Gameweek 28 of the 2025-26 Premier League season threw up plenty of twists and turns as we enter the business end of the campaign.
Premier League title challenging pair Arsenal and Manchester City both claimed key wins over the weekend. Manchester United and Liverpool, meanwhile, earned fine home triumphs in a bid to boost their top-four hopes. The quartet, along with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fulham, Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion, and Leeds United, are all represented in the team of the week.
We’ve used our Squawka Score to determine the best XI, based on the statistical leaders for metrics relevant to their positions. And as ever, we’ve thrown an honourable mention XI for good measure.
The Squawka Score is our proprietary performance rating, combining multiple Opta stats into a single percentage (45 mins played minimum). It benchmarks players against their positional peers, allowing quick comparisons. Learn more about how it works here: https://www.squawka.com/en/news/squawka-score-explained/
GK: Jose Sa (Wolves)
- Squawka score: 73%
Kicking off the team of the week is Wolves man Jose Sa, who was instrumental in Friday’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa. The Portuguese star managed four saves in the victory over their Midlands rivals, which in turn prevented 1.72 goals.
Honourable mention: Gianluigi Donnarumma (73%)
Gianluigi Donnarumma was a solid last line of defence as Man City claimed a vital 1-0 victory at Leeds on Saturday evening. The Man City No.1 may have only made two saves at Elland Road, but in the process prevented 0.81 goals in the narrow triumph.
RB: Matheus Nunes (Man City)
- Squawka score: 71%
Making the grade at right-back, Matheus Nunes got forward well where possible and was unfortunate not to register an assist having created four chances. In addition, the 27-year-old made two tackles and completed three take ons in Man City’s vital win at Leeds.
Honourable mention: Jurrien Timber (68%)
Arsenal’s match-winner on Sunday evening, Jurrien Timber headed in a second half corner as the Gunners secured a huge three points in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea. Timber also managed four clearances as he played his part in the home success.
CB: Ruben Dias (Man City)
- Squawka score: 68%
The second Man City defender to make the cut, Ruben Dias was vital in the Citizens’ clean sheet-attaining display at Elland Road at the weekend. Dias made a whopping 11 clearances to keep the Leeds attack at bay in Man City’s 1-0 win.
| STAT | DIAS | MAN CITY RANK |
|---|---|---|
| Clearances | 11 | 1st |
| Tackles | 3 | 1st |
| Attempted Passes | 67 | 5th |
| Completed take-ons | 2 | =3rd |
Honourable mention: Jan Paul van Hecke (67%)
Brighton inflicted a 2-1 defeat upon relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon. Jan Paul van Hecke held his own at the back for the Seagulls as he made five clearances and three tackles in the home triumph.
CB: Gabriel (Arsenal)
- Squawka score: 76%
Joining Dias at the heart of the defence is Arsenal star Gabriel. Not only did Gabriel provide the assist for William Saliba’s opening goal, that coming from one chance created, the Brazilian brute managed five clearances and returned a 100% tackle success rate from four attempted tackles in Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Blues.
Honourable mention: Harry Maguire (Man Utd)
Harry Maguire maintained his resurgence with another solid display as Man Utd secured a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday. Maguire was on hand to make five clearances and returned a 97.18% retention rate on home turf.
LB: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Man City)
- Squawka score: 74%
It’s an all-Man City full-back pairing in the team of the week as Rayan Ait-Nouri rounds off the defence. The Algerian provided the assist for Antoine Semenyo’s goal on the stroke of half time, that coming from the only chance he created in the win over Leeds. The 24-year-old routinely pegged the Leeds defence back having completed six take ons in Yorkshire on Saturday.
Honourable mention: Adrien Truffert (69%)
Adrien Truffert was key as Bournemouth and Sunderland played out a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s lunchtime clash. The Cherries left-back managed six clearances and three tackles in the Vitality Stadium stalemate.
CM: Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
- Squawka score: 81%
Bruno Fernandes made it seven goals and 13 assists for the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Indeed, the Manchester United skipper bagged his side’s equaliser from the spot before turning provider for Benjamin Sesko late on, those coming from respective returns of four shots and six chances created.
| STAT | FERNANDES | MAN UTD RANK |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 1st |
| Assists | 1 | 1st |
| Shots | 4 | =1st |
| Chances created | 6 | 1st |
| Take-ons completed | 2 | 1st |
Honourable mention: Casemiro (79%)
Fernandes’ Man Utd teammate just misses out on a spot in the team of the week. Casemiro carried out his off-ball duties impressively on Sunday against Palace as he won five aerial duels and made four tackles in the win over the Eagles.
CM: Alex Iwobi (Fulham)
- Squawka score: 83%
Alex Iwobi followed up last week’s impressive showing at Sunderland with another commendable performance as Fulham downed sorry Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Nigerian scored what proved to be the winning goal shortly before the break, getting the better of Guglielmo Vicario with one of two shots. Iwobi also created four chances and completed two take ons in the London derby success.
Honourable mention: Joao Gomes (76%)
Joao Gomes picked the perfect time to score his first league goal of the season. The Wolves man got the better of Emiliano Martinez with one of three shots at Molineux on Friday. Gomes also completed three take ons and won seven duels in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
CM: Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford)
- Squawka score: 79%
Brentford claimed all the spoils in a seven-goal thriller at Burnley on Saturday. Mikkel Damsgaard was the star man for the Bees having been directly involved in three of Brentford’s four goals. The Dane netted with two of four shots and provided an assist with one of two chances created to complete the midfield.
Honourable mention: Marcus Tavernier (76%)
Marcus Tavernier registered his fourth assist of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland. That assist came from the only chance he created against the Black Cats, while the Bournemouth attacker also completed two take ons and made two tackles.
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RW: Diego Gomez (Brighton)
- Squawka score: 76%
Occupying the right wing spot in this XI is Brighton man Diego Gomez. Gomez struck early on to set the Seagulls on their way to victory with one of two shots and chipped in with an additional three tackles and created two chances.
Honourable mention: Harry Wilson (67%)
Harry Wilson was directly involved in both Fulham goals against Tottenham on Sunday, netting the opener before turning provider for Alex Iwobi. Wilson’s goal came from one of two shots, while the assist was from the only chance he created.
ST: Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
- Squawka score: 77%
Leading the charge is Liverpool hitman Hugo Ekitike. The French forward maintained his fine start to life on Merseyside with a goal and a brace of assists in Saturday’s 5-2 win over West Ham United. Ekitike struck with one of two shots, while both chances created resulted in assists for Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, respectively.
Honourable mention: Danny Welbeck (73%)
James Milner isn’t the only Brighton star proving age is but a number. Danny Welbeck bagged his 10th league goal of the season as the Seagulls landed a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Welbeck’s first half effort came from one of three shots in the home triumph.
LW: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds)
- Squawka score: 66%
Completing the team is Leeds winger Brenden Aaronson, who was unfortunate to end up on the losing side on Saturday. The American worked hard off the ball to minimise Man City’s attacking threat having made three tackles in the home defeat.
Honourable mention: Iliman Ndiaye (61%)
Iliman Ndiaye was a thorn in the side of the Newcastle United defence on Saturday having completed five take ons in Everton’s eventual 3-2 win. What’s more, the Senegalese wideman also made five tackles as the Toffees responded to back-to-back defeats in fine fashion.
