Premier League Team of the Week: Arsenal duo and Alexis Sanchez shine

Premier League best XI for matchweek 26, including Arsenal midfield duo and ex-Gunner Alexis Sanchez.

Arsenal got what they wanted from new boy Henrikh Mkhitaryan, whose eye for a pass sent the Gunners on their way to a big Premier League win in matchweek 26.

Mkhitaryan pulled the strings, while Aaron Ramsey got the goals as Arsenal trashed Everton. Meanwhile, Mkhitaryan’s replacement at Manchester United, ex-Gunners talisman Alexis Sanchez, dragged the Red Devils past Huddersfield.

Find out who else made the team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Ederson, Manchester City

It’s not often the champions elect have their goalkeeper to thank for a point. But Ederson made more than one smart save for Manchester City against Burnley at Turf Moor.

The Brazilian stopper was at his agile best to deny Ben Mee and Aaron Lennon as City dealt with a typical aerial bombardment from the Clarets. Ederson shone, despite City being without converted left-back Fabian Delph, along with central defenders Aymeric Laporte and John Stones.

Ederson’s stout showing made up for the depleted defence in front of him, though. The 24-year-old has been one of the unsung heroes of the Citizens’ march to the title.

Defender: Ben Mee, Burnley

Mee was a menace in the City box. His height and appetite for attacking the ball made sure Burnley maximised their set-piece situations.

It wasn’t all about attack being the best form of defence for the 28-year-old, though. Mee was also solid as a rock at the back. He thwarted more than one City foray forward, ensuring the visitors’ dominance of the ball ultimately proved sterile.

Burnley’s skipper steadied the fort across the back four, despite being without regular defensive partner James Tarkowski. He also made the last-ditch blocks which always find a home in highlights packages.

Miserly defending has been the backbone of the Clarets’ solid season, and Mee has been the foundation for their stingiest displays.

Defender: Danilo, Manchester City

Delph being out gave Danilo another chance to show manager Pep Guardiola why he should play more often. The Brazilian didn’t waste his opportunity, scoring an absolute cracker to put the leaders in front in Lancashire.

Danilo remained a considerable threat going forward. His pace, power and willingness to shoot became City’s best route to try and break down Burnley’s deep defensive wall.

Steady work also defined Danilo in his defensive chores. The former Real Madrid man dealt well with Burnley’s pace from wide areas.

He’s not a natural lefty, but based on this evidence, the man who cost City £26.5 million last summer, should get more chances to make the position his own.

Next: Burnley 1-1 Manchester City: Highlights and recap

Defender: Patrick van Aanholt, Crystal Palace

Patrick van Aanholt is one of those strange players who often looks as though he should get a chance with a bigger club. Consistency has usually eluded the Dutchman who has spent time with Sunderland and is now helping Palace’s attempts to beat the drop.

There was nothing inconsistent about van Aanholt’s performance during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle United. The flying full-back tormented the Magpies from start to finish at Selhurst Park, raiding the flank and teasing in several dangerous deliveries.

Had target man Christian Benteke found his range in front of goal, van Aanholt would have had an assist or two to his credit. Ultimately, the adventurous defender settled for being his side’s best player after mixing energy and technique to carry the fight to the opposition.

Midfielder: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Arsenal

Those who have questioned whether Arsenal’s January imports will plug a leaky defense, should remember exactly why Mkhitaryan and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were brought to north London.

It was for the creation and scoring of goals, with both players living up to their remits against the Toffees. Aubameyang got a goal on his Premier League debut, but Mkhitaryan stole the show with a hat-trick of assists.

Last week, I said finding a position for the 29-year-old would be a champagne problem for manager Arsene Wenger. Yet Mkhitaryan brought champagne football back to the Emirates Stadium on his home debut.

The Armenia international was given the freedom of the pitch to ghost into pockets of space between the midfield and forward lines. Wherever he popped up, Mkhitaryan was in an area to deliver an incisive through pass.

His low cross teed up Ramsey for Arsenal’s first, before an astute ball let Aubameyang find the net from an offside position. Mkhitaryan’s third assist was an accurate pull-back to let Ramsey slot home, after the former had pressed to win the ball high.

While the trio of assists made this a great home debut, numbers from WhoScored.com showed Mkhitaryan excelled in every area:

If he can deliver creative output like this every week, Arsenal will feel justified sending a match-winner as gifted as Sanchez to Old Trafford.

Midfielder: James Ward-Prowse, Southampton

Creative output wasn’t in short supply from James Ward-Prowse, as Southampton won a true six-pointer in the fight against relegation. The Saints beat West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns, thanks largely to an assist and a goal from set-piece specialist Ward-Prowse.

His delightfully lofted corner was flicked in by center-back Jack Stephens. Later, Ward-Prowse pulled rank on Sofiane Boufal to take a free-kick he arrowed into the bottom corner.

Few English midfielders can match the 23-year-old’s technique from a dead ball. It would be fascinating to see how such quality could be brought to bear from a central role.

Midfielder: Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal

Technique in front of goal has always been central to Aaron Ramsey’s game. The Welshman gave Everton a lesson in finishing as he kept cool whenever a chance came his way.

Ramsey’s first was swept home with ease from inside a crowded box. His second was a rocket from distance aided by a deflection off Eliaquim Mangala. Yet the hat-trick goal was the clearest indicator of Ramsey’s class.

Arsenal’s No. 8 timed his run perfectly and made the subtle move to meet Mkhitaryan’s pass flush with a clean, side-foot contact. It left Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford wrong-footed.

The goals brought up a deserved landmark for one of Arsenal’s most under-appreciated players:

Those numbers speak volumes about Ramsey’s engine, flair and appetite for goal.

Midfielder: Pascal Gross, Brighton

When Brighton signed Pascal Gross for a snip in the summer, he brought his keen eye for a pass with him. One of the Bundesliga’s hidden gems last season, Gross registered his sixth assist of this campaign to send the Seagulls on their way to a 3-1 win over West Ham.

The pass summed up everything about Gross’ classy game. It was deft, astute and perfectly weighted for striker Glenn Murray to meet and slot in.

Gross also has his own appetite for a goal, one showcased by his late finish to seal the points. Five goals to go with the chances he creates proves Gross is one of the bargains of this season.

Midfielder: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

There’s no sign Mohamed Salah’s awesome scoring run will come to an end soon after his brace lit up Liverpool’s game against Tottenham on Sunday.

As he often does, Salah set the tone for a Liverpool team built to press relentlessly and release pace in the final third. His swift movement was rewarded a mere three minutes in when typical pressure from the Reds forced Eric Dier into a mistake.

Salah raced clear and finished emphatically, turning the ball into the bottom corner to leave Spurs’ ‘keeper Hugo Lloris flat-footed. His second was even better, a twisting and turning, change of direction masterpiece capped by a cold-hearted finish.

Holding his nerve in front of goal is one way Salah has upped his game since arriving at Anfield. He’s no longer all about pace, but is just as reliant on perceptive movement and keen instincts.

Those attributes have already helped the Egypt international set one club record, per BBC Match of the Day:

It’s hard to think of any player more important to his team than Salah.

Striker: Alexis Sanchez, Manchester United

Tireless running, determined pressing and being an all-round nuisance for defenses made Sanchez the best player at Arsenal. The early evidence indicates the Chile international will soon merit the same distinction for United after a superb home debut in the league.

Sanchez ran the Terriers ragged, winning more free-kicks than days in the week. He also won the penalty he dispatched on the rebound to seal United’s 2-0 win.

Huddersfield simply couldn’t control this whirlwind of skill, speed and trickery, evidenced by how many times they bent the rules to halt him:

This was Sanchez at his relentless best.  More of the same will justify the bumper contract the Red Devils offered to tempt the 29-year-old away from north London.

Striker: Jamie Vardy, Leicester

Pace and constant runs in behind mean Jamie Vardy remains one of the deadliest strikers in England’s top flight. Sudden and well-timed movement saw Vardy keep up his scoring run by netting the Foxes’ only goal in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Swansea.

Vardy had connected superbly with strike partner Kelechi Iheanacho. The link-up proved Vardy won’t slow down in front of goal while creative complement Riyad Mahrez remains MIA.

It’s good news for a Leicester side increasingly reliant on Vardy’s finishing quality. Fortunately, the 31-year-old still has the desire to be the main man for his club.