Saka shines as Arsenal dominate Premier League Team of the Month
With September behind us, we’ve taken a look back at the month’s standout performers in the Premier League, with Arsenal, Leicester, Liverpool, Ipswich, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City represented in our XI.
Here, we run through the team in full.
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Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya helped his side retain their unbeaten start to the season through September, with wins over Tottenham and Leicester and a draw away to Manchester City. The Spain international has been without doubt the division’s standout stopper so far, and certainly continued that form, particularly at the Etihad, where he returned his best rated performance of the campaign.
James Justin (Leicester) - 7.30
Leicester full-back James Justin capped off a strong month with a fine performance at the Emirates on Saturday, as he scored twice in what was ultimately a defeat for the Foxes.
Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal) - 7.48
Arsenal centre-back Gabriel enjoyed a productive month in front of goal, as the Brazilian headed home Bukayo Saka corners against both Tottenham and Manchester City, in successive matches. The 26-year-old also played a huge part defensively, making four tackles, 17 clearances and winning seven aerial duels over the course of the month.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.36
Gabriel is partnered at the back by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who has picked up where he left off as the Premier League’s best rated defender last season. The Dutchman helped the Reds to clean sheets in the victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth, winning 15 aerial duels and making 12 interceptions along the way.
Despite still hunting down a first league victory of the season, newly-promoted Ipswich are represented at left-back in our Team of the Month, with Leif Davis turning in three solid displays for the Tractor Boys. Kieran McKenna’s side drew all three of their matches in September, with Davis’ strongest performance coming against Aston Villa at the weekend, where he made a whopping seven key passes.
After earning the season’s first perfect 10.0 WhoScored rating against Brighton at the weekend, Cole Palmer makes our September Team of the Month. Palmer’s four-goal haul against the Seagulls followed a goal against West Ham and an assist against Crystal Palace in the weeks prior, while he also managed 11 key passes throughout the month.
Wilfried Ndidi (Leicester) - 7.76
The second Leicester City representative in our XI is midfielder Wilfried Ndidi, who has featured for the Foxes in both attacking and defensive roles under Steve Cooper. In a more offensive berth, Ndidi provided assists against the likes of Crystal Palace and Arsenal during September, while he retained his defensive prowess, making 17 tackles, eight clearances and eight aerial wins.
Dwight McNeil (Everton) - 8.02
Everton attacker Dwight McNeil was instrumental in helping the Toffees to their first league victory of the season at the weekend, with his brace seeing off Crystal Palace at Goodison Park. That performance followed another impressive display - despite defeat - against Aston Villa two weeks earlier, where the 24-year-old both scored and assisted.
With a WhoScored rating of 8.09, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is our Premier League Player of the Month for September. The 23-year-old provided assists against both Tottenham and Manchester City - those coming from 12 key passes - while he also made 10 successful dribbles and fired off eight shots on goal.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) - 7.71
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland continued his remarkable scoring start to the season through September, netting in the victory over Brentford and the draw with Arsenal, before eventually being shut out by Newcastle at the weekend.
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz made it five goals in six Premier League appearances under Arne Slot, adding four to his tally in September alone - in the victories over Manchester United and Bournemouth. The Colombian also managed two key passes and four successful dribbles, while he found the net with half of his eight attempts on goal.
