With just one week remaining till the end of the 2018/19 Premier League campaign, Matchweek 37 provided us with some interesting results. Bournemouth surprised Tottenham Hotspur with a 1-0 win while Brighton & Hove Albion shattered Arsenal’s dream of finishing in the top-four with a 1-1 draw.
Here are three players who impressed the most in this week’s round of fixtures.
Shane Duffy – a defensive rock vs Arsenal
Brighton & Hove Albion’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal was one of the highlights of Gameweek 37. The Seagulls, who escaped the drop as a result of Cardiff City’s loss to Crystal Palace, produced a masterful defensive performance to salvage a point against the Gunners on Sunday.
While it was undoubtedly a collective effort from Chris Hughton’s men, Shane Duffy definitely deserves credit for his diligent defending. The 27-year-old was a rock at the back, making a host of important challenges and interceptions to keep the Arsenal attack at bay.
Duffy ended the game, winning four aerial duels, ten tackles and making ten clearances – more than anyone else on the pitch. However, he had excellent defensive support from his partner Lewis Dunk, and the duo is undoubtedly one of the most productive defensive combinations in the bottom half of the table.
Ryan Fredericks’ all-round performance against Southampton
West Ham United continued their winning run by securing a comfortable 3-0 win over Southampton on Saturday. And much of it can be attributed to an excellent all-round performance by Ryan Fredericks in the right-back position.
While the Hammers were clinical in front of goal, it was Fredericks who rampaged forward at every given opportunity and provided extensive offensive support to his teammates in the final third.
Aside from scoring the third goal, Fredericks amassed two shots on goal and completed four dribbles. Defensively, he won 10 aerial duels with a success rate of 100%. He was also the only player to receive a perfect rating(10/10) by Whoscored this weekend.
Eden Hazard rampaging the unlucky Watford defence
Watford’s disciplined defensive performance restricted Chelsea from finding too much freedom in the final third at the start of the game. But, an astonishing second-half display from Eden Hazard shifted the match in Chelsea’s favour, with the Belgian international delivering two assists in a comprehensive 3-0 win for the Blues on Sunday.
After a slow start to the game, Hazard was heavily involved in Chelsea’s attacking game in the second half. His combination play with the likes of Pedro, Jorginho and Higuain was flawless while the Belgian also made a host of mazy runs to keep the Watford defenders occupied.
Although he is still yet to score in any of his last four Premier League matches, Hazard’s return to form will be a boon for Chelsea, who play hosts to Eintracht Frankfurt this midweek.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
