Our weekly Premier League awards honour the best – and worst – of the football action from the weekend.
Moment of the week
Arsenal produced a stunning comeback to maintain their Premier League title push, sealing the victory in the 97th minute. The Gunners had gone behind to what was the second-fastest Premier League goal of all time, with Phillip Billing scoring after just 9.11 seconds.
Marcos Senesi doubled the Cherries advantage in the second half, though Arsenal produced a stirring comeback before clinching all three points with one of the last kicks of the game.
⏱️ 57th minute – Arsenal 0-2 Bournemouth
⏱️ 97th minute – Arsenal 3-2 BournemouthA memorable comeback. ???? pic.twitter.com/iFsss69Ga9
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) March 4, 2023
The win showcased the new-found powers of recovery as the Gunners look to claim a first league title since 2003/04.
It helped maintain their five point advantage at the top of the Premier League after Manchester City had previously beaten Newcastle 2-0.
Player of the week
Mohamed Salah produced a sensational display as Liverpool put Manchester United to the sword on a memorable Anfield afternoon.
The Egyptian had the Manchester United defence at sixes at sevens as he drove at them with pace and purpose, registering four goal involvements in a ruthless second-half performance.
Salah teed up Gakpo for Liverpool’s third, before lashing a superb instinctive finish in off the underside of the bar to make it four.
He then netted Liverpool’s sixth, before setting up Roberto Firmino to round off a sensational scoreline.
Mohamed Salah's game by numbers vs. Man Utd:
57 touches
8 touches in opp. box
8 duels won
6 fouls won
4 x possession won
4 passes into opp. box
3 shots
3 chances created
2 shots on target
2 assists
2 goalsFOUR G/A, MO? That's insane. pic.twitter.com/DitzL3coUi
— Squawka (@Squawka) March 5, 2023
An honourable mention must go to Reiss Nelson following his match-winning performance from the bench for Arsenal.
Goal of the week
While Reiss Nelson missed out on our Player of the Week award, he does bag our goal of the week honour following his fantastic winner.
Having already registered an assist for Ben White’s equaliser, the 23-year-old showed excellent composure to control the ball on the edge of the box before rifling home to send the Emirates absolutely wild.
Honourable mentions go to Mohamed Salah for his first against Manchester United, Brennan Johnson’s second equaliser against Everton, and Adama Traore’s late winner against Spurs.
Save of the week
Arsenal found themselves 1-0 down inside 10 seconds, and 2-0 down after 57 minutes, though things could have been worse if it weren’t for this fine save by Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale to the rescue! ????
We need to talk about this @AaronRamsdale98 save ???? pic.twitter.com/J4zuC1txVS
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 5, 2023
Miss of the week
Leicester dominated possession and had 11 shots against Southampton, though not a single one hit the target. Kelechi Iheanacho was responsible for five of those efforts, with the Nigerian missing some gilt-edged chances.
Take your pick.
Stat of the week
If you were thinking, ‘I can’t remember the last time Manchester United got a hiding like that’, then that’s probably because the last time United lost 7-0 was back in1931, their joint heaviest competitive defeat.
7 – Manchester United have suffered their joint-heaviest ever competitive defeat, alongside 7-0 losses to Wolves in December 1931, Aston Villa in December 1930 and Blackburn Rovers in April 1926. Crushed. pic.twitter.com/b3QaUO0ETC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
Meanwhile, Saturday’s fixture’s produced a rare set of results, with all seven home sides registering victories, the first time this has happened in over 22 years.
7 – All seven Premier League games today have been won by the home team, only the second day in the competition's history to have 7+ matches with 100% won by the home side, after 28th October 2000 (8/8). Comforts.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 4, 2023
Donkey of the week
Just take your pick from Manchester United’s midfield and defence, as the previously in-form Red Devils totally capitulated at the home of their most bitter rivals.
Bruno Fernandes in particular was an embarrassment at times, whether it being feigning injury, pushing the officials, or just giving up on the fight, it was a wholly disappointing second half from the Portugal international.
????️ “There were things that I saw in that second half that were a disgrace and I’ll start with Bruno Fernandes because I’ve had enough of him throwing his arms around at his teammates, I’ve had enough of him not running back. He whinges at everybody.”@GNev2 on Bruno Fernandes. pic.twitter.com/cH64mfEZfV
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 5, 2023
Read – Premier League Team of the Week: Matchday 26
Read also – Appreciating the 13 players involved in 100+ goals at a Premier League ground
