HomeOpinion/FeaturesPremier League Team of the Week - Final day

Premier League Team of the Week – Final day

Each week we delve through the Premier League’s weekend action and compile our divisional Team of the Week from the fixtures’ finest performances.

After a final day that saw Everton secure the win needed to survive, Aston Villa claim a place in Europe, and a goal-fest at St Mary’s, we’ve chosen the best performers from across the Premier League games.

For the final time this season, here is The Football Faithful’s Premier League Team of the Week.

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford – Everton

Everton secured their Premier League status for another season after a dramatic 1-0 win over Bournemouth, a result which ensured the club will play top-flight football for a 70th consecutive campaign.

Few have done more to preserve Everton’s place in the Premier League than Jordan Pickford, who delivered when his side needed him most with a brilliant late stop from Matias Vina. The England number one had little to do before that save, but remained alert until the relief of the final whistle. He has consistently been one of Everton’s better performers in a season of struggle.

Centre-back: Yerry Mina – Everton

Yerry Mina will leave Everton when his contract expires this summer, but will do so having had a crucial role in the club’s survival. The Colombian scored a dramatic equaliser at Wolves last weekend, before starring as the Toffees beat Bournemouth to secure safety.

Mina made a crucial interception late in the first half as Bournemouth threatened and was a dominant presence with eight duels won. He made a brilliant block from Dominic Solanke and as usual was in the thick of the action whenever tempers threatened to spill over.

His final performance in an Everton shirt was a memorable one.

Centre-back: Ethan Pinnock – Brentford

Ethan Pinnock capped a fine week with the winning goal as Brentford completed a league double over champions Manchester City.

The centre-back – who signed a new four-year contract earlier this week – drilled home a low effort after Bryan Mbuemo had headed Kevin Schade’s cross into his path.

Pinnock has been a mountainous presence for the Bees this season – leading the Premier League for clearances – and ended the campaign on a high note as Brentford upset the treble-chasing Citizens.

Centre-back: Conor Coady – Everton

Conor Coady was recalled to the Everton side as Sean Dyche opted for a change in formation and the centre-back brought leadership in their do-or-die clash with Bournemouth.

The on-loan defender hasn’t featured prominently during Dyche’s reign to date, but added composure defensively in a high-stakes game at Goodison Park. His goal-line clearance was a pivotal moment in Everton’s 1-0 win and the sense of relief was palpable at the full-time whistle.

Coady’s future is uncertain beyond this season, but the defender’s post-game comments indicate he is the sort of character who can help Everton improve standards and push forward.

Right-midfield: Pedro Porro – Tottenham

Encouraging signs from the January arrival, who was involved in three goals as Spurs ended the season with a 4-1 win at Leeds.

Porro has looked more comfortable in an advanced role and freed from defensive responsibilities impressed at Elland Road. He made a good run in the build-up to Harry Kane’s opener, before scoring the second with a well-taken effort just minutes into the second half.

Porro then drove forward to tee up Kane for his 30th Premier League goal of season and the Spaniard was a threat all afternoon. There’s no doubt room for improvement from a player initially signed to fit in at right-back, but the positives in Porro’s game were on show.

Midfield: Granit Xhaka – Arsenal

If, as expected, this was Granit Xhaka’s farewell at Arsenal it could hardly have been a better send-off. The midfielder scored twice as Arsenal thrashed Wolves 5-0 at the Emirates to end what has been an encouraging season in fine fashion.

The Switzerland international’s brace was the perfect high on which to end an Arsenal career that has seen Xhaka fight back from a public fall-out with the supporters to become a real fan favourite. An excellent all-round display from Xhaka, who can be excused for wasting a hat-trick chance with the goal gaping. Many at Arsenal will be disappointed to see him leave.

Midfield: Abdoulaye Doucoure – Everton

What a goal, what a moment for Everton.

The Toffees have ambitions that far exceed scraping survival on the final weekend, but Doucoure’s stunning goal will live long in the memory at Goodison Park. The midfielder was continually overlooked under Frank Lampard earlier in the campaign, but has been a crucial contributor during the battle for survival under Sean Dyche.

Doucoure’s box-to-box dynamism has been a pivotal part of Everton’s improvement under Dyche and his rocket preserved their Premier League status. The Frenchman joined nineties icons Barry Horne and Gareth Farrelly in scoring a last-day stunner to save a Toffees team in trouble.

Left-midfield: Jacob Ramsey – Aston Villa

Aston Villa will play European football for the first time in more than a decade next season, with Jacob Ramsey the driving force of their 2-1 win over Brighton.

The midfielder was a rampaging presence down the left and teed up Douglas Luiz for the opener, before registering his second assist of the afternoon with an unselfish square pass to Ollie Watkins.

Ramsey is flourishing in this team under Unai Emery and can now look forward to European nights next season. If he starts next season in similar form, England recognition won’t be far away.

Forward: Gabriel Jesus – Arsenal

A great end to what has been a fine first season for Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal. The Brazilian’s end product can be criticised on occasion, but he was at his best during the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Wolves, scoring one and creating another at the Emirates.

Jesus assisted Granit Xhaka’s opener after an inviting cross from the right and scored Arsenal’s fourth after meeting Leandro Trossard’s delivery to head home. Arsenal are a better side with Jesus in it, regardless of the profligate perceptions.

His movement caused problems for Wolves all afternoon and a return of 17 goal involvements this season – at an average of a goal or assist every 122 minutes – is an impressive return.

Forward: Kamaldeen Sulemana – Southampton

There’s been precious little to cheer at Southampton this season, but the Saints ensured their campaign ended on a positive note with a humdinger of a game against Liverpool.

Eight goals were evenly shared in a 4-4 draw between the sides at St Mary’s, a fixture that saw Kamaldeen Sulemana open his account for the club. The January recruit has failed to make the impact hoped for since arriving from Rennes, but is a player of rich potential and could benefit from a season in the Championship.

The 21-year-old ghosted in behind the Liverpool defence to score his first Southampton goal and netted a fantastic second, after driving from inside his own half before finishing past Caoimhin Kelleher.

Forward: Harry Kane – Tottenham

Harry Kane produced a masterful performance on what could be his final outing for Tottenham, with the forward in fine form during the club’s 4-1 win at Leeds.

Kane opened the scoring inside two minutes after sweeping home from Son Heung-min’s pass, before turning provider to set up Pedro Porro for the second. The England captain scored his second – and 30th in the Premier League this season – with an outstanding finish past Joel Robles to cap what has been a wonderful individual season for the forward.

Kane is the first footballer in Premier League history to have scored 30 league goals in more than one 38-game season and has done so in a side as inconsistent and flawed as this Spurs team. Given no European football will be played at Tottenham next season, it looks a difficult task to persuade Kane to commit to the rebuild.

Read – Eight big-name Premier League players who look set to be on the move this summer

Read Also – 10 of the most memorable Premier League final day moments

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