Arsenal dominate Premier League team of the week following Newcastle win
Arsenal are the dominant side in our Premier League team of the week following their 3-0 win over Newcastle on Monday. It's a London-heavy side this week, with stars from Tottenham, Chelsea, West Ham and Fulham all making the cut. Defenders from Manchester City and Manchester United also feature as we take a look at the best performing XI...
Alphonse Areola (Fulham) - 7.70
Fulham may have fallen to a 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, but goalkeeper Alphonse Areola makes the Premier League team of the week for the second time running. West London rivals Chelsea would have been out of sight at Craven Cottage were it not for the Frenchman, who returned a WhoScored rating of 7.70 having made five saves on Saturday evening.
Cedric Soares (Arsenal) - 7.82
The first of three Arsenal players, Cedric Soares justified Mikel Arteta's decision to use the former Southampton man in place of Hector Bellerin at right-back in Monday night's 3-0 win over Newcastle. The Portuguese full-back provided the assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's second and Arsenal's third against the Magpies, that one coming from one of two key passes, to help Soares yield a WhoScored rating of 7.82.
John Stones (Manchester City) - 8.64
Manchester City's sole representative in the Premier League team of the week after their 4-0 win over Crystal Palace, John Stones became just the fourth centre-back to score twice and keep a clean sheet in a Premier League game since the start of the 2009/10 season. It was, as is to be expected, Stones' distribution that, along with his two goals, caught the eye at the Etihad Stadium as he found a teammate with 95.7% of his 116 attempted passes, with his WhoScored rating of 8.64 enough to earn the man of the match award and secure a spot in the best XI.
Partnering Stones at the heart of the defence, Burnley may have lost 1-0 at West Ham on Saturday, but it would have been worse without the heroics of captain Ben Mee. The defender won eight aerial duels in all and was proactive at the back, making six clearances, three tackles and three interceptions as he came away from the London Stadium with a WhoScored rating of 8.10.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United) - 7.50
Liverpool failed to score for the third league game running as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Manchester United. Luke Shaw put in a solid shift from left-back to ensure the Reds drew another blank, making four clearances, one tackle and one interception. Shaw pressed forward well, too, as he made two key passes and completed one dribble to return a WhoScored rating of 7.50, his second best in a Premier League match this season.
Bukayo Saka earned his second WhoScored Premier League man of the match award of his career in Arsenal's 3-0 win over Newcastle on Monday night. The Gunners star bagged his fourth league goal of the season against this disappointing Magpies outfit, hitting the back of the net with one of four shots. Saka was unfortunate not to bag an assist, too, as he made three key passes to contribute towards his WhoScored rating of 8.52.
Youri Tielemans (Leicester) - 8.64
Leicester earned a solid 2-0 win over Southampton on Saturday night, with Youri Tielemans having a direct hand in both goals. The young Belgian registered his first and second league assists of the season, turning provider for James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, with his brace of sorts coming from three key passes. Off the ball, Tielemans worked hard as he made four tackles to help return a WhoScored rating of 8.64.
Joining Tielemans in the middle of the park, Mason Mount bagged the winning goal in Chelsea's 1-0 win at 10-man Fulham on Saturday evening, finding a way past Areola with a little over 10 minutes to play. Mount routinely tested his luck, making four shots in total, and, had his teammates brought their shooting boots, it's likely the Blues would have wrapped up victory earlier as the Chelsea midfielder registered seven key passes to contribute towards his inclusion in the best XI with a WhoScored rating of 9.35.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) - 8.49
Rounding off the Arsenal contingent, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang maintained his fine goalscoring run against Newcastle, netting twice on home turf on Monday night. The Gunners captain has endured a sub-par season to date, but was on hand to scored his fourth and fifth league goals of the campaign against Newcastle, with his brace coming from five shots. In truth, Aubameyang should have had a hat-trick having struck the woodwork in the first half, but he rounds off the Gunners trio having earned a WhoScored rating of 8.49.
Michail Antonio (West Ham) - 7.84
Michail Antonio scored his first Premier League goal since October in West Ham's 1-0 win over Burnley on Saturday afternoon to feature in the Premier League team of the week. The Hammers forward returned a WhoScored rating of 7.84 in the narrow victory as he struck with one of three shots. Antonio also gave the Burnley backline a tough afternoon, winning six aerial duels in all, to take his place on the frontline.
Saving the best until last, Harry Kane is the WhoScored Premier League player of the week having earned a rating of 9.40 in Tottenham's 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon. Kane bagged Spurs' second in the victory, finding a way past Aaron Ramsdale from distance, that coming from one of six shots. The Spurs star was unfortunate not to add to his 11 assists as he made four key passes, while four successful dribbles, three tackles, two clearances and one interception capped a fine afternoon for the England international.
