Premier League Team of the Week: Aguero, Young, Grealish and Silva Shine
Welcome to the 35th 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 rather attack-heavy 4-2-3-1).
Manchester City's destruction of Queens Park Rangers sees two of their star performers enter, while three Aston Villa players feature while the Villans continue to hit form. The goalkeeper decision, between three star showings, was an extremely difficult one to make.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation.
For a look at criteria for inclusion, please see our selections from early April.
GK: Costel Pantilimon, Sunderland
1 of 11
Everton battered Sunderland for 45 minutes on Saturday afternoon, yet couldn't muster a goal to show for their efforts.
The reason for that was Costel Pantilimon's decision to produce a world-class display—every other month, it seems, he tends to morph into an unbeatable Stretch Armstrong for one 90-minute period—and he was positive, reflexive and committed in every claim and save.
Notably, his anticipation in claiming balls over the top helped his defence battle with Romelu Lukaku. He beats out ridiculous competition from Lukasz Fabianski and David De Gea for a spot here.
RB: Geoff Cameron, Stoke City
2 of 11
Geoff Cameron's return to the Stoke City starting XI was a very successful one, collecting a clean sheet and dominating the right flank against Tottenham Hotspur.
Mauricio Pochettino's men were hardly gunning for a victory, but Cameron did well to stymie the left side of Jan Vertonghen and Nacer Chadli—two players who've been in reasonable form of late—and attack with the power and decisiveness the Britannia Stadium loves.
CB: Federico Fernandez, Swansea City
3 of 11
There was an awful lot of Swansea City's play during the famous 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Monday that appeared desperate and last-ditch. Whereas Lukasz Fabianski has had credit heaped upon him for saving shots mostly fired straight at him, Federico Fernandez and Ashley Williams receive acclaim in our Team of the Week selection.
Of the two it was probably Fernandez who impressed the most, capping a stellar, somewhat under-the-radar season with some vital interventions on Olivier Giroud in the second half to preserve the clean sheet.
CB: Jores Okore, Aston Villa
4 of 11
For the second week running, Jores Okore makes our Premier League Team of the Week. On AVTV, Tim Sherwood praised him for playing through the pain barrier after his knee started to swell up several weeks back.
He's looked more assured than Ron Vlaar has of late, and he's now willing to both push forward in possession and rush out to intercept high up, knowing he has the recovery pace if required.
Against West Ham he was stellar—key to the clean sheet.
LB: Patrick van Aanholt, Sunderland
5 of 11
Sunderland have had another season to forget, but when they search for bright spots come June and July in reflective mode, it's likely they'll find one in left-back Patrick van Aanholt.
He defended doggedly throughout the Black Cats' win over Everton, repelling attacks down his flank and matching up to Aaron Lennon in a confident and assured mood.
The clean sheet will boost his confidence, and he was the standout performer in Sunderland's defensive line.
CM: Tom Cleverley, Aston Villa
6 of 11
Tom Cleverley has three goals in three games for Aston Villa. What on earth? Tim Sherwood's magic potion hasn't just affected Christian Benteke, it seems.
Cleverley made a good positive run into the box and lapped up an easy chance created by the mercurial Jack Grealish, earning just reward for his newly positive style of play.
Released from the shackles of Paul Lambert, he looks an England-calibre midfielder once again.
CM: Jack Grealish, Aston Villa
7 of 11
Jack Grealish has been improving with every game in at least one aspect of his play, and on Saturday against West Ham he delivered what was probably his best-ever performance in senior football.
The midfield maestro tore the Hammers to shreds with his long-range passing and exceptional movement, moving the ball quickly and instigating attacks. His run for the assist for Tom Cleverley's goal was absolutely superb—a jinking run to the byline and cut-back into the box.
What a talent.
AM: David Silva, Manchester City
8 of 11
David Silva had it a little easily, admittedly, given that Queens Park Rangers fell apart at the seams early doors, but he still had to play the passes and make the runs despite being given the time and space to do so.
He absolutely wrecked Chris Ramsey's back line, jinking in behind the midfield two and unleashing Sergio Aguero with a couple of inch-perfect passes. He even rounded Rob Green and netted one himself, though that shouldn't come as a surprise this season; he's netted 12 in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com.
Wing: Marko Arnautovic, Stoke City
9 of 11
Jefferson Montero's game-winning performance against Arsenal late on tempted us here, but Marko Arnautovic was in a league of his own this week after sparkling in Stoke City's 3-0 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur.
Spurs certainly lay down and made it easy, but the enigmatic Austrian rang rings around his opponents and provided some superb passing and crossing for his team-mates.
With just the single assist he may fly under the radar a little, but there's no doubt he deserves heavy acclaim this week.
Wing: Ashley Young, Manchester United
10 of 11
Ashley Young put in a tremendous performance against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and although his team as a whole played poorly, he relentlessly set about ensuring that three points were gleaned from the fixture.
Joel Ward was turned upside-down and round and round by the English winger, who tormented Palace's right side and eventually delivered the cross that resulted in Marouane Fellaini's winner.
It's almost as if Man Utd have signed a £30 million left-winger and he's feeling the pressure.
ST: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City
11 of 11
Hat-trick hero Sergio Aguero made our winners section after Manchester City's 6-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, so it's only fair he makes our Team of the Week too.
The Argentinian was in scintillating form and managed to net three—two from open play and one from the spot—while simultaneously carving the QPR defence in twain.
His linking with David Silva and James Milner was superb; Steven Caulker and Co. had absolutely no idea how to handle him.
