English Premier League: Top performers of week three
The stalemate at the Emirates rounded up the third installment of the EPL drama and it's time for us to pick our top ten performers of the round. A difficult one this time as so many players came to party but in the end... Here's our pick:
10. Riyad Mahrez
For three straight weeks the Leicester forward is forcing his way into our fold, what a way to respond after Spurs scored, he needed 58seconds to draw the foxes level. He could have won a penalty earlier, his all round display didn't go unnoticed, he was on Jan Vertongen all afternoon and a jewel to hold on to by Leicester as Aston Villa lurks for his signature.
9. Aleksanda Mitrovic
Newcastle did a lot of defending on Saturday as Manchester United threw everything forward, but the unlikely could have happened had the toons forward being slightly luckier. His first half header beat Sergio Romero but not the woodwork, he was a menace to the pair of Chris Smalling and Daley Blind, performances like that will justify his hyped transfer.
8. Martin Russell
Inspirational captain Martin Russell was on target as Norwich weathered the storm against Stoke City at Carrow road. The Potters threw everything at the Hosts but some spirited defending from the Hornet's captain, he blocked a Shakiri shot earlier before cutting out Biram Diouf.
The point earned was down to his commanding performance.
7. Pedro Rodriguez
What a way to announce yourself in a league of its own, Pedro was instrumental to Chelsea's dramatic win at the hawthorns, in a team where new recruits always struggle with Shevchenko, Cuadrado and Torres coming to mind, the Spaniard scored one and assisted another. He certainly is what Chelsea need to challenge, if the defenders stay fit and out of suspensions, Chelsea will do it again. Welcome Pedro.
6. Aleksanda Kolarov
When Kolarov is performing trust me the left flank of City is the worst to face, defensively he was solid on the day, on the offensive, his tight angle finish against a rock solid Tim Howard was a testimony of his performance. Seamus Coleman was pegged back severally as the Argentine marauded all afternoon, thumbs up Alex.
5. Scott Dan.
In a week of defensive brilliance, Scott Dan moved a gear higher with a display to remember as he led Crystal Palace to a narrow win at home against Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa. For a defender to score the opener and assist the winner, it was note worthy that his defensive duties weren't lacking as he thwarted the Villa attack severally.
4. David Silva.
It doesn't come better than that for Manchester City's little magician, he was denied earlier by Tim Howard and later by the upright. His sensational moves left the Everton midfielders bewildered times without numbers, his terrific display confirmed the fact that you don't have to score before you make our list, all attention had been on the new signings but Silva is practically making the headlines as the real deal.
3. Callum Wilson
AFC Bournemouth proved too much to handle and gave bookmakers some headaches with definitely the result of the round, it was however down to the heroics of a certain Callum Wilson, the young man notched the first hatrick of the season in the most unexpected fashion at an equally unexpected ground, Bournemouth had drawn blank in two narrow losses at home to Aston Villa and away at Anfield, it was against predictions to see them scoring 4 and again their kid striker hitting 3... Weldon Callum
2. Petr Cech
Two average performances and the Arsenal new boy was up for criticisms, he was susceptible at home to Westham and wasn't convincing at Selhurst Park. But the points John Terry was talking about when he said the Czech safe hands would save Arsenal started on Monday, he was like rock as everything worked against Arsenal in the early stages. The make shift Arsenal defense that paired Callum Chambers with Gabriel Paulista did little in front of him, he kept out Benteke severally as well as Philipe Coutinho, his confidence is back and Arsenal will benefit from this.
1. Fabricio Coloccini
Manchester United were denied their third straight win at home to Newcastle by some desperate defending by inspirational skipper Fabricio Colocini. It was all Manchester United at the beginning with Mata, Rooney and Memphis all going close, blocks after blocks were all the hosts got, notably, substitute Antonio Valencia looked set to break the deadlock but the big toon was there to offer his back as Tim Krul appeared beaten, joy to watch Coloccini!
Written by @Komptrolla
