Gameweek 16 of the 2021-22 Premier League season is done and dusted, with Manchester City still leading the way after seeing off Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0.
Liverpool kept the pressure on the leaders by beating Aston Villa by the same scoreline, while Chelsea remain third after sinking Leeds United 3-2 in the capital.
Manchester United's unbeaten start under Ralf Rangnick continued with a 1-0 success at Norwich City, but West Ham United were held to a goalless stalemate by Burnley.
Arsenal returned to winning ways with an emphatic 3-0 win over Southampton to leapfrog COVID-hit Tottenham Hotspur, whose clash with Brighton & Hove Albion was postponed.
Elsewhere, Leicester City thrashed Newcastle United 4-0, Brentford dramatically overcame Watford 2-1, and Crystal Palace saw off Everton 3-1.
Here, Sports Mole selects its Team of the Week for gameweek 16 of the Premier League season.
DEFENCE
© Reuters
There were a number of standout performances in between the sticks this weekend, but none more so than David de Gea's stellar display at Carrow Road, as the Man United stopper made five saves from shots inside the area to preserve his side's clean sheet.
Attackers did not steal the show during Liverpool's clash with Villa either, but Joel Matip was simply a rock at the back for the Reds, winning all six of his aerial duels, making two interceptions, two tackles and posting a 93% pass accuracy.
Not long after seeing his goal at the Emirates ruled out, Gabriel Magalhaes rose highest to score Arsenal's third against Southampton, and the ever-reliable Brazilian also won three out of four aerial duels and made five clearances for Mikel Arteta's side.
The final member of our backline filled in at centre-back with an exemplary performance on Friday night, as Vitaly Janelt won seven out of eight ground duels, six out of eight aerial duels and completed 3/3 successful dribbles in a frenzied win over Watford.
MIDFIELD
© Reuters
Moved back over to the right-hand side for the encounter with Wolves, Man City's Joao Cancelo continues to enjoy his most productive season under Pep Guardiola and starred at the weekend with four key passes, four tackles and 7/8 accurate long balls.
While Cancelo played a vital role in his side's victory, it was Raheem Sterling who would bag the winner from the spot to take him up to 100 Premier League goals at the tender age of 27, and he also posted a 93% pass accuracy at the Etihad Stadium.
It was a challenge to stick to just three central midfielders given the plethora of top-class engine room displays this weekend, but there simply had to be a spot for Conor Gallagher, who bagged a brace in the win over Everton - his second was truly a thing of beauty - and he also chipped in defensively with four tackles for the Eagles.
Midfielders also ran the show during Leicester's battle with Newcastle, as James Maddison came up with a goal and assist in that 4-0 win while also winning his side six fouls on the day. Alongside the creative hub, Youri Tielemans found the back of the net twice and also made five tackles in an all-action display for the Foxes.
ATTACK
© Reuters
Benefitting from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's absence due to a disciplinary breach, Alexandre Lacazette finished off a sweeping Arsenal move with a rifled effort into the top corner against Southampton to break the deadlock, and the Frenchman will hope for more of the same before his expected departure in the summer.
Another Leicester man to steal the show in the thumping of Newcastle came in the form of Patson Daka, who alongside Maddison also claimed a goal and assist on the day to send Brendan Rodgers a clear selection message as Jamie Vardy enters the last knocking of his career.
SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (3-5-2): De Gea; Matip, Gabriel, Janelt; Cancelo, Gallagher, Tielemans, Maddison, Sterling; Daka, Lacazette
