Premier League Team of the Week: Smalling, Ozil, Lingard and Kane Star
An exciting north London derby offered up a number of impressive individual performances, and no less than four Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur players combine to form the spine of our Premier League Team of the Week this week.
We've selected the best players from a thrilling weekend and slotted them into a workable formation—on this occasion, a 4-2-3-1.
Disagree with our selections? Hit us up in the comments section below to start the conversation.
All statistics via WhoScored.com.
GK: Rob Elliot, Newcastle United
1 of 12
Rob Elliot's stunning display in goal for Newcastle United helped earn Steve McClaren a much-needed three-point haul at Bournemouth this weekend.
Playing like a man possessed, the stand-in goalkeeper—who is playing for the right to replace the injured Tim Krul for the rest of the season—repelled every shot directed toward the goal, making four incredible saves in the process.
Karl Darlow is the official No. 2 at St. James' Park but he's injured too, and McClaren has been thankful for Elliot's impact in a time of need.
"He's been terrific from day one, good around the place, experienced, a good talker and he won us three points at Bournemouth," McClaren enthused, per Sporting Life.
RB: Kyle Walker, Tottenham Hotspur
2 of 12
On a weekend where no Premier League right-backs were truly stunning, we struggled with this selection.
Bacary Sagna was good but untested, Alan Hutton was masterful defensively but struggled badly in attack, and Glen Johnson did well against Chelsea without stealing the show.
That leaves us with Kyle Walker, who played a very strong overall game in the north London derby but did allow Kieran Gibbs to sneak in at the back post and score the equaliser.
In fairness to Walker, the pass from Mesut Ozil was jaw-dropping, and the 25-year-old tracked his man all the way, doing enough to make the finish tough for him. Questions should perhaps be asked of Hugo Lloris' attempted save instead.
On the ball, the Englishman was tidy, his darts forward on the right flank were purposeful and helped Spurs push forward, and defensively he clamped Alexis Sanchez, who was anonymous for long periods.
CB: Chris Smalling, Manchester United
3 of 12
Chris Smalling just about edges out Team of the Week regular Virgil van Dijk thanks to a rock-solid performance against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
Many defenders crumble and quake at thought of tussling with man-mountain Salomon Rondon, but Smalling relished the physical battle and kept a lid on him throughout.
It was a showing that prompted B/R's Sam Pilger to label him England's best centre-back right now, and it's difficult to disagree with the sentiment.
CB: Ciaran Clark, Aston Villa
4 of 12
Ciaran Clark was given the nod for Remi Garde's first game in charge, and he returned the favour with an excellent performance.
Aston Villa's 0-0 draw with Manchester City was earned thanks to a heroic defensive display, and Clark was, arguably, the most impressive player in the line.
Sky Sports named Micah Richards as man of the match, but it was his Irish colleague who made three stellar blocks on cut-backs that would have resulted in goals but for his intervention. He was tidy on the ball and made one vital intervention on Raheem Sterling, racing back to stop a one-on-one chance.
Clark, 26, started the season well but was dropped by Tim Sherwood when Joleon Lescott signed, and despite the latter struggling for form, he consistently found his way into the XI every week. Garde's choice to try Clark instead was a wise one, and it's now his spot to lose.
LB: Ryan Bertrand, Southampton
5 of 12
Last week, Ronald Koeman hailed Ryan Bertrand as the "best in the Premier League in that position [left-back]," per Peter Howard of the Southern Daily Echo, celebrating his England call-up and giving Roy Hodgson's decision to include him his firm backing.
Bertrand repaid that positivity and faith with another excellent showing, helping Southampton to a clean sheet against Sunderland and streaking forward with regularity to influence the attacking play.
Saints dominated play but struggled to break through, until Bertrand duped Yann M'Vila into giving away a penalty, which Dusan Tadic converted.
DM: Jordy Clasie, Southampton
6 of 12
Jordy Clasie's start to Premier League life has been heavily disrupted by injury, but now, several months in, he's starting to build steam.
Quietly impressive the last few weeks, the 24-year-old took centre stage in midfield on Saturday as Southampton taught Sunderland a lesson.
Clasie was instrumental in short passing and build-up, rarely giving the ball away, then clamped down in midfield late on to squeeze out the win.
It wasn't a flashy showing, but it was just the right quantity of effective and efficient necessary.
DM: Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur
7 of 12
Dele Alli's fast-track to stardom continued on Sunday thanks to a starring role in the north London derby. His energetic, high-intensity performance set the tone for Tottenham Hotspur's excellent midfield display.
"Perhaps when fossil fuels do eventually run out, we can harness whatever powers him around the field to become Earth’s new renewable source of energy," uMAXit Football's Raj Bains quipped after watching his Energizer Bunny-esque performance.
Most of Spurs' good chances were sourced in the 19-year-old Alli, with Harry Kane, Erik Lamela and Co. all responding to his quick thinking and good use of the ball.
AM: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal
8 of 12
Mesut Ozil has become a near-constant feature in our Premier League Team of the Week due to his ridiculous vein of form.
On Sunday, he impressed in the north London derby, creating more chances on his own than the entire Spurs side combined, according to WhoScored.com's Ben McAleer.
The German put in cross after cross, particularly for Olivier Giroud, but saw his team-mates squander most of them.
Kieran Gibbs finally bundled one over the line late in the second half to equalise, giving Ozil an assist in six consecutive games, breaking a Premier League record, per Sky Sports.
Wing: Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace
9 of 12
Wilfried Zaha was the most impressive player on the Anfield pitch on Sunday as Crystal Palace continued their habit of spoiling Liverpool's day.
The 22-year-old roared up and down the wing, completing nine successful take-ons, per WhoScored.com, and gave Alberto Moreno an extremely tough day defensively. His cross forced a goal, adding production to a flashy day.
Zaha's biggest enemy is (a lack of) consistency; if he played like this weekly, he'd be feared by defenders across the country. But despite clear improvement in 2015, these performances are still rarer than Alan Pardew would like.
Wing: Jesse Lingard, Manchester United
10 of 12
B/R's Man of the Weekend Jesse Lingard predictably finds his way into our Team of the Week, too, with his positive, jinking, goalscoring display lighting up Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Amid a dull setting of possession football—forcing Manchester United fans to chant "attack! attack! attack" at their own troops—Lingard struck a beauty from distance to cap a great day's work.
The 22-year-old is fearless on the ball, happy to run at players and makes things happen.
ST: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
11 of 12
Harry Kane's excellent performance against Arsenal in the north London derby crowned a remarkable recent upturn in individual form; his well-taken goal in the first half was his sixth in six games.
The Englishman, 22, showcased a brilliant all-round game, play-making from the front, passing well and moving into excellent positions.
His high-energy midfield served up plenty of chances, and although he only took one, Arsenal's goalkeeper had a tough day keeping him in check.
Bench
12 of 12
GK: Brad Guzan, Aston Villa
CB: Virgil van Dijk, Southampton
FB: Alan Hutton, Aston Villa
CM: Glenn Whelan, Stoke City
Wing: Gerard Deulofeu, Everton
Wing: Jesus Navas, Manchester City
ST: Graziano Pelle, Southampton
