Saka stars as Arsenal dominate Premier League Team of the Month
After the conclusion of February’s Premier League action, we’ve taken a look back at the month’s standout performers, with Brentford, Luton, Brighton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa all represented in our best XI.
Mark Flekken (Brentford) - 7.33
Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken made a whopping 32 saves across the month of February, at least ten more than any other Premier League goalkeeper. The Dutch stopper earns a place in our XI having helped his side to a clean sheet in the victory over Wolves, as well as setting the record for the most saves in a single league match this season (12 vs Manchester City).
Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton) - 7.26
Having started the season in more of an attacking-midfielder role, Luton’s Chiedozie Ogbene is now thriving on the right-hand-side of Rob Edward’s 3-4-2-1 system. The Irishman netted his third goal of the season in the Hatters’ defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, while he also made 16 successful dribbles and four key passes across the month, to return an overall WhoScored rating of 7.26.
England international defender Lewis Dunk netted his second and third league goals of the season in February, with the first coming in a 4-1 home victory over rivals Crystal Palace, and the most recent against Everton. Dunk’s efforts, including an assist, 11 aerial wins, seven clearances and 15 accurate long balls, see him take home an overall WhoScored rating of 7.54.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.38
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk continued his imperious form so far this season across February, as Jurgen Klopp’s side took nine points from a possible 12. The Dutchman found the net for the second time in the Premier League this season in the 4-1 victory over Luton last week, while he won a total of 21 aerial duels over the course of the month, more than any other defender.
After coming in for the injured Oleksandr Zinchenko against Liverpool at the beginning of the month, Poland international Jakob Kiwior has looked right at home on the left-side of Mikel Arteta’s backline. The 24-year-old provided the assist for Leandro Trossard’s late strike in the victory over Liverpool, while he then went on to assist Kai Havertz in the 5-0 thrashing of Burnley, before finding the net himself in the 4-1 win over Newcastle last weekend.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) - 8.11
Joining Kiwior in our best XI is Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who posted his two highest rated performances of the season so far in February, in the rampant wins over West Ham and Burnley. Across the month, Odegaard was directly involved in four goals (one goal, three assists), while he also made 15 key passes and five accurate through balls, more than any other player.
Pascal Gross (Brighton) - 8.28
Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross continued to show his effortless quality throughout the month, directly contributing to five of the Seagulls’ 11 league goals. Gross registered assists in the wins over Crystal Palace and Sheffield United, as well as the draw with Everton, to bring his total for the season to ten, a total no Premier League player can better this term.
Like many of his Arsenal teammates, England midfielder Declan Rice excelled in February. The 25-year-old netted his fourth goal of the season in the 6-0 thrashing of his former club West Ham, while he also registered his third, fourth and fifth assists of the campaign, with two of those also coming against the Hammers. In all, Rice made five tackles, four interceptions, five clearances and ten key passes across the month, on his way to a WhoScored average rating of 8.02.
With a WhoScored rating of 8.38, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is the Premier League player of the month for February. The England international starred in each of the Gunners’ four victories, scoring in all of them, with braces in the wins over West Ham and Burnley. Saka’s 9.67-rated display in the win over West Ham was his best so far this campaign.
Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) - 8.04
Aston Villa striker became the first player to reach double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League this season when he found the net and provided for his teammates in the 5-0 win at Sheffield United. Watkins then went on to bag a brace at Fulham, before scoring in Saturday’s 4-2 win over Nottingham Forest, to bring his tally for the season to 14, and help himself to an average WhoScored rating of 8.04.
Rounding off our team of the month is Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, who netted his fifth and sixth league goals of the season in the home victories over Burnley and Luton. Diaz also provided an assist in the win at Brentford, while he made six key passes and 11 successful dribbles overall, to take home a WhoScored rating of 7.71.
