Arsenal opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table going into the November international break.
The Gunners had to fight hard for their 1-0 win over Hull City but were able to get the victory, with Manchester City later falling to Nottingham Forest. Brighton and Hove Albion also jumped up to second thanks to their win over Brentford.
And those two sides are represented in our Squawka Score Team of the Week for Gameweek 10. Arsenal are one of four clubs with two players in the team, joined by Hull, Everton and Manchester United. Brighton, Coventry City and Newcastle United were the other teams to have one player.
The Squawka Score is our proprietary performance rating, combining multiple Opta stats into a single score. 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: Konstantinos Tzolakis (Hull)
- Squawka Score: 8.9
Konstantinos Tzolakis may have ended up on the losing side against Arsenal. But he was almost the reason they didn’t take all three points against Hull. That and a controversial refereeing decision. The Greek shot-stopper very much lived up to that name with nine saves at the Emirates Stadium, the most of any goalkeeper in a single Premier League game this season. Seven of those saves came from shots inside the box too, with Tzolakis really tested.
Honourable mention: James Trafford (7.7)
James Trafford made four saves in keeping his clean sheet for Leeds United against Tottenham Hotspur. He prevented 0.73 goals in the process.
RB: Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)
- Squawka Score: 7.5
Jurrien Timber did his bit at both ends of the pitch for Arsenal against Hull. Although there wasn’t too much to do defensively, the right-back did win possession four times in his defensive third and won one tackle. But Timber also created three chances, with five touches in the opposition box and five successful passes into the penalty area. And he completed two take-ons.
Honourable mention: Merlin Rohl (7.1)
Merlin Rohl continues to play well at right-back, with two chances created and two tackles won alongside seven duels won in Everton’s win over Coventry City.
CB: Semi Ajayi (Hull)
- Squawka Score: 7.7
Another Hull defensive player rewarded for a fine display, even if they eventually conceded. Semi Ajayi won seven of his eight duels and did well to keep Arsenal’s forwards at back, with four clearances and three tackles won. Ajayi also produced two last-man tackles and boasted a retention rate of 86.11% on the ball.
Honourable mention: Tarik Muharemovic (7.2)
Tarik Muharemovic more than did his bit for Leeds as they shut Tottenham out, with 13 clearances and six duels won.
CB: Ezri Konsa (Arsenal)
- Squawka Score: 7.4
Although Arsenal kept a clean sheet, their defence was busy. Ezri Konsa put in a solid display to shut out Hull with an impessive eight clearances and perfection in battles, including five aerial duels. But Konsa was also solid on the ball too, completing 95% of his passes with a retention rate of 95.77%. He also completed four passes into the final third.
Honourable mention: Gabriel Magalhaes (7.1)
Like his centre-back partner, Gabriel was a busy man with nine clearances and five duels won.
LB: Vitalii Mykolenko (Everton)
- Squawka Score: 8.2
While Rohl could only make the honourable mentions at right-back, Vitalii Mykolenko leads the way on the left. The Ukrainian got himself involved in Everton’s win over Coventry, setting up Thierno Barry‘s opening goal. It was one of two chances Mykolenko created, alongside two accurate crosses. But Mykolenko was just as solid defensively. He won nine of his duels — including six in the air — and made eight clearances alongside five possessions won in the defensive third.
Honourable mention: Lewis Hall (7.4)
Lewis Hall won three tackles and made five interceptions alongside 11 duels won in Newcastle United’s draw with Fulham.
DM: Youri Tielemans (Man Utd)
- Squawka Score: 8.3
It may be easy to brush off Youri Tielemans‘ score because he found the net for Man Utd against Aston Villa. But the Belgian did perform well against his former side. On top of his goal, Tielemans also created four chances, the joint-most of any player at Old Trafford and completed 53 of his 59 passes. Tielemans did his bit defensively too, winning possession four times in the middle third and making five recoveries in total.
Honourable mention: Dominik Szoboszlai (7.7)
Dominik Szoboszlai only played 69 minutes of Liverpool‘s win over Crystal Palace but he still managed to create six chances, providing one assist.
DM: Pascal Gross (Brighton)
- Squawka Score: 7.9
Pascal Gross continued his fine season with another goal against Brentford this weekend, netting from the penalty spot. But the German also flexed his creative muscles, showing his quality on the ball. Gross completed 80 of his 92 passes and made 43 final third passes, while also creating five chances. Gross also made two recoveries and won one tackle.
Honourable mention: Alexis Mac Allister (7.6)
Alexis Mac Allister may have scored against Crystal Palace but his performance was all about the defensive side of his game, with six recoveries.
RW: Jacob Murphy (Newcastle)
- Squawka Score: 8.1
Jacob Murphy scored a wondergoal for Newcastle in their draw with Fulham, which was also his only shot of the game. But Murphy was a constant threat. The Englishman created two chances with 0.34 Expected Assists, three crosses completed and five final-third passes completed. He also did his bit defensively, with three recoveries.
Honourable mention: Diego Gomez (7.7)
Speaking of wondergoals. Diego Gomez scored another one this weekend, with one of his three shots against Brentford.
No.10: Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
- Squawka Score: 8.9
Bruno Fernandes was heavily involved in Man Utd’s draw with Aston Villa, scoring a 16th-minute penalty to start the first comeback and assisting the last-gasp equaliser. The penalty was one of six shots Fernandes took as he looked to bring Man Utd from behind, while he also created four chances — two of which were big chances. Fernandes was getting into good positions too, posting 0.95 for both Expected Goals and xA.
Honourable mention: Martin Odegaard (8.6)
Martin Odegaard’s performance against Hull would have got him into most XIs, with five chances created and the only goal in Arsenal’s win.
LW: Yann Gboho (Coventry)
- Squawka Score: 7.7
Yann Gboho was a constant thorn in Everton’s side despite Coventry’s eventual defeat at the Hill Dickinson. The winger opened the scoring for Coventry with one of his three shots, accumulating 0.41 xG, while also creating two chances. Gboho had six touches in the opposition box and completed nine final-third passes.
Honourable mention: Matheus Cunha (7.6)
Matheus Cunha created three chances and had three shots (two on target) in Man Utd’s draw with Aston Villa.
ST: Thierno Barry (Everton)
- Squawka Score: 9.0
Thierno Barry was directly involved in all three goals for Everton as they beat Coventry on Friday. He scored the first two and then set up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for the final goal, capping a wonderful display. The striker had six shots in total, amassing 1.59 xG and also had seven touches in the opposition box. But Barry was also a good out-ball, winning six aerial duels.
Honourable mention: Nicolas Jackson (8.4)
This was another good game for Nicolas Jackson, with a goal and an assist at Old Trafford.