Two Arsenal players have made it into both the BBC and the WhoScored Premier League Teams of the Week after the opening round of fixtures.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Declan Rice of Arsenal reacts with an injury as teammate Kai Havertz reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Emirates Stadium on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
After the opening round of Premier League fixtures, Arsenal are one of eight teams sitting on three points, and one of four teams to have won their first fixture by two goals or more.
That win came in large part thanks to Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, and Troy Deeney has named both in his first BBC Team of the Week.
Troy Deeney’s Premier League Team of the Week for Matchday 1 (Photo via BBC)
On Saka, Deeney says the winger was “immense” and “ran [Wolves] ragged”. He added: “They couldn’t live with him. He scored a great goal and his assist for Kai Havertz was perfect as well. Great cross, assist and goal.”
As for Havertz, Deeney wrote: “There’s a lot of pressure on him to deliver and people – myself included – have questioned whether Arsenal need that striker to get them over the hump.
“He just smashed it and played really well. He scored a good goal, but actually looked like a proper striker.”
WhoScored’s Premier League Team of the Week for Matchday 1 (Photo via WhoScored)
Both players were also named in the WhoScored Team of the Week (above), with Sam Hammond highlighting Saka’s five key passes, two tackles, and four ball recoveries as well as his goal and assist.
On Havertz, Hammond pointed out the striker’s two key passes, eight duels won, and 10 touches in the opposition box, on top of his goal and assist.
As well as the Premier League Team of the Week, WhoScored also named Saka in their Team of the Week for Europe’s Top-Five Leagues (below).
WhoScored’s Team of the Week for Europe’s Top-Five Leagues for August 15th-19th (Photo via WhoScored)
It was a strong start for the Arsenal duo against Wolves, and they’ll want to keep it going against Aston Villa this weekend.
