{"id":7128,"date":"2026-05-11T08:42:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:42:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7128"},"modified":"2026-05-11T08:42:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T08:42:09","slug":"premier-league-team-of-the-week-raya-xhaka-doku","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=7128","title":{"rendered":"Premier League Team of the Week: Raya, Xhaka, Doku"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Our Premier League Team of the Week from the weekend\u2019s action, featuring the heroes from Arsenal\u2019s vital win at West Ham, and two Sunderland standouts.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Goalkeeper: David Raya \u2013 Arsenal<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>After an excellent save from Valentin Castellanos\u2019 diving header in the first half, Raya\u2019s remarkable intervention to deny Mateus Fernandes might just have won Arsenal the title. With the game goalless, he stood tall to stop the midfielder one-on-one, setting the foundation for a late win at the London Stadium.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" data-placeholder-image=\"https:\/\/thefootballfaithful.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/complianz-gdpr-premium-DISABLED\/assets\/images\/placeholders\/twitter-minimal.jpg\" class=\"cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">What a save from David Raya! \ud83e\udd2f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8G0WRqzivb\">pic.twitter.com\/8G0WRqzivb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SkySportsPL\/status\/2053523182565368156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h5><strong>Right-back: Daniel Munoz \u2013 Crystal Palace<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>A trademark Daniel Munoz performance who showed no signs of fatigue despite Thursday\u2019s exploits. The Colombian dominated his defensive duels with 7\/8 won on the ground, while rampaging forward with threat at the other end. He made four key passes and created three big changes for the Eagles.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Centre-back: Levi Colwill \u2013 Chelsea<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Back from an ACL injury like he\u2019d never been away. Colwill\u2019s classy performance on his first start of the season showed Chelsea just what they\u2019ve been missing all season. He led the contest for interceptions and clearances in a complete centre-back display.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" data-placeholder-image=\"https:\/\/thefootballfaithful.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/complianz-gdpr-premium-DISABLED\/assets\/images\/placeholders\/twitter-minimal.jpg\" class=\"cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Levi Colwill vs Liverpool:<\/p>\n<p>\ud83e\udd47 Most touches for Chelsea (91)<br \/>\ud83e\udd47 Most passes for Chelsea (73)<br \/>\ud83e\udd47 Most interceptions (3)<br \/>\ud83e\udd47 Most clearances (6)<br \/>\ud83e\udd47 Most long balls (8)<br \/>\ud83e\udd47 Joint most aerial duels won (2)<br \/>\ud83e\udd47 Joint most shots blocked (1)<\/p>\n<p>A rock solid first start for Chelsea this\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WUXw6Yxqaq\">pic.twitter.com\/WUXw6Yxqaq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 WhoScored (@WhoScored) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WhoScored\/status\/2053111420510724259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h5><strong>Centre-back: Nathan Ake \u2013 Manchester City<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>In for Abdukodir Khusanov and barely missed a beat. Composed in possession and read the game well, nullifying the threat of Igor Thiago. The Dutch defender rarely lets anyone down.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Left-back: Maxim De Cuyper \u2013 Brighton<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Marked a rare start with two assists in the opening five minutes against Wolves. A floated cross was met by Jack Hinshelwood to open the scoring inside 35 seconds, before his corner kick was headed home by Lewis Dunk. The Belgian will hope this can be the start of a strong second season with the Seagulls.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Midfield: Granit Xhaka \u2013 Sunderland<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Fresh from being voted Sunderland\u2019s Player of the Year, Xhaka put in one of his best displays of the season against Manchester United.<\/p>\n<p>The Sunderland skipper led the game for touches (97), final third entries (23), possessions won (11), and tackles (3) in a top-class performance.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Midfield: Hannibal Mejbri \u2013 Burnley<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Has been a standout for Burnley since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and was the pick of the bunch against Aston Villa this weekend.<\/p>\n<p>The Tunisian charged around the pitch with intent, creating four chances, including a wonderful flicked assist for Zian Flemming\u2019s equaliser. There will be top-tier clubs planning a raid on the relegated Clarets.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Midfield: Enzo Le Fee \u2013 Sunderland<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Superb. Covering every blade of grass in his roving role and produced a series of applause-inducing moments. One lovely piece of control and creativity released Brian Brobbey, who really should have scored. Le Fee changes the Sunderland side when in this mood.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Right-wing: Ismaila Sarr \u2013 Crystal Palace<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The first Crystal Palace player in over two decades to reach 20 goals in a top-flight season across all competitions.<\/p>\n<p>Sarr smashed in his 20th of the campaign against Everton, lashing in at the second attempt. A threat all game, it was the latest highlight in a strong season from the Senegal international.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Left-wing: Jeremy Doku \u2013 Manchester City<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Is Jeremy Doku singlehandedly keeping Manchester City\u2019s title dream alive? After two goals at Everton on Monday night, Doku was decisive again with a wonderful opener against Brentford.<\/p>\n<p>The electric winger is beginning to add end product, a worrying sign for Premier League full-backs. He\u2019s one of only three players to have created six chances and completed six dribbles in a game this season.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-service=\"twitter\" data-category=\"marketing\" data-placeholder-image=\"https:\/\/thefootballfaithful.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/complianz-gdpr-premium-DISABLED\/assets\/images\/placeholders\/twitter-minimal.jpg\" class=\"cmplz-placeholder-element twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">J\u00e9r\u00e9my Doku for Man City vs. Brentford:<\/p>\n<p>\u25c9 Most passes in final third (43)<br \/>\u25c9 Most touches in opp. box (19)<br \/>\u25c9 Most duels won (11)<br \/>\u25c9 Most chances created (6)<br \/>\u25c9 Most take-ons completed (6)<br \/>\u25c9= Most fouls won (3)<br \/>\u25c9= Most goals (1)<\/p>\n<p>Six G\/A in his last four games. \ud83d\udc4f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/MEBrwgfDvw\">pic.twitter.com\/MEBrwgfDvw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Squawka (@Squawka) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Squawka\/status\/2053180442598138131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h5><strong>Forward: Leandro Trossard \u2013 Arsenal<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Continues to be an underrated cog in the Arsenal machine. Leandro Trossard\u2019s timely winner at West Ham leaves the title race in Arsenal\u2019s hands, a big moment from a player whose contribution to the cause should not be overlooked. So composed at a crucial time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Read \u2013\u00a0A week of chaotic DRAMA at Real Madrid, Marseille, Prague\u00a0and <\/strong>Southampton<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>See more \u2013\u00a0Arsenal survive late VAR drama to claim precious West Ham win<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Facebook\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram\u00a0| <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FootyFaithful_\">Twitter<\/a> | YouTube | TikTok<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Premier League Team of the Week from the weekend\u2019s action, featuring the heroes from&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7129,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}