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Premier League Team of the Week: Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka, Andy Robertson

Sports Mole picks its Premier League Team of the Week, including Gabriel Jesus, Granit Xhaka and Andy Robertson.

The final whistle has blown on another round of Premier League fixtures, with Manchester City's customary thrashing of Watford seeing them remain one point clear at the top of the table.

Liverpool ensured that the gap would remain at just the one point with a 2-0 Merseyside derby victory over Everton, while Chelsea tightened their grip on third place with a late 1-0 success over West Ham United.

Arsenal boosted their Champions League chances while denting Manchester United's in a 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium, and fourth place is now in the Gunners' hands again after Tottenham Hotspur drew 0-0 with Brentford.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' European aspirations were dealt another blow in a 1-0 loss to Burnley, and Newcastle United's rise continued with a 3-0 victory over basement side Norwich City.

Elsewhere, Southampton rescued a 2-2 draw away to Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City's battle with Aston Villa finished goalless, as did Monday's meeting between Leeds United and Crystal Palace.

Here, Sports Mole picks its Premier League Team of the Week for the latest round of fixtures.


DEFENCE

Andy Robertson celebrates scoring for Liverpool in April 2022© Reuters

Wilfried Zaha terrorized the Leeds defence nonstop at Selhurst Park on Monday night, but Whites number one Illan Meslier stood firm to ensure a priceless point would be theirs, with the Frenchman making seven crucial saves to preserve his clean sheet in the capital.

While Tottenham's attackers flattered to deceive for the second weekend in a row, Cristian Romero - who has been moved to right-back in our XI - was a standout performer at the back, making five interceptions, three blocks and posting a 93% pass accuracy in another promising display.

Tottenham's inability to break down the Brentford defence was thanks in no small part to the efforts of Pontus Jansson, who posted six clearances, three blocks, three interceptions and two tackles to keep Antonio Conte's side quiet and keep the Bees' strong run of form going.

Another dominant force at the back came in the form of Joel Matip during the Merseyside derby, with the Cameroonian centre-back making six tackles and winning all six of his ground duels in the fiery encounter at Anfield, as well as registering an 89% pass accuracy from the back.

Matip represents one of two Liverpool inclusions on our defence this week, with Andy Robertson finally managing to break the Toffees' resistance with a well-taken header in front of the Kop, and the left-back also completed 93% of his passes for the title-chasing Reds.


MIDFIELD

Granit Xhaka celebrates scoring for Arsenal in April 2022© Reuters

Finally enjoying a consistent run of starts in the Newcastle midfield since his arrival from Lyon, Bruno Guimaraes is starring week in week out for Eddie Howe's side and scored his fourth Premier League goal with a cheeky chip after a Norwich error, and the Brazilian also posted a 95% pass accuracy, two key passes and four interceptions in a dominant display.

The goalscoring midfielders were out in full force this weekend, and it was no surprise to see dead-ball specialist James Ward-Prowse smash home yet another free kick in the draw with Brighton, but the Southampton captain also demonstrated his proficiency from open play with a drilled effort into the corner to salvage a point for his side.

Arsenal duo Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka have both stepped up to the plate in the past week, and the latter picked an ideal time to score his next long-range thunderbolt to restore Arsenal's two-goal cushion against Manchester United, while his two interceptions and 96% pass accuracy were also vital in the Gunners' success.

Further up the field, Kevin De Bruyne has been more about the goals than the assists this term, but the Belgian set up his teammates twice in the 5-1 thumping of Watford, including a sumptuous cross for Gabriel Jesus to head home his side's second in front of the home crowd.


ATTACK

Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus pictured on April 16, 2022© Reuters

Hours after stories had emerged of Gabriel Jesus potentially set for a move away from Man City to Arsenal in the summer transfer window, the Brazilian gave Pep Guardiola a glimpse of what he could be missing with a staggering four goals in the win over the Hornets, and he provided a sweet assist for Rodri in the only City goal that he did not score himself.

Jesus's fellow Selecao star Joelinton - whose prowess has also been felt in a deeper role recently - completes the frontline in our XI this week, with the Newcastle man bagging his first Premier League brace in his 100th appearance in the competition - curling home a powerful effort off the crossbar before a back-post tap-in against the hapless Canaries.


SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK

PL TOTW GW34

Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-3-1-2): Meslier; Romero, Jansson, Matip, Robertson; Guimaraes, Ward-Prowse, Xhaka; De Bruyne; Jesus, Joelinton


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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal36265588286083
2Manchester CityMan City35257387335482
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs351861169581160
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle351751378562256
7Chelsea351591170591154
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd35166135255-354
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham361310135670-1449
10Bournemouth36139145263-1148
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton351211125357-447
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves36137164960-1146
13Fulham36128165155-444
14Crystal Palace361110154957-843
15Everton36129153849-1137
16Brentford3699185260-836
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3689194563-1829
18Luton TownLuton3668224978-2926
19Burnley3659223974-3524
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd36372635100-6516


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