Premier League Team of the Week: Ozil, Giroud, Coutinho and Blind Impress
Welcome to the 23rd installment of our Premier League Team of the Week for the 2014-15 season.
We analysed every game to pick out a star XI from the weekend's fixtures, choosing the best players to form a viable formation (in this case, a 4-4-2).
It's another heavy Arsenal week after they smashed Aston Villa 5-0, but there are players from seven different clubs to sink your teeth into and give the team a well-rounded feel. The midfield selection was especially difficult to decide upon with so many impressing this week; apologies to Christian Eriksen, Eljero Elia and a host of others who didn't make the cut.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation!
GK: Hugo Lloris, Tottenham Hotspur
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Tottenham Hotspur's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion seemed an easy one on paper, but after a fast start by Spurs, the hosts came roaring back and pressured for goals.
Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made at least three fine saves to deny Tony Pulis' men from chipping away at his side's impressive lead. It seems as though he's called into action like this every single week without fail.
RB: Hector Bellerin, Arsenal
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Question marks were raised ahead of Aston Villa's tussle with Arsenal due to Villa manager Paul Lambert's selection of Kieran Richardson at left-back ahead of the stronger option in Aly Cissokho.
Hector Bellerin, also technically a reserve option at right-back for the Gunners, roasted the former Fulham man alive. He tore forward with pace and guile, impressed in his distribution and scored a lovely strike to cap a wonderful day.
CB: Ashley Williams, Swansea City
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Ashley Williams had himself quite the day on Sunday, putting his body on the line for a Swansea City victory in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Southampton dominated and applied immense pressure in the Swans' final third, but the Welshman threw himself in front of everything. WhoScored.com credited him with two goal-saving blocks and tackles, but in reality, he stopped four or five to preserve his side's 1-0 win.
CB: Mamadou Sakho, Liverpool
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Mamadou Sakho was an injury doubt ahead of Liverpool's clash with West Ham after being withdrawn early in the previous game against Chelsea. However, the oft-injured Frenchman fought through the pain barrier and quietly contributed toward another excellent performance and clean sheet on Saturday.
He doesn't usually make the heroic tackles and lunges, so some don't notice his excellence. But Liverpool's 2-0 victory over the Hammers—in which Sakho helped his colleagues deal with the threat of Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll—was the perfect bottling of the understated performances he's regularly putting in.
LB: Patrick Van Aanholt, Sunderland
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Every now and then, Patrick van Aanholt pops up with a superb performance, and it's just that consistent element he's perhaps lacking.
Against Burnley, he was essentially untrackable when surging forward from left-back. He created Jermain Defoe's goal and wreaked havoc by hitting the byline over and over. He could, and possibly should, have had a hand in several more during Sunderland's dominating 2-0 victory.
MID: Daley Blind, Manchester United
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Daley Blind was Manchester United's man of the match against Leicester City, sweeping up in midfield and shutting the door on any counter-attacks in his typically smooth, calculated fashion.
He picked up an assist by forcing his header into the net via Wes Morgan (so it was technically an own goal) to cap a brilliant day's work in the 3-1 victory. Radamel Falcao scored, but United fans were too busy raving about the Dutchman to celebrate the striker's ending of his duck.
MID: Santi Cazorla, Arsenal
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That Santi Cazorla's penalty went in was remarkably lucky. He went straight down the middle, and Brad Guzan proceeded to punch it into his own net in near-inexplicable fashion.
But his creative presence throughout was as strong as we've come to expect. He pulled the strings, laid on two assists for team-mates and gave Aston Villa's midfield a rough time. Carlos Sanchez, in particular, was thrown right off his game.
MID: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
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Detractors will point out that Mesut Ozil, so far, has only really shown up against Aston Villa in the Premier League. His two goals and two assists so far this season have come against the Midlands club (across two meetings, per WhoScored.com).
Paul Lambert's Villa side was wide open defensively, and that helped the World Cup-winner dominate, but the performance he put in was a true masterclass in playmaking that everyone should be able to appreciate.
His cool finish made it 2-0 in the second half, sealing the result, and his back-heel flicked assist for Olivier Giroud's opener was jaw-droppingly impressive.
MID: Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
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Philippe Coutinho ended a stunning January in stunning style, picking up two assists in Liverpool's strong 2-0 win over West Ham United.
The Brazilian has been a rare constant in the forward ranks, with Brendan Rodgers rotating his deep squad frequently. Coutinho's guile, trickery, ability to burst between the lines and eye for a killer ball were all on show on Saturday.
Daniel Sturridge returned late in the game and Coutinho found him immediately with a trademark channel ball. The striker announced his return with a goal.
ST: Jonathan Walters, Stoke City
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Have yourself a match ball, Jonathan Walters.
Queens Park Rangers playing away from home may not be the sternest test one can face, but Walters' superb hat-trick ensured there were no upsets in the mini-Mark Hughes derby at the Britannia Stadium this weekend.
The Irishman took his finishes superbly, with Stephen Ireland pulling the strings just behind to give Stoke the 3-1 victory.
ST: Olivier Giroud, Arsenal
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Despite having a pace disadvantage against Jores Okore, Olivier Giroud proved he's a top Premier League striker by using his clever build-up nous and elegant finishing to torture Aston Villa's back line.
He scored the opening goal by tricking Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan into thinking he was going one way then lifting the ball to the other side while one vs. one. Giroud also hit the bar later on with a header and picked up a nice assist.
Since returning from a festive red card, the Frenchman's been fantastic.
