Premier League Team of the Week: Van Persie, Juan Mata, Mario Balotelli and More

Another weekend of Premier League action is over, and the Premiership table is beginning to becoming clearer.

Manchester City now sit atop the pile after ending Aston Villa's unbeaten start with a thumping 4-1 away win. One of the fiercest rivalries in football, Liverpool versus Manchester United, produced a disappointing 1-1 draw, leaving United second and Liverpool fifth.

Newcastle continued their exceptional start to the season by securing a very respectable 2-2 draw with a resurgent Tottenham side. Chelsea dealt with Everton 3-1. Arsenal were 2-1 winners over Sunderland, who have won just once this season.

Norwich saw off Swansea with a comfortable 3-1 win, while Stoke and West Brom both ran out 2-0 winners over Fulham and Wolves respectively.

QPR and Blackburn fought to a 1-1 draw, and Bolton managed to end an awful run of losses with a 3-1 win over Wigan, who are on a very poor run of form.

With all the results in, here is the team of the week lining up in a 4-4-2 formation.

GK David de Gea: Manchester United

Manchester United's new goalkeeper is beginning to put his early season wobbles behind him, putting in an impressive shift at a hostile Anfield.

He did well to keep Suarez's effort out and continued to impress with a string of important second half saves. His block from a close Dirk Kuyt effort was sensational, and he did well to deal with a shot from a fair way out that looked destined for the bottom corner.

There was nothing the Spaniard could have done about Liverpool's goal; Giggs broke off from the wall and there was no way De Gea could have seen the ball until it was too late.

Ferguson usually gets it right when it comes to transfers, and if De Gea continues to grow into the role as he has recently, he may just have found another winner.

LB Ashley Cole: Chelsea

Ashley Cole provided Chelsea with plenty of attacking intent with an enthusiastic display against Everton, playing in a good half-volleyed cross for Daniel Sturridge's opener.

Cole continued to thrive running up and down the left wing throughout the match, helping Chelsea dominate proceedings.

The left back won Chelsea a free kick that resulted in their second goal by running at defenders and forcing a mistake.

He had little to do in defence, but he passed the ball well and was always looking to get forward, keeping Everton firmly on the back foot.

CB Vincent Kompany: Manchester City

I have said it before, and I will say it again: Vincent Kompany is as good value for money as anyone in the Premier League.

None of the £20 million plus players City have bought have contributed as much to the team's cause as their £6 million centre-back.

He was as solid as ever at the back last weekend, making a crucial block from Agbonlahor, and even grabbed himself a goal with a header. He could even have had another after making a surging run through Villa's defence, but his shot was poor.

If City are to win the Premier League, they will need to hold firm at the back. With Kompany at the heart of their defence, they stand a good chance of doing so.

CB Christopher Samba: Blackburn

Blackburn are really struggling at the moment and may well be in trouble come next May.

Tough and uncompromising, Chris Samba is going to be a busy man throughout the season. He is going to need to put in plenty more shifts like the one he pulled against QPR if his club are to avoid the drop.

In addition to dominating the defence in his customary manner, the Congolese man scored a powerful and well directed header from a fair way out.

Samba was cool under pressure, dealing with everything that came his way. He has always been a tireless worker, and that showed as he kept QPR's attack under pressure.

RB Jose Bosingwa: Chelsea

Jose Bosingwa played a similar role to that played by Ashley Cole on the other side of the pitch.

His frequent bursts up the field and balls into the box were a constant source of worry for an Everton defence that struggled to handle Chelsea's attacking play.

Rarely troubled defensively, Bosingwa was free to stride forwards and add to the attacking front Chelsea were able to present Everton with. 

The Portuguese international has had very mixed fortunes since arriving at Chelsea, struggling with injury on several occasions, as well as sending more than his fair share of crosses into the stands.

Sometimes, however, we get to see why Chelsea bought him and still stick with him. The match against Everton was one of those occasions.

LM Anthony Pilkington: Norwich

Anthony Pilkington missed a chance at Old Trafford last week that could have earned his side a huge point.

He took his chance to make up for it this week. He scored with a strong volley from eight yards, just a minute into the match, and continued to threaten, from the left wing and in the box.

The winger, until recently a League One player, hit the post with a powerful drive before grabbing himself another goal in the second half with a sharp turn and shot from a corner.

CM James Milner: Manchester City

In many ways, James Milner is the model professional footballer.

The English midfielder tries his heart out, never gives up, is never on the front page and is respectful, as he was towards the Aston Villa fans after scoring against his old side last weekend.

Milner played a wonderful long distance cross-field ball to Adam Johnson that got a City attack moving. He followed up by finishing the move off with a good finish from outside the box.

That is the type of drive that make Milner such a good player.

The midfielder was solid throughout and is a tenacious and reliable player. He is the type of person who you would expect to come to the fore during a potentially difficult time for Manchester City.

CAM Juan Mata: Chelsea

Chelsea's diminutive Spanish wizard was central to Chelsea's win over Everton.

It was his clever chipped through-ball to Ashley Cole that created the chance for Daniel Sturridge to score, and he continued to threaten throughout the game.

He played in Ramires for Chelsea's third goal with a perfect placed drive across the face of goal. It was his pace and skill that caused numerous problems for Everton's defence.

The midfielder is perfectly willing to keep things simple when required, playing the simple ball when under pressure, and just doing what's best for the team.

Mata could well be one of the best summer signings. He is quickly making his mark at Stamford Bridge.

RM Adam Johnson: Manchester City

It is a real shame Adam Johnson doesn't get to spend more time on the field for Manchester City.

He is a player with plenty of potential and skill, but he is also a highly practical operator.

He was useful on the overlap on the right wing and was involved in all of City's goals, scoring one with a well directed half-volleyed shot during the second half. He also provided the two corners which led to goals and held the ball up well on the wing for Milner's goal.

Johnson's role is only going to grow over time, which is good both for him and England, who could use a player like Johnson on a more regular basis.

ST Mario Balotelli: Manchester City

With Tevez in disgrace, Dzeko arguably so and Nasri and Silva on the bench, it was left to Super Mario to lead the attack against a previously undefeated Aston Villa.

The temperamental striker led the attack with confidence, driven on by the Aston Villa fans who took an early dislike to him.

His willingness to shoot caused problems, and he forced several saves that could well have produced easier rebound chances.

His goal was a well taken bicycle kick in a packed box without so much as a look at the goal. Despite all that, he found a vacant area of the net and seemed happier to have annoyed the Villa fans than to have scored. 

Balotelli was hungry for the ball throughout and was visibly angry when he did not get it. Although bad temper is unlikely to help him, at least he seems to be hungry for action.

ST Robin van Persie: Arsenal

Robin van Persie was a one man demolition machine against Sunderland. The Dutchman got himself on the score sheet after just 30 seconds with a goal full of clever movement, topped with a slice of class.

He continued to hassle and threaten throughout, almost scoring a truly wonderful chip after performing an exquisite turn and leaving his marker for dead.

He added to his tally with a perfectly placed free kick that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

You could see how much scoring meant to him, especially the second goal, perhaps dispelling some of the rumours of his potential departure. 

Whatever he may do in future seasons, if Arsenal are to rescue their season, they are going to need van Persie to lead the attack, and maintain his current form.