EPL Team of the Week: Gameweek 17
Gerhard Tremmel (Swansea)
Swansea’s “Ginger Ninja” as they call him was on hand to put in another extraordinary shift. The German goalkeeper has proved to be more than just a handy replacement for Michael Vorm, who has been sidelined for over a month now. Whether keeping out Walker’s thunderous shot or coming up trumps against Defoe on a one on one opportunity, he provided it all.
Honourable Mention: Joe hart (Manchester City)
Jan Verthongen (Tottenham)
With the Belgian earning a rare start at the centre of the defence, Tottenham looked incredibly more comfortable at the back than we have seen them this year. His presence at the heart of the defensive schemes were a vital factor in their clean sheet. The winner was just the cherry on the top.
Ashley Williams (Swansea)
Another terrific performance at the back from the Englishman. His stature in the Premier league keeps growing and Sunday’s performance would do that no harm. A rock solid display at the back, although in a losing effort.
Nathan Baker (Aston Villa)
Villa’s unbeaten run in the Premier league now has stretched to five games, a run which has seen them concede only two goals. His partnership at the back with Clark was a vital ingredient in the triumph at Anfield, as they defended with great zeal and spirit throughout the game. A tremendous challenge on Shelvey when he had only the goalkeeper to beat set the tone for Villa’s defensive efforts early in the game.
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
The Argentine was his ever-present industrious self throughout the game. Newcastle could hardly muster any joy on their left side as Zabaleta seemed to cut out any chance that the Magpies were able conjure up on that side of the field. Except for one time when Davide Santon cut inside of him in the penalty box, he had the better of both the Italian as well as his Argentine teammate Jonas Gutttierez. The Argentine then showed his more-than-capable prowess on the offensive end, setting up Yaya Toure for the vital third.
Honourable Mention: Ryan Shawcross (Stoke), Winston Reid (West Ham), Sebastien Bassong (Norwich)
Adel Taarabt (QPR)
Queens Park Rangers finally broke their duck as they recorded their first win 17 games, the longest drought since Swindon Town in the season 1993-94. The win came courtesy of a brace from their midfield wizard Abel Taarabt.
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal)
A week after he was criticized heavily by all and sundry for a blatant dive, the diminutive Spaniard hit back. Superb, other-worldly, fabulous and magical. If you have any other superlatives to bestow upon the Spaniard, he deserves them all. A hat-trick coupled with an assist makes him the easiest inclusion into the team.
Wes Hoolahan (Norwich)
The Irish midfielder is getting rave reviews this season and he showed once again at the weekend that the high praises that he has been getting are no fluke. He pulled the strings and was at his marshalling best in the midfield. A goal did him no harm whatsoever.
Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Wearing the captain’s armband in place of Vincent Kompany for the evening, Toure lead City with a bossing performance in the midfield. Toure made light work of his Ivory Coast counterpart in Cheickh Tiote as he not only shielded the backline but emerged as a supreme playmaker. Set up the first with a delightful through ball and hammered the final nail in the coffin as well with his team’s third of the night.
Honourable Mentions: Vurnon Anita (Newcastle), Lucas Podolski (Arsenal), Anthony Pilkington (Norwich)
Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)
Villa might have scored only four times on the road before the weekend’s game at Anfield, but the 6’3″ towering forward made sure that there would be no shortage of attacking inputs for the Villans on Saturday evening at Anfield. Two goals for himself and neat set up for Weimann made sure of all three points.
Robin Van Persie (Manchester United)
The ever-impressive flying Dutchman makes yet another appearance in our team. The Dutch international was his impressive self again as he drew first blood and then set up his partner Wayne Rooney to slot the third, as the Red Devils romped to a 3-1 victory at home against Sunderland.
Honourable Mentions: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
So, this how our team of the week looks like:
