Premier League Team of the Week: David Silva, Balotelli, Van Persie and More

Another awe-inspiring weekend of Premiership action has drawn to a close, which means it is time to cherry pick the best players from each team and form yet another Premier League Team of the Week.

Manchester City demolished rivals United 6-1 to open up a gap at the top of the table, while Chelsea were upset 1-0 by QPR, despite performing admirably once down to nine men. Newcastle remain unbeaten after dealing with Wigan, and West Brom came from behind to fell Aston Villa in a close match.

Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by a fighting Norwich side while Sunderland left it late but won out 2-0 over struggling Bolton. Blackburn Rovers continued their miserable season with a close defeat against an invigorated Tottenham side.

Arsenal continued to improve with a 3-1 win over Stoke, Wolves fought back well to secure themselves a 2-2 draw against Swansea and Everton grabbed a late win away at Fulham.

With all that action, here is your Premier League Team of the Week, lining up in a 4-4-2 formation.

GK John Ruddy

John Ruddy made a string of superb saves against Liverpool to ensure that his side made it out of the game with a very handy point.

He denied Luis Suarez on several occasions, including a remarkable save from a volley that looked certain to win the game for the Merseyside club.

This is Ruddy's first full season in the Premier League (he appeared once in the league for Everton in the 2005-06 season). Still only 25, Ruddy could have a bright future ahead of him, if his performance at Anfield is anything to go by.

LB Gael Clichy

Gael Clichy had plenty of opportunities to get forward against Manchester United and was quite happy to take advantage of the situation.

The former Arsenal man was quick to move from defence to attack, carrying the ball well and looking to keep the tempo up.

In defence, the left-back hassled well, keeping Manchester United's attackers wide and switching roles with David Silva with the ease of a partnership that has been going for three years, not three months.

Clichy will be desperate for another Premier League crown; he was a member of Arsenal's Invincibles but has been frustrated since then. Manchester City might just help him return to the top of the league come the middle of May.

CB John O'Shea

John O'Shea must have been relieved he left Manchester United after seeing the mauling his former defensive colleagues took this weekend. 

Things were a little different for the Irishman, however, who had a good outing against Bolton. He made some crucial blocks and got a vital touch on a cross that could have given Bolton an important goal.

He was also a powerful presence in the opposition box, going close with a header from a set piece and winning the header that led to Sunderland's opener.

The 30-year-old is proving to be a good acquisition for Steve Bruce; the centre-back comes with plenty of experience at the top level of English football.

CB Jonas Olsson

West Brom's defender had a controversial match against Aston Villa. In addition to scoring for his side with a towering header, the big centre-back also won his side a penalty that is bound to be a talking point for a while to come.

Olsson continued to threaten after scoring, going close from another corner after outjumping the men around him.

The Swedish centre-back was also on hand to mop up just about everything Villa had to offer in attack as he showed the steel a team like West Brom needs.

RB Micah Richards

There was a time when Micah Richards was seen as the next big thing in English defending. Somewhere along the line, things went a bit off track, but the right-back has been rebuilding his reputation, something he continued to do against Manchester United.

The scoreline fails to reflect that Manchester City did have a fair amount of defending to do, not that Richards was overly troubled as he put in a solid shift at the back, keeping Ashley Young's threat to a minimum.

He showed a good understanding with compatriot James Milner as both surged up the wing and covered each other in defence when it was required. 

Richards used his destructive pace well when going forwards, bursting into the box on a few occasions and was unlucky not to win a penalty after being felled by Anderson.

LM David Silva

David Silva has been the standout player of the Premier League season so far and showed that he can strut his stuff against the best sides in the league with a fabulous performance against Manchester United.

Silva was almost always involved in City's attacking play, with selfless passing, clever movement and brilliant close control.

His seemingly impossible dribble through a crowd of United players in their own box in the first half was extraordinary, as was his perfectly weighted volleyed through ball that beat two defenders and set up City's sixth goal.

Manchester City have found their talisman, a team player who is not only a brilliant footballer but is also a real worker; he worked back hard and provided good cover for Gael Clichy behind him. He really deserved his goal.

CM Rafael Van Der Vaart

Rafael van der Vaart was last season's best signing and continues to prove to be a great buy for Harry Redknapp's Tottenham Hotspur side.

The Dutchman bagged himself a brace of goals in an influential display that showed that Spurs are real top four contenders. 

After calmly slotting home his side's first goal, van der Vaart restored Spurs' lead with a brilliant curled effort from outside the box that gave the goalkeeper no chance whatsoever.

He offered more than just goals, creating several chances with his brisk movement and good passing.

If Spurs are to break back into the top four, van der Vaart will need to continue having a good season. So far he has been excellent.

CM Aaron Ramsey

Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey will not have fond memories of Arsenal's encounter with Stoke last season; he suffered a broken leg after a poor challenge from Ryan Shawcross.

His performance was the perfect way to put that episode behind him. Ramsey ran the midfield with some great distribution, setting Theo Walcott off on the wing and providing a lofted through ball to Gervinho who really should have done better with his chance.

Ramsey provided Gervinho with another chipped through ball, after avoiding the temptation to shoot, that the Ivorian managed to score from. The Welshman continued to play well, working hard and providing a good balance of skill and grit in central midfield.

Arsene Wenger specialises in developing young players; he could well be on to a real winner with Ramsey. 

RM James Milner

James Milner played an important role in Manchester City's best Premier League day in years. The England midfielder was brilliant on the right wing, driving forwards and creating chances with uncanny regularity.

The Englishman set up Mario Balotelli's second with a good low cross and played Micah Richards in for his teammate to provide the cross for Aguero to finish.

Milner worked hard, putting in plenty of challenges and dropping back to help out at the back, even once the game was far beyond United's reach.

Milner is a steady, reliable figure who Roberto Mancini really seems to be warming to, and rightly so.

ST Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli has now scored in each of his last five games, an impressive record for a player who regularly courts controversy.

The Italian made headlines for the right reasons against Manchester United as he played a crucial role in his side's demolition of their close rivals. 

Balotelli opened the scoring with a beautiful finish, slotting the ball into the far corner of the net with the side of his foot, before scoring a real striker's goal, tapping the ball in at the far post.

Super Mario won the foul that saw Jonny Evans get sent off, an important turning point in the match, and was involved in the build up to Aguero's first goal, playing a clever back-heel to Milner. 

This was very much the Balotelli that Mancini wanted when he took a gamble on the powerful forward.

ST Robin Van Persie

Robin van Persie proved once again this weekend just how vital he is to his side's prospects this season. He did not start the game, but once he was introduced in the second half Arsenal looked to be a different team.

He scored two goals, taking his tally to 25 goals in 26 league games in 2011, a record that few, if any, can match.

He showed great striker's instincts for both his goals, finding the smallest bit of room to put his shot past the goalkeeper at the near post for Arsenal's first goal and timing his run perfectly to slide home Arsenal's third goal.

Van Persie was greeted by a huge cheer as he ran out on to the pitch; the Arsenal fans have put their faith in him, and he looks set to repay them.