Premier League Team of Week for November 1-3: Alexis, Oscar and Chambers Star
Welcome to the 10th installment of our Premier League Team of the Week for the 2014-15 season.
Here we analyse every game and pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation (in this case, a 4-2-3-1).
Alexis Sanchez and Calum Chambers played superbly for Arsenal and are rewarded with a spot, but Eden Hazard narrowly misses out due to intense competition in the advanced roles.
Please note: Amendments will be made post-Crystal Palace vs. Sunderland (Monday Night Football).
GK: David De Gea, Manchester United
1 of 11
David de Gea could strike as an odd choice in goal, but Manchester United—despite attacking strongly in the second half of the Manchester derby—would have been beaten heavily if not for his efforts.
RB: Calum Chambers, Arsenal
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Calum Chambers may be a future England Arsenal centre-back, but he sure is enjoying his time at right-back in the short term.
Mathieu Debuchy's long-term injury was a crisis for the Gunners a few months ago, but bar Chambers' suspension (one game), he's filled in more than adequately and has begun improving his end product.
A goal, an assist and a clean sheet puts him in with a shout for Player of the Week, nevermind Team of the Week.
CB: Toby Alderweireld, Southampton
3 of 11
Toby Alderweireld hasn't had to do an awful lot this season. In fact, he probably worked harder at Atletico Madrid than he has done at Southampton so far.
Against Hull City, the team may have recorded their 10th win in 11 games but it wasn't easy sledding. After Victor Wanyama's golazo, they defended heavily, and Alderweireld looked superb under pressure.
In particular, his calm, measured passing and his aerial dominance shone through.
CB: Martin Demichelis, Manchester City
4 of 11
The central defensive slot alongside Toby Alderweireld was a tough choice, with Martin Demichelis, Ashley Williams, Fabricio Coloccini and Nacho Monreal all impressing.
We opted for the former, though, and it's not just because of this vine.
Manchester City's defence held firm at the end of the game as Manchester United pressed for an equaliser, and Demichelis impressed alongside Vincent Kompany in every facet of the game.
LB: Gael Clichy, Manchester City
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It's usually Aleksandar Kolarov who's slamming in low crosses and causing chaos for Manchester City; Gael Clichy is viewed as the safer, more big-game-appropriate choice.
But the Frenchman played superbly at both ends on Sunday, serving up an assist for Sergio Aguero's winner that stank of copying Kolarov in training.
CM: Ryan Mason, Tottenham Hotspur
6 of 11
Ryan Mason had a very successful game on Sunday afternoon for a number of reasons.
Firstly, his touch, passing and awareness were all on display as he placed Aston Villa's midfield under immense pressure, and secondly, he provoked Christian Benteke into getting sent off—thus removing the home side's only genuine threat.
Spurs went on to win the game 2-1. Amid a sea of poor showings, Mason was very good.
CM: Moussa Sissoko, Newcastle United
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When Moussa Sissoko gets going he's like a freight train, and when he puts together a game packed with pace and power, he's very tough to stop.
Liverpool were cleaved open by him numerous times as they failed to stop the rot in midfield, and he caused Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen no end of trouble.
AM: Stewart Downing, West Ham
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Stewart Downing's hot streak continued on Saturday, helping West Ham claw back a two-goal deficit by scoring and assisting in equal measures.
Sam Allardyce's troops were looking set for their first loss in weeks after Mame Biram Diouf put Stoke City 2-0 ahead in the second half, but Downing stepped up to net and set up Enner Valencia.
Diafra Sakho was absent, but Downing became the hero in his place.
AM: Oscar, Chelsea
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Oscar's incredible outside-of-the-boot effort against Crystal Palace could land him in our Team of the Week on its own, but he was relentless in midfield and was the only player in blue to draw a smile from Jose Mourinho on Saturday.
"Oscar is already a great player. He scored a fantastic goal and is doing so well," the Portuguese told The Express. "I'm happy to see him doing that. We play together here, and with the national team, so I congratulate him."
After a poor 2013-14, he's stepping it up.
AM: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal
10 of 11
Alexis Sanchez played through the middle for Arsenal again and prospered, scoring yet another brace in the Premier League.
Last week against Sunderland he bagged two from just behind Danny Welbeck, and this week he did the same. Just as it was looking like Tom Heaton would keep the Gunners out, the Chilean broke the deadlock.
The Emirates Stadium has a new hero.
ST: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
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Sergio Aguero didn't repeat the multi-goal heroics of recent weeks, but he was a menace to Manchester United and scored the winning strike.
He also should have won a penalty off Marouane Fellaini in the first half, proving his tricky, jinking style in the box is effective even against the most expensive, in-form players.
Because he can score from any angle and body position, players feel the need to lunge in. It's a nightmare to defend against.
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