Premier League Team of the Week: Aguero, Iwobi and Pogba feature

Premier League best XI for matchweek 26, featuring Sergio Aguero, Alex Iwobi and Paul Pogba.

Players used to their share of criticism continued to prove doubters wrong in the 26th week of this Premier League season. Sergio Aguero, who never seems as appreciated as he should be, neither by his manager, nor supporters as a whole, bagged his second hat-trick in as many weeks as Manchester City demolished Chelsea to go top.

Chelsea’s 6-0 defeat completed a change at the foot of the top four. Manchester United got things rolling when Paul Pogba scored twice to beat doomed Fulham.

Free-scoring Pogba continues to indict Jose Mourinho’s mismanagement of his considerable talents.

Alex Iwobi knows a thing or two about not being appreciated by his own fans. Granted, many Arsenal supporters have a hard time finding anything they like about their club.

Even so, the ongoing negativity toward Iwobi is becoming bizarre given his growing contributions in the final third. He helped himself to a goal against Huddersfield and pulled the creative strings during a win which helped take the Gunners up to fifth.

Find out who else makes the team of the week:

Goalkeeper: Tom Heaton, Burnley

Burnley’s survival bid gathered steam with Saturday’s 3-1 win away to Brighton. While the Clarets flexed their muscle going forward, it was Tom Heaton who gave them the chance to win.

The 32-year-old made several key saves during the first half. He denied Pascal Gross, Solly March and Jurgen Locadia.

Heaton also produced an important stop to frustrate the usually prolific Glenn Murray moments before the break. Burnley again had their goalkeeper to thank after he reacted quickest when a mixup between James Tarkowski and Ben Mee in the visitors’ box nearly let the Seagulls back in.

Heaton’s form is not only enough to keep Joe Hart on the outside looking in. It should also ensure Burnley beat the drop.

Defender: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Manchester City

What do you do if you can’t break into a midfield as star-studded as City’s? Make yourself into a lethal attacking left-back of course.

It’s the path trodden by Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was as good as any City player during the trouncing of Chelsea. The 22-year-old Ukraine international, who is a central midfielder by trade, combined with Raheem Sterling to tie the usually unflappable Cesar Azpilicueta in knots.

Zinchenko was in on two assists and used the ball with efficiency and imagination. His overlapping runs were quick, decisive and intuitive, as he constantly stretched an overmatched Chelsea back four out of shape.

He’s unlikely to become a regular, not if Benjamin Mendy ever returns to full fitness. Yet Zinchenko gives Pep Guardiola a stand-in he can trust in the meantime.

Defender: Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal

Laurent Koscielny has lost what pace he had (which wasn’t much to begin with). He can also still be bullied by an aggressive target man.

The Frenchman is still Arsenal’s best defender, though, thanks to a useful habit for making critical last-ditch blocks. He stepped out to deny Leandro Bacuna, Adama Diakhaby and Jason Puncheon during the first half at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Koscielny’s timing and bravery were even more important late on when his reaction denied Elias Kachunga a simple tap-in. It was the signature moment of an imperious defensive display from a 33-year-old defying father time, particularly after recovering from a ruptured Achilles.

Arsenal’s defense needs superior talent and greater organization to show true improvement. Until then, Koscielny’s enduring heroics will have to do.

Defender: Craig Cathcart, Watford

Craig Cathcart is one of the hidden secrets of this Premier League season. The 30-year-old is fast becoming a solid-as-a-rock center-back top clubs should be running the rule over.

Cathcart was stubborn, resilient and aggressive during Watford’s 1-0 win over Everton. He refused to be bullied by Cenk Tosun and Richarlison and rarely let Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s pace get behind him.

The Hornets’ back line was held together by the former United academy product. Cathcart even found the time to venture forward and pose a menacing threat from set pieces.

Watford’s rise to becoming a top-eight team has been inspired by the strong defensive base put in by Javi Gracia. It’s a base underpinned by Cathcart’s significant improvement.

Midfielder: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City

Sterling’s 11th and 12th league goals of the season served to underline the ample improvement he’s made on Guardiola’s watch. The timing of his runs is more precise, while there’s also greater variety in his movement.

Most of all though, Sterling has made tremendous strides as a finisher. His two goals against the Blues proved as much as the former Liverpool winger made easy work of first-time connections with low crosses into the box.

They were precise, well-taken goals from a player who has matured into a complete modern forward. Sterling’s perceptive runs, sense of timing and efficient cool in front of goal have helped make City the most entertaining and prolific team in the land.

Midfielder: Paul Pogba, Manchester United

United haven’t been short on entertainment since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced Mourinho. The best thing the Norwegian has done is get Pogba back in the groove.

United’s record signing is showcasing the mix of power and flair few midfielders in today’s game can match. Pogba’s long strides, pace, technique and willingness to shoot make him a major threat in the final third.

He proved as much by slamming the Red Devils in front from a tight angle at Craven Cottage. Pogba later maintained his ice-cool efficiency from the penalty spot (and with a shorter run-up for once).

Those goals maintained a spectacular post-Mourinho run:

Every goal Pogba scores serves as a criticism of Mourinho’s tenure and how he wasted some of the best attacking talent in the division.

Midfielder: Georginio Wijnaldum, Liverpool

Liverpool’s midfield is always better whenever Georgino Wijnaldum is in the starting XI. To be exact, the Reds are more effective in the middle when Wijnaldum is allowed to push forward.

The Netherlands international had license to break from deep at will during the 3-0 win over Bournemouth. His runs always gave Liverpool a man over in attacking areas at Anfield.

There was more than just energy to Wijnaldum’s performance, though. He delivered end product when he collected Andrew Robertson’s pass and produced a sweet chip to leave Artur Boruc stranded:

Wijnaldum’s running power and skill are best served in the danger areas of the pitch. With Fabinho taking up the holding role, this underrated player has greater freedom to get forward.

Midfielder: Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City

It’s a measure of the awesome strength in depth in the City midfield Guardiola was able to rest David Silva and Leroy Sane and his team still put six past Chelsea.

The luxury is not afforded most managers, but it’s one Guardiola can afford when his stand-ins are as good as Ilkay Gundogan. A tireless playmaker as valuable for what he does off the ball as for what he produces on it, Gundogan delivered a masterclass on Sunday.

His shot for City’s fourth goal was a sweetly struck hit from a player with peerless technique. Gundogan’s appetite to score is being indulged in a City team where there is ample goals available for every member:

The former Borussia Dortmund star also didn’t waste his passes. His distribution was neat and incisive, keeping the Citizens moving forward at pace.

Gundogan is another of those players who make Guardiola’s relentless press, rapid turnovers and swift transitions work. His harassing of opposition players in possession, in tandem with equally skilled worker Bee Bernardo Silva, helps City own the most effective press in England’s top flight.

Yes, Liverpool fans, you read that right.

Midfielder: Alex Iwobi, Arsenal

It’s beyond time Arsenal fans gave Iwobi some respect. The 22-year-old is a success story from the club’s academy having graduated to the first team in 2016.

After plateauing somewhat following a fast start, the Nigeria international attacking midfielder is starting to produce more often where it matters most. Iwobi has three goals and four assists to this credit in the league this season after scoring the opener in Huddersfield.

It was just the start for Iwobi, who was easily Arsenal’s best creative outlet on Saturday. He married relentless running with precise passing to make the Gunners lethal on the break.

Iwobi combined brilliantly with Ainsley Maitland-Niles to fashion a shooting chance. His pass-and-move instincts led to another opportunity in the second half when Henrikh Mkhitaryarn played Iwobi in.

While he couldn’t finish the move he’d started, Iwobi’s ability to run in behind was too much for the Terriers to handle. So was his range of passing after a through ball set Alexandre Lacazette away early, before another astute delivery sent Mkhitaryan clear to help lead to the second goal.

Iwobi’s detractors need to face facts. He’s delivering for a side otherwise painfully short of creativity.

Striker: Chris Wood, Burnley

Chris Wood isn’t as quick or skilled as many other strikers in the Premier League. Yet the 27-year-old hasn’t lost his touch in the area, proved by the well-taken brace he bagged against Brighton.

The New Zealand international was instinctive and decisive with both finishes. He angled his run perfectly from out to in to ghost between both central defenders and collect Ashley Barnes’ pass over the top before sweeping in the first.

Wood’s second was even better as he swept a shot into the far corner after darting into the box from the left-hand side. It was an expert and composed effort from a striker enjoying a true purple patch:

Having Wood lead the line can keep Burnley safe from the drop.

Striker: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

Two games, two hat-tricks. Sergio Aguero is delivering at the crunch time of the season and helping City take back control of the title race.

Lest anyone accuses the prolific Argentinian of being a mere flat-track bully, remember those six goals came against Arsenal and Chelsea. Granted, neither member of the London duo is at their strongest, but they still represented tricky fixtures for the Citizens.

It’s also worth noting Aguero began 2019 by scoring in the 2-1 win over nearest rivals Liverpool. That result now looks pivotal, as does City’s record-setting No. 10:

Aguero is adding the consistent cutting edge even a team with as many artisans as City needs. His goals look set to ultimately decide the destination of the title.