Matchweek 7 presented us with a host of memorable results and on-the-edge action, especially on Sunday, which levelled out the slow start to the weekend. In the initial few weeks of the season, we were served some awful performances from teams like West Ham and Stoke, who were touted to be regulars in the Top half of the table. But things have spectacularly gone wrong for them and they find themselves languishing in the lower echelons of the league.
With things getting interesting at the top and grim at the bottom, we take a sneak peek at the top 3 defenders who put in some eye-catching performances over the weekend to help their teams stay in a favourable position.
LAURENT KOSCIELNY
Fast emerging as the most dependable and consistent central defender in the Premier League, Koscielny put in another faultless performance at the back. Full of assurance and establishing a potentially successful partnership with Mustafi, the Arsenal captain made two crucial blocks and regained possession 10 times as Arsenal’s backline restricted any sort of attacking ambitions of the Clarets. And to cap off a solid performance, he popped up at the right place in the only time left to bundle home the goal which gave the Gunners a valuable victory in what is fast emerging as the ‘Wenger time’.
JAMES MILNER
Mr Dependable for Liverpool, the player again got on the scoresheet via a coolly taken spot-kick which eventually turned out to be the winner for the off-the-pace Reds. In a match where the famed gegen-pressing and skilled attacking battalion failed to reap many rewards, it was left to the former Manchester City player to step up and score his 4th goal of the season.
He provided an outlet on the wing throughout the 90 minutes and was his usual tireless and dedicated self as he stretched the play, especially in the 2nd half.
JOEL WARD
When Palace rode up to the Goodison Park to face an Everton outfit who, despite their excellent start to the season were hurting from the shock 0-1 reverse against Bournemouth, it was expected the Eagles would be faced with a barrage of Everton attack which would be too hot to handle for the Eagles. But they were a match for the Toffees and went neck to neck to earn a draw.
Palace’s standout player in defence was Joel Ward. The full-back was proactive on the wings throughout and made 4 tackles which were more than any of his fellow defenders. His clinching aspect was, however, the assist for Benteke’s goal which restored parity and helped the team earn a credible point.
