Premier League Team of the Week: Aguero, Kane and De Bruyne feature

Premier League best XI for matchweek 27, including Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane.

Sergio Aguero hit four goals in matchweek 27 to keep Manchester City on course for the Premier League title. The Argentinian’s epic scoring salvo against Leicester upstaged the efforts of Tottenham’s Harry Kane, who led from the front as Spurs beat Arsenal in Saturday’s north London derby.

Both strikers did what they are paid for, but each can also feel fortunate to play with some of the best creators in the game. Kevin De Bruyne supplied chances and goals for fun against the Foxes, while Christian Eriksen’s class and vision tormented the Gunners.

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech, Arsenal

It’s not often a player from a losing side makes the TOTW. It’s also not been common for Petr Cech to merit praise this season.

However, credit where it’s due, the 35-year-old put his recent calamities against Bournemouth and Swansea behind him. Cech was Arsenal’s lone standout player against Tottenham, making almost a season’s worth of saves in one game to keep his side in it.

The veteran stopper denied Kane, Eriksen and Erik Lamela to leave Spurs frustrated. But his best save saw the former Chelsea man rebuff overlapping right-back Kieran Trippier from close range in the 75th minute.

This was the kind of performance Arsenal have received all too seldom from Cech since he arrived in 2015. It was the display of a dependable leader who kept them in a tough game away from home.

Had it not been for Alexandre Lacazette’s woeful finishing, Cech’s heroics would have earned the Gunners a point they scarcely deserved.

Defender: Lewis Dunk, Brighton

Brighton were another side buoyed by the efforts of the man between the posts. The Seagulls preserved a point at Stoke when goalkeeper Mat Ryan saved a Charlie Adam penalty in stoppage time.

However, the true hero from Brighton’s 1-1 draw in the Potteries was center-back Lewis Dunk. His superb tackle denied Adam the chance to tap the rebound into an empty net.

Seconds later, Dunk was on hand to clear off the line from the resulting corner.

These last-ditch actions capped an outstanding all-round display from the 26-year-old. Dunk held the line together brilliantly for the visitors. His tackling was precise, while he never lost concentration when tracking runners.

Dunk has steadily emerged as a defender the division’s biggest clubs should take a long look at when the transfer window re-opens this summer.

Defender: Alfie Mawson, Swansea

Alfie Mawson already belongs in the bracket of players the Premier League’s elite should be lining up bids for. The 24-year-old center-back is an enticing mix of brawn, aggression and technique.

All of those qualities were brought to bear during the Swans’ 1-0 win over Burnley. Mawson attacked everything in the air, winning most of his duels and nullifying the Clarets’ preferred route to goal.

Next: Tottenham 1-0 Arsenal: Premier League highlights and recap

Neither Ashley Barnes nor Sam Vokes managed to outmuscle Mawson. The burly defender also had the pace to stay with runners coming from wide areas.

This was a typically resolute showing from one of the league’s best young defenders. Swansea’s performances at the back have been surprisingly strong all season, with Mawson the main reason why.

Members of the top six surely have to come calling this summer.

Defender: Florian Lejeune, Newcastle

Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday was built on a rock-steady defense led by Florian Lejeune. The Frenchman consistently got himself in the way of United attacks, intercepting through-passes and blocking off runners.

Lejeune seemed to have a sixth sense for danger, flashing into view at exactly the right moment to block a shot or clear his lines. It took one of those impeccably timed blocks to deny Alexis Sanchez, after the Red Devils’ forward had rounded Magpies goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

The latter was hugely impressive on his debut, making a series of smart saves to keep Sanchez and Co. at bay. Yet it was Lejeune who gave Newcastle the foundation they needed to earn their biggest win of the season.

Midfielder: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City

He was rightly scolded for the miss of the season when the leaders drew at Burnley last week. But Raheem Sterling more than made amends with a superb performance against Leicester.

The winger opened the scoring after just three minutes when he met De Bruyne’s deadly cross. De Bruyne’s passes to meet Sterling’s runs were the feature of City’s dominance.

The combination served up a treat in the second half when De Bruyne slid an angled pass with the outside of his boot between two defenders. Sterling wriggled free and rounded goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, only to be denied by a last-gasp block from Aleksander Dragovic.

It was a passage of play perfectly illustrative of Sterling’s game. He never stopped making runs in behind from various angles or ghosting off the flank to get through the middle.

Such pace and movement has made Sterling one of the season’s best players. With Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane still injured, his return to form is timely for the champions elect.

Midfielder: Aaron Mooy, Huddersfield

Aaron Mooy was forced to leave Huddersfield’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday on a stretcher, but not before he’d proved the creative catalyst for the Terriers.

The classy midfield schemer provided the pass for Huddersfield’s second goal. It was a superbly whipped free-kick onto the head of striker Steve Mounie.

The goal gave Huddersfield a 2-1 lead, before Mooy helped make it 3-1 21 minutes into the second half. His astute low cross found Mounie, whose first-time effort was adjudged to have gone in off Bournemouth defender Steve Cook.

Eight minutes later Mooy was forced off with a knee injury, exiting to a huge cheer of both encouragement and appreciation from the home faithful.

The appreciation is owed the 27-year-old for the way he has added quality to the Premier League newbies’ style of play. A return of four goals and three assists underlines his value as this team’s chief playmaker.

Fortunately for a Huddersfield side still in danger of the drop, the extent of Mooy’s injury was downplayed by manager David Wagner:

Midfielder: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham

Kane took the goal and the glory, but Eriksen was just as important for how Tottenham dismantled Arsenal. The Dane used the ball quickly, intelligently and efficiently, rarely wasting a pass.

Eriksen’s touch and quality didn’t desert him, unlike some of the more high-profile names playing in Arsenal red. Instead, the thoughtful playmaker made the right choices to frequently send runners in behind what was a surprisingly deep and well-organized rearguard from the visitors, particularly during the first half.

Typically, Eriksen also posed a major threat from set-piece situations. He forced Cech into a fine save from a free-kick, while his deliveries into the box should have meant more goals for Kane.

Tottenham can be counted on to be organized, compact and to carry plenty of threat up top. But Spurs are always quicker and more incisive whenever Eriksen is pulling the strings at the heart of midfield.

Midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

Eriksen exuded steady efficiency at Wembley Stadium, but De Bruyne was all end product for the league leaders. The Belgium international with an unerring eye for a pass created three of City’s five goals against Leicester.

His teasing cross for Sterling’s opener was a devilish ball out of the reach of Schmeichel. De Bruyne was more precise and simple in the way he picked out Aguero for City’s second. Later, the right weight was on the pass to help the prolific Argentinian make it 3-1.

Ironically, for such a creative player, De Bruyne’s generosity against Leicester marked a first for him in England’s top flight, per Squawka Football:

Few would argue the 26-year-old has been the standout player of this season.

Striker: Marko Arnautovic, West Ham

Marko Arnautovic was back to inspire the Hammers to a comfortable 2-0 win over Watford. The Austrian’s display was less about power and more about exceptional technique.

Arnautovic produced some wonderful touches. His clever flicks and deft passing added genuine flair to West Ham’s approach play.

His ability to play with his back to goal and hold off markers, while remaining a creative threat, meant the Hammers consistently got runners in behind.

Arnautovic wasn’t just a foil for others, though. The 28-year-old also marked his return with a goal, putting a seal on an imperious display.

A temperamental talent, Arnautovic gives West Ham the quality in forward areas to trouble any team in the league.

Striker: Harry Kane, Tottenham

Kane was another striker who showed off not only his scoring prowess, but also his talent as a link player. The Tottenham No. 10’s clever knock-downs and artful passing took the fight to Arsenal, stretching the visitors’ defense in wide areas.

Arsenal had trouble tracking Kane because of the subtle way he worked the front. The England international occupied the middle, but was never afraid to spin into either channel and create space for attacking midfielder Dele Alli to run into.

Kane also proved adept at dropping off the front, allowing wide forward Heung-min Son to attack central areas. By showcasing his full range of movement and technique, Kane offered a crash course in how to play center-forward in the modern game.

He also found time to head in the winner and go close on four other occasions. In all honesty, finishing was probably the weakest part of his game against the Gunners, but a striker can be forgiven the odd miss.

After all, Kane has forged ahead of the other big-name marksmen on the continent, per OptaJoe:

Striker: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

Aguero’s goals have been a constant for City ever since he arrived in the Premier League back in 2011. He’s still the cutting edge for manager Pep Guardiola’s team, despite all the patterns in possession weaved by De Bruyne and Co.

Aguero showed off his pace, deceptive strength and instinct for chances against the Foxes. He was in the right spot to turn in his first goal, before getting enough on the ball to net his second.

There was true quality about the way Aguero chipped Schmeichel for his hat-trick goal. Meanwhile, it was all about power when he slammed in his fourth from distance.

Four goals showed timing, instincts, technique and shooting power. In other words, the attributes of a complete striker at the top of his game.