Chelsea 4-1 this weekend, creating one, scoring another, and causing probable future England teammate Reece James all kinds of trouble.
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️@anthonygordon with his fifth goal of the season so far! ???? pic.twitter.com/PetmuATFh1
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 26, 2023
James could not live with Gordon’s fast feet, drive and work-rate, with the right-back sent off for bringing the winger down in the second half. Having had just four goal involvements in the Premier League last season, the 22-year-old now has eight in 12 games for Newcastle in 2023/24.
His end product is getting better and better, while he has showcased an ability to deliver in big games with goals against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea this season. If England don’t cap him soon, Scotland are waiting in the wings to take Gordon to Euro 2024.
Goal of the Week
Sorry, Michael Olise. The Crystal Palace winger must have thought he had Goal of the Month wrapped up after a special solo goal against Luton, only for Alejandro Garnacho to trump him in the final fixture of the weekend.
Garnacho’s Golazo at Goodison Park stunned a raucous home crowd, as the Argentine acrobatically fired Manchester United into an early lead. Moving away from goal, the teenager leapt to meet Diogo Dalot’s cross and connected perfectly with his overhead effort.
WHAT A GOAL ALEJANDRO GARNACHO!!!! ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/L9h1inY5rT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 26, 2023
Garnacho might just have sealed the Goal of the Season award before Christmas. It’s one of the best overhead kicks the Premier League has seen. Ever.
Miss of the Week
Joelinton is a quite brilliant box-to-box presence now.
So much so, that sometimes we forget just how badly he struggled at centre-forward before his move into midfield.
Fortunately, he was on hand this weekend to remind us.
No way Joelinton missed this ???????? pic.twitter.com/DcN5WPMUih
— KELECHI (@UTDkelechi) November 25, 2023
Stat of the Week
That Justin Kluivert has ticked off a goal in each of Europe’s big five leagues, at the age of 24, is quite some achievement.
5 – Justin Kluivert has become the second player to score in each of the big 5 European leagues (Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and German Bundesliga) in the 21st century, after Stevan Jovetic. Completed. #SHUBOU pic.twitter.com/WbssCxiWgw
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 25, 2023
Tweet of the Week
Darwin Nunez is quite capable of mixing the sublime with the ridiculous all in one game. This, quite perfectly, sums up one of the most watchable players in the Premier League right now.
This is how Nunez plays football pic.twitter.com/LB7OBkN7Ap
— ???? (@Gideoomatic) November 25, 2023
Picture of the Week
English football is mourning the loss of Terry Venables, after it was announced the former Spurs, Barcelona and England coach had passed away, aged 80.
Tributes have poured in for Venables, who guided Barcelona to the 1984/85 La Liga title, inspiring the next generation in the process.
A 15-year-old Pep Guardiola in awe of Terry Venables after Barça’s victory over IFK Göteborg in the 1985/86 European Cup semi-final. pic.twitter.com/XvIkkRIvjt
— Mohamed Moallim (@iammoallim) November 26, 2023
‘Great man, great loss’ – Tributes paid to Terry Venables
Donkey of the Week
Has time finally caught up with Thiago Silva?
The veteran has provided evergreen class since signing for Chelsea three years ago, but appeared every inch a man closing in on his 40th birthday at Newcastle this weekend. Silva escaped without punishment after falling over his own feet near the corner flag early on, but was not so fortuitous after dawdling in possession in the second half.
Joelinton capitalised to rob his compatriot of the ball in a dangerous area and fire home, a hammer blow to Chelsea’s hopes as the west Londoners fell 3-1 down.
I’m devastated. It wasn’t a good day for us. I would like to apologize to everyone for the defeat, especially to my teammates who believe in me and support me every day. I take full responsibility. Let’s gather strength and come back stronger ???????????? pic.twitter.com/sXP3ufJox8
— Thiago Silva (@tsilva3) November 25, 2023
Teammate Reece James is fortunate to miss out on this unwanted award, after a needless red card in Chelsea’s collapse at St James’ Park.
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