Trossard, Watkins, Kane: Who makes our Premier League POWER RANKINGS?
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard inspire Arsenal at Fulham, Harry Kane hits 20 goals and Ollie Watkins maintains hot streak… so who tops our Premier League POWER RANKINGS this week?
- Arsenal eased to a 3-0 win over Fulham to maintain their push for the title
- England strikers Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins were on the scoresheet again
- Below, Sportsmail draws up its latest list of Premier League Power Rankings
Arsenal’s push for the Premier League title continued at pace as Mikel Arteta’s side navigated a tricky looking trip to Fulham by emerging as 3-0 winners.
Manchester City remain five points behind them after Erling Haaland’s penalty proved decisive in a tight contest with Crystal Palace.
A week on from suffering a 7-0 defeat at Anfield, Manchester United’s 10-men were forced to settle for a point against relegation-threatened Southampton in an entertaining goalless draw.
Liverpool were unable to build on their crushing win over the Red Devils as Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat away at Bournemouth.
With all that in mind, here’s the latest top 10 of Sportsmail‘s Premier League Power Rankings.
Gabriel Magalhaes opened the scoring for Arsenal in their 3-0 victory against Fulham
Alexis Mac Allister and Kaoru Mitoma impressed again for Brighton in their draw with Leeds
LAST WEEK’S TOP 10
10. Kaoru Mitoma – new entry
9. Alexis Mac Allister – new entry
8. Harry Kane – down five
7. Brennan Johnson – new entry
6. Gabriel Martinelli – down two
5. Phil Foden – new entry
4. Cody Gakpo – new entry
3. Darwin Nunez – new entry
2. Mohamed Salah – new entry
1. Bukayo Saka – non-mover
10. Kyle Walker-Peters (New entry)
Two clean sheets on the spin have helped Southampton earn four points in their fight for survival.
Walker-Peters enjoyed a strong display at Old Trafford, having been tasked with shackling Marcus Rashford for the afternoon.
The full-back became more expansive after United were reduced to 10-men following Casemiro’s red card.
Walker-Peters’s dangerous cross nearly forced Scott McTominay to slash into his own net at the start of the second half, before he struck the post with a left footed drive from outside the box.
Kyle Walker-Peters (L) impressed defensively for Southampton and posed a threat in attack
9. Gabriel Magalhaes (New entry)
It was not long ago that Gabriel was viewed as the weak link in Arsenal’s backline, but the Brazilian has proved a consistent performer for the Premier League leaders in recent weeks.
The centre-back has been dominant in Arsenal’s box recently, but he also contributed at the other end against Fulham, with his towering header giving the Gunners an early lead.
Gabriel has been an important part of a defence that has keep three clean sheets in four games as Arsenal continue to maintain their five-point cushion over Manchester City at the top of the table.
Gabriel Magalhaes has been a vital presence at the heart of Arsenal’s defence in recent weeks
8. Philip Billing (New entry)
Billing has risen to the big occasion in the last couple of weeks.
The Danish midfielder stunned Arsenal by netting the Premier League’s second fastest goal last weekend, albeit in what proved a dramatic late 3-2 defeat for the Cherries.
And he was on the scoresheet again at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday, finishing off good work from Dango Ouattara to give the hosts the lead against Liverpool.
Bournemouth were able to hold onto their advantage on this occasion, with the three points giving their survival hopes a much needed boost.
Billing leads their goalscoring charts with six in the Premier League. The midfielder is set to play a vital role in their bid to escape the drop.
Philip Billing scored Bournemouth’s winning goal in their crucial victory over Liverpool
7. Kaoru Mitoma (Up three)
One week on from terrorising West Ham’s defence, Kaoru Mitoma was causing problems for Leeds at Elland Road.
The Japanese international leapt impressively above Luke Ayling to assist Alexis Mac Allister’s first half opener.
Mitoma was then instrumental in Brighton’s second, racing to the byline and firing across the face of goal.
His direct approach caused confusion, leading to Jack Harrison’s panicked slice into his own net.
Kaoru Mitoma was instrumental in both of Brighton’s goals against Leeds on Saturday
6. Ollie Watkins (New entry)
The Aston Villa striker dropped out of the Power Rankings last week, but he returns after continuing his strong goalscoring form against West Ham.
Watkins headed Villa in front at the London Stadium in the opening stages, turning in Alex Moreno’s cross.
The 27-year-old has now scored six goals in his last seven games.
His impressive run is likely to be rewarded with a recall when Gareth Southgate announces his next England squad in the coming days.
Ollie Watkins scored his sixth goal in seven games in Aston Villa’s draw against West Ham
5. Alexis Mac Allister (Up four)
Brighton’s Argentine World Cup winner continues to deliver.
Mac Allister scored the opening goal of the match for the second successive week, having fired home a penalty and provided an assist in the recent 4-0 win over West Ham.
The midfielder also nodded in against Leeds after Mitoma had headed back across goal.
Mac Allister may feel he should have had a second and potentially winning goal, after firing wide in the second half with the scores level at 2-2.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for Brighton for the second successive weekend
4. Leandro Trossard (New entry)
The Belgian has proved an inspired signing so far for Arsenal after joining in January.
On Sunday, Trossard became the first player in Premier League history to provide three assists before half-time in an away game.
The versatile forward set up goals for Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard as the Gunners cruised to a 3-0 win at Craven Cottage.
Trossard has contributed one goal and five assists in his nine appearances since joining from Brighton, despite having initially been used as a substitute.
Leandro Trossard (right) picked up a hat-trick of assists during Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham
3. Harry Kane (Up five)
Kane dropped down the rankings last week as Spurs limped to a 1-0 defeat against Wolves, sandwiched either side of FA Cup and Champions League exits.
The England captain was back on the scoresheet on Saturday. His first against Nottingham Forest lifted the mood around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Kane’s second may have helped to extinguish some personal demons, as he scored his first penalty since that missed spot kick against France at the World Cup.
The penalty also saw Kane move onto 20 goals in the Premier League for the sixth consecutive season. Only Alan Shearer and Sergio Aguero have hit the landmark in six or more campaigns.
Kane’s goals also gave Spurs a vital push in their hopes to finish in the top four, following Liverpool’s earlier loss.
Harry Kane reached 20 Premier League goals for the sixth consecutive season at the weekend
2. Gabriel Martinelli (Up four)
Martinelli continued his hot streak for the Gunners, with the Brazilian now boasting a return of five goals in as many Premier League games.
Having blanked last weekend against Bournemouth, Martinelli appeared to be back on the scoresheet early at Craven Cottage only to see his goal narrowly chalked off by VAR for an offside.
Martinelli was not to be denied though, as he eventually headed in Leandro Trossard’s cross to double Mikel Arteta’s side’s advantage and effectively secure the three points.
His recent run of goals has been vital at a time when both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have been on the sidelines.
Gabriel Martinelli scored his fifth goal in five Premier League games to double Arsenal’s lead
1. Buyako Saka (Non mover)
Saka continues to reign at the top of our Power Rankings, with the England winger continuing his fine form for Arsenal.
His importance to this Gunners side cannot be overstated, even when he doesn’t get on the scoresheet.
Mikel Arteta highlighted this by opting to substitute Saka and rest his legs with 20 minutes remaining at Craven Cottage, while the Gunners were easing to victory at 3-0 up.
Buyako Saka remains vital for the Gunners as they close in on the Premier League title
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