Premier League Team of the Week: Sergio Aguero, David Silva lead the way

Sergio Aguero and David Silva lead the way in the team of the week after matchweek 5 of the 2017-18 Premier League season.

Sergio Aguero and David Silva led the charge for a rampant Manchester City squad on matchday five in the Premier League. City won 6-0 at Watford, with Aguero bagging a hat-trick and Silva supplying a pair of assists.

While the Citizens were purring in attack, Arsenal, of all teams, were putting on a defensive masterclass at Chelsea. The Gunners earned a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday thanks to stalwart performances in both midfield and defense.

Speaking of stalwarts, Burnley had a stand-in goalkeeper to thank for their creditable point away to Liverpool.

Find out who made the best XI this week:

Goalkeeper: Nick Pope, Burnley

Liverpool had 35 shots against the Clarets on Saturday, but only found the net once at Anfield. Generally, the Reds were left frustrated by young stopper Nick Pope.

The 25-year-old stopper was starting in place of injured No. 1 Tom Heaton. Pope didn’t wilt under the spotlight. Instead, he stood tall in front of a wave of Liverpool attacks.

With a keen sense of timing, Pope saved his best moments for late on. He made a terrific save to deny substitute Dominic Solanke inside the final five minutes.

The acrobatic stop drew praise from Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel:

Pope merited the praise after the way he preserved Burnley’s increasingly impressive away form. The Clarets have now taken five points from trips to Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.

Left-back: Nacho Monreal, Arsenal

He may have been playing as part of a back three at Stamford Bridge, but Nacho Monreal was outstanding in a rare defensive clinic from the Gunners. Leading by example, the 31-year-old stayed tight and disciplined to help Arsenal keep their shape at the back.

Monreal’s experience was also vital in settling the visitors down after a predictably nervy opening. By the time the first half ended, Monreal was the standout defender on the pitch, per Squawka Football:

The ex-Malaga full-back barely put a foot wrong after the break, ensuring Arsenal maintained a (very) rare clean sheet for an away game against one of the top six.

Right-back: Cedric Soares, Southampton

Arsenal’s was far from the only outstanding defensive display of the week. Southampton also thrived when shutting out hapless Crystal Palace in Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge of the Eagles.

A faultless display from Cedric Soares was a big reason the Saints left Selhurst Park with a 1-0 win. The right-back was a tireless raider going forward, as well as a model of solidity at the back.

Such efficient displays have become the norm for Cedric. He is quietly becoming one of the best and most dependable full-backs in England’s top flight.

Center-back: Federico Fernandez, Swansea

Swansea heaping yet more Wembley misery on Tottenham was only made possible by Federico Fernandez. The one-time Napoli center-back was a rock during Saturday’s 0-0 draw.

Fernandez read the game astutely, always being in the right place to make an interception, tackle or timely clearance. He was also dominant in the air, helping the Swans deal with the typically devilish delivery from set-pieces produced by Christian Eriksen.

What was most impressive about Fernandez’s display was how effectively he shackled Harry Kane. A striker in a hot streak entering the game was completely shut down by suffocating man marking from Fernandez.

This was Swansea’s third clean sheet in five league matches this season. There are sure to be more if Fernandez stays in this miserly a mood.

Center-back: Shkodran Mustafi

Just where has Shkodran Mustafi been hiding this kind of performance? The centre-back Arsenal reportedly tried to sell this summer was a colossus against Chelsea.

Mustafi utterly bossed Blues striker Alvaro Morata in the air. A player who struggled with tests of strength during his debut campaign in England last season, wasn’t prepared to be bullied on Sunday.

Mustafi was also neat and tidy playing out from the back. He regularly got the Gunners moving forward with quick, decisive and smart passes between the lines and into midfield.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently identified Mustafi as a key figure in his ideal back three for this season, per Metro‘s George Bellshaw:

"He’s reading the game well, strong in the challenge, and he likes to talk as well, so that’s an important quality in that part of the pitch."

If he delivers more performances as accomplished as this one, Mustafi will finally justify his manager’s faith.

Midfielder: David Silva, Manchester City

Silva is almost single-handedly keeping the pocket-edition playmaker fashionable in the Premier League. The 31-year-old was at his artful best against the Hornets, owning the ball and using it stylishly.

Silva roamed all over the pitch to knit together City’s typically intricate passing game. His touches were neat and his distribution thoughtful.

Next: Chelsea vs. Arsenal combined XI

Silva also showed he hasn’t lost his eye for an assist. He created goals for both Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi.

Even in the winter of his City career, Silva’s influence shows no sign of waning.

Midfielder: Mario Lemina, Southampton

Southampton pulled off quite the coup when they signed Mario Lemina from Juventus for £18 million this summer. The young Gabon international looked every inch a bargain as he ran midfield against Palace.

In combination with holding player Oriol Romeu, Lemina snapped into tackles and used the ball well. His range of passing often set the Saints away on counter-attacks, as long balls over the top routinely found the pace of Shane Long.

More all-action performances like this will surely have Wenger and Arsenal regretting passing on the chance to sign Lemina.

Midfielder: Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal

Of course, Wenger can simply point to Aaron Ramsey’s imperious performance at Chelsea for an answer to those critical of the decision not to sign Lemina.

Ramsey was arguably the best player on the pitch at Stamford Bridge. He showed more positional discipline than usual, often shunning a typical late-breaking run forward to stay deep and shield Arsenal’s defence.

But Ramsey is still at his best when he gets forward, and he came closest to finding a goal for the Gunners. A mazy run into the box ended with his toe-poked effort coming back off the inside of the post with Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois beaten.

Ramsey offered a threat in the final third, but was mostly efficient in possession. A player who can be guilty of risky shows of skill in the wrong areas, used the ball the steadily and intelligently against the Blues.

Numbers from Sky Sports Statto perfectly summed up Ramsey’s complete performance:

If Ramsey can stay fit, always a challenge for the Wales international, he will prove his worth as a hugely under-appreciated midfielder who is key to Arsenal’s season.

Midfielder: Jordon Ibe, Bournemouth

It’s fair to say things haven’t gone Jordon Ibe’s way since he joined Bournemouth in a deal worth £15 million in 2016. Yet the winger who spent most of last season on the fringes of the team proved his quality as a game-changing substitute against Brighton on Friday.

Ibe created both goals in the Cherries’ 2-1 comeback win at the Vitality Stadium. The first saw him release Andrew Surman in the box with a clever and classy backheel.

Later, a player usually never shy about shooting passed up personal glory to tee up Jermain Defoe for the winner. Ibe shaped for a shot before smartly prodding a deftly disguised pass into Defoe’s path.

Moments like these represent the kind of flair Ibe can bring to the final third. Such flair and creative output is essential to the progressive brand of football Bournemouth want to play.

Striker: Jermain Defoe, Bournemouth

Bournemouth finally got what they paid for from Defoe. Namely, a goal, after the 34-year-old striker netted the winner against Brighton.

The finish was typical of Defoe, shooting violently and accurately on the turn after staying alert in the box. It was proof this prolific veteran has lost none of his keen instincts for goal.

Defoe will get the goals and add a flourish to Bournemouth’s attractive approach play. It’s up to the Cherries to find the striker more often, something manager Eddie Howe has called for, per Steve Morgan of the Daily Star Sunday:

"We need to get to know as a team what Jermain wants, where he wants the ball.He’s different from every other striker we have. And it’s all about us creating more openings for him. We haven’t created enough chances for him so far this season.He thrives on those openings. So our players have to learn the kind of runs he makes."

Finding Defoe more often will be the key to keeping Bournemouth up this season.

Striker: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

There just aren’t enough superlatives for Aguero’s current form. The Argentinian simply continues to score goals, set records and rip defences apart.

Aguero has terrorised few teams the way he has Watford. A hat-trick made it nine goals in five matches against the Hornets, according to Caroline Chapman of BBC Sport.

The truly worrying thing for Premier League opponents may not even be the goals Aguero is scoring. Instead, City’s opponents should be concerned about his increasingly generous streak, after the 29-year-old provided another assist for strike partner Gabriel Jesus.

Next: Two strikers becoming fashionable again in the Premier League

This one followed Aguero teeing up his fellow attacker for a tap-in during the 5-0 rout of Liverpool last week. Both assists are proof Aguero is becoming the more complete striker manager Pep Guardiola wants him to be.

Aguero getting better is an ominous sign for the rest of the Premier League, as City begin to look like the class of the title race.