Goalkeeper: The easiest choice in Team of the Weekend history? Probably. Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea was super-human in Saturday's 3-1 win at Arsenal, making a record equalling 14 saves in the match. No other goalkeeper has managed more since Premier League records began and it's no wonder he's a unanimous pick among our panel. De Gea's incredible double save from Alexandre Lacazette and then Alexis Sanchez was probably the standout moment in a performance that had Jose Mourinho purring. "The world's best," he claimed and Gabriele Marcotti was just as impressed. "Days like these he goes from being very good to miles out there beyond the edge of the Milky Way good. The double save was special, but it goes way beyond that. Without him, United probably lose," he said. Steve Nicol agrees and here's Shaka Hislop making it a full house: "He's the best in the world. You may not see a better goalkeeping display this season. If you do it'll be from De Gea again." Right-back: Mourinho has truly reinvigorated Antonio Valencia, whose buccaneering presence down the right troubled Arsenal and resulted in United's opening goal. Valencia has won Player of the Year awards as a right winger and also right-back, underlining his versatility. Shaka was impressed by Valencia at the Emirates and so was Marcotti, who said: "I am not a fan of a back three for United, but it works brilliantly for him." Midfield: There's a distinct Manchester United feel this week and Paul Pogbais next up. His critics claim he doesn't influence big games enough but Saturday was a real tour de force at Arsenal, the Frenchman dominating the middle and looking a snip at ￡89.3 million. Pogba's beautiful footwork set up United's third goal before a late challenge on Hector Bellerin resulted in a red card. "Don't care about that," Gab says. "Care about the two goals he set up, the poise he brought and the way he helped weather Arsenal's siege." Pogba has stepped it up this season and is becoming the midfield maestro he seems destined to be. Oh, how he will be missed in the Manchester derby. Forward: Successful teams are not just built on superstars. Eric Cantona used the term "water carriers" when describing lesser heralded players (in this case, Didier Deschamps with France) and their presence in a squad is crucial. Shaka's pick of Jesse Lingard may never be world class but he has his uses, exemplified by his superb two-goal show at the Emirates. For his first, his hassling and harrying prompted a mistake in the Arsenal backline and a crisp finish put United in charge. A simple tap-in for the second was just reward for an enterprising display from a player who scored a wonderful solo goal at Watford in midweek.
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发表于 4-12-2017 11:26 AM
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