Premier League Team of the Week XI

Matchday 8 delivered a significant shift in the Premier League title race, with Manchester City suffering their first points dropped after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa. The result left City level on points with Arsenal at the top, while Tottenham strengthened their position with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

Bournemouth produced the weekend’s most emphatic result, beating Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Arsenal defeated Everton by a 2-0 scoreline, and Fulham secured a narrow win against Coventry City through Oscar Bobb’s late strike. Meanwhile, Ipswich Town earned a point against Nottingham Forest after a competitive 1-1 draw.

Individual performances dictated these results. Some players delivered decisive goals, while others made their mark through defensive work, chance creation and intelligent movement. My Team of the Week uses a 4-3-3 formation.

Goalkeeper and defenders

1. Goalkeeper: Zion Suzuki (Parma)

Suzuki earns his place after producing six saves against Manchester City. Although Aston Villa conceded once, the goalkeeper made several important interventions and helped his side secure a memorable victory. He recorded 55 touches, demonstrating his involvement in possession as well as his shot-stopping ability.

2. Right-Back: Ben White (Arsenal)

White operated at right-back against Everton, but his attacking contribution earned  him a place in this selection. He assisted Gabriel’s goal, created three chances and completed four passes into the final third. Five touches inside the opposition penalty area further demonstrated his willingness to support Arsenal’s attacks.

3. Left-Back: Neco Williams (Nottingham Forest)

Williams opened the scoring against Ipswich and offered an attacking outlet from the left wing-back position. He created two chances and completed every attempted dribble. The Welshman added two tackles, four recoveries and three successful ground duels, delivering a balanced performance despite Forest’s failure to secure all three points.

4. Centre-back: Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)

Gabriel displayed his defensive authority with attacking quality against Everton. He scored Arsenal’s second goal and completed six passes into the final third. The Brazilian recorded eight clearances and three tackles, while winning four of his five ground duels. Everton struggled to find a way past the 28-year-old.

5. Centre-back: António Silva (Bournemouth)

Silva partnered Hill effectively as Bournemouth kept Manchester United scoreless. He won 75% of his aerial duels, made seven clearances and completed six recoveries. His command in the air and ability to recover possession helped Bournemouth control United’s attacking threat throughout the match.

Midfielders

6. Midfielder: Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town)

Enciso helped Ipswich secure a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest. He scored his team’s goal and finished with four shots, the highest total recorded by any player in the match. The Paraguayan also completed six dribbles and five passes into the final third, consistently looking for ways to threaten Forest.

7. Midfielder: John McGinn (Aston Villa)

McGinn played a major role in Villa’s victory over Manchester City. He created four chances, more than any other player in the match, and supplied the assist for Nicolas Jackson’s opening goal. His seven defensive contributions showed that he remained effective when Villa had to defend their advantage.

8. Midfielder: Mateus Fernandes (Spurs)

Mateus Fernandes’ Player Of The Match performance against Chelsea… Most touches – 120 Most passes attempted – 98 Most passes completed – 90 Most line-breaking passes – 19 Most tackles – 5 Most chances created – 2 https://t.co/D6MJkVpN1E

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 24, 2026

Fernandes was incredible in the Spurs 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge – only their 2nd in 36 games away at Chelsea. The Portuguese literally ran the show and was by far the best player on the field ending 1st in 6 stats. The midfielder truly announced himself as a Tottenham player after a big money summer move from West Ham.

Forwards

9. Centre-forward: Nicolas Jackson (Aston Villa)

Jackson produced the weekend’s most decisive attacking display, scoring twice in Villa’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City. The forward has now scored seven goals across 11 appearances in all competitions. He completed both attempted dribbles and won three fouls.

10. Forward: Oscar Bobb (Fulham)

Bobb scored Fulham’s winning goal against Coventry with ten minutes remaining. The Norwegian created four chances and recorded seven touches in the opposition penalty area, leading both categories in the match. His decisive finish rewarded an energetic attacking display and gave Fulham a valuable victory.

11. Forward: Rayan (Bournemouth)

Rayan opened the scoring against Manchester United, ending his wait for a Premier League goal. The Brazilian registered five shots and eight touches inside the opposition box, troubling the home defence. His early breakthrough helped Bournemouth establish control before they extended their advantage.

Who deserved the biggest recognition this week?

Jackson takes the centre-forward position after punishing Manchester City with two clinical finishes, but Silva deserves equal appreciation for his work at the other end of the pitch. Bournemouth’s clean sheet at Old Trafford required concentration, physical commitment and timely interventions, and Silva delivered all three.

Gabriel’s contribution highlights the value of defenders who can influence matches in both penalty areas. Meanwhile, McGinn’s chance creation and defensive work explains why Villa troubled City so much behind their two goals. Mateus Fernandes delivered the performance of the day vs Chelsea as he truly showed why Spurs paid such big money for him.

Bobb and Enciso deserve recognition for their attacking initiative, even though their teams faced different challenges. Bobb delivered the decisive moment in a tight contest, while Enciso repeatedly tested Forest’s defence.