Weekend awards: Best goal, assist, double act and more

Football writer Adrian Kajumba looks at the standout players and moments from Matchweek 2 so far.

Most impressive win – Tottenham Hotspur

A positive result for Tottenham Hotspur against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and at the Etihad Stadium is nothing new.

That does not make it any less impressive when they get one as they did in Matchweek 2.

Spurs produced a masterclass at Man City to make it two Premier League wins from two and inflict a 10th defeat on Guardiola, the joint-most he has suffered against any other side in his career.

Spurs have also now lost just one of their last five league visits to Man City.

They were composed playing out from the back, especially at the start of the move that led to Brennan Johnson’s opening goal.

Spurs then timed their pressing to perfection before Joao Palhinha pounced to make it 2-0.

Watch: Spurs' pressing for their second goal

Another pleasing aspect for Thomas Frank was a second successive clean sheet, putting them a third of the way to matching last season’s league total of six already.

As he diplomatically discussed differences between Spurs under Ange Postecoglou last season and Frank this campaign, one thing Johnson noted was how their current head coach “respects defending.”

That was evident at City. Bodies were repeatedly put on the line and successful tackles celebrated as Spurs players produced a combined 59 defensive actions, a total they beat just six times in the whole of last season.

Cristian Romero (10), Palhinha (seven), Djed Spence and Pedro Porro (both with six), led the way but it was a squad effort with 14 of the 15 players who featured contributing at least one defensive action to Spurs’ final total.

Best double act – Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)

Everton’s impressive Hill Dickinson Stadium deserves to be graced by some real entertainers and Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye look tailor made for the role.

On Everton’s opening Premier League day at their new home, two of their most talented players were the inspirations for their 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Grealish, a loan signing from Man City, was the first to put on a Man-of-the-Match performance there after setting up both goals, equalling his assists tally from his previous two seasons combined.

Meanwhile Ndiaye etched his name in Everton folklore again. After scoring the last goal at Goodison Park last season, he became the first scorer at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

On their first start together, Grealish and Ndiaye carried the Everton threat down the flanks.

Grealish was Everton’s main attacking outlet, with getting him the ball in dangerous areas as much as possible central to their approach and success against Brighton.

Over half of their attacks – 52.2 per cent – came down Grealish’s left flank (as seen below) and he had the most touches in the opposition box of any Everton player, with six.

Everton's wide threat v Brighton

He was also second among Everton players for dribbles attempted (five) and chances created (three).

Meanwhile Ndiaye threatened repeatedly on the other flank, setting the tone with an early slaloming run that got supporters off their new seats, one of a joint, game-high eight attempted dribbles.

No wonder Grealish said excitedly: “The manager hasn’t played us together once in training and I said to Ili yesterday, 'any chance of the manager playing us together?'

“This is our first time and hopefully many more goals and assists [to come] for both of us.”

Best young player - Estevao (Chelsea)

Estevao being nicknamed Messinho - Little Messi – in the past is an indication of his talent and potential. 

In Matchweek 2’s opening fixture, the Brazilian provided the first real glimpse in the Premier League of why he has earned such a big billing. 

Promoted to the starting XI at the last minute after Cole Palmer’s warm-up injury, winger Estevao sparkled under the London Stadium lights as Chelsea blew away hosts West Ham United 5-1. 

Not least when he produced a devastating turn of speed to burst past three defenders and set up Enzo Fernandez’s first-half goal, becoming the youngest player in competition history, aged 18 years and 120 days, to assist a goal for Chelsea in the process.

Estevao's highlights v West Ham

By full time, no Chelsea player attempted (nine) or completed (four) more dribbles than Estevao.

Seemingly keen to keep Estevao’s feet on the ground, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca highlighted how a couple of his attempted flicks led to costly possession giveaways, including before Lucas Paqueta’s wonder goal for West Ham. 

But, overall, Estevao’s display was one which justified the excitement surrounding him.  

Also, a special mention for Arsenal’s Max Dowman.

The much-talked about youngster was handed his debut against Leeds United and became the second youngest player in Premier League history, aged 15 years and 235 days.

He marked the occasion by winning a late penalty. Saturday could be the start of something special for him and Arsenal.

Best goal – Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United)               

Things went downhill fast for West Ham against Chelsea after beginning on a real high.

Just six minutes into the match, they took the lead with a screamer of a goal from Paqueta that they would have hoped was the first step on the way to an upset against their London rivals.

Paqueta had plenty to do when he received possession just inside Chelsea’s half and he did it expertly, striding goalwards before unleashing a left foot rocket of a swerving shot that flew into Robert Sanchez’s top corner.

Watch: Paqueta's stunner v Chelsea

Unfortunately for West Ham that goal merely sparked Chelsea into life and they responded with five goals of their own in the 52 minutes that followed to claim all three points.

But Paqueta’s effort remained the most spectacular strike of the night and was voted “Goal of the weekend” by fans on the Premier League WhatsApp channel.

Best assist – Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest)

Dan Ndoye had big shoes to fill at Nottingham Forest as the replacement for their second-most productive player last season in Anthony Elanga.

Elanga contributed 17 Premier League goals and assists to Forest’s push for European football last season, output that earned him a summer move to Newcastle.

Ndoye has not made a bad start at all to filling the void left by the Swedish winger.

Two matches in and Switzerland international Ndoye already has two Premier League goal contributions after following his opening-weekend goal against Brentford with a stunning assist at Crystal Palace.

Receiving Murillo’s pass under pressure from Chris Richards on the halfway line, Ndoye chested the ball over Adam Wharton and fizzed a crossfield pass through Palace’s defence and perfectly into the path of Callum Hudson-Odoi who applied the finish.

Ndoye's assist v Crystal Palace

The goal earned Nuno Espirito Santo’s side a point at Selhurst Park and made Ndoye the first  Forest player to score or assist in their first two Premier League matches for the club since Geoff Thomas in August 1998.

Best celebration – Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)

Arsenal’s win against Leeds was also a landmark day for Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swedish striker’s two goals in Arsenal’s 5-0 win got him up and running in the Premier League following his big-money summer move from Portuguese side Sporting.

Gyokeres' first Arsenal goal

And his second goal gave him his chance to have the last laugh over some of his critics.

Gyokeres endured a quiet Premier League debut in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Manchester United in Matchweek 1.

That prompted some eagle-eyed viewers to highlight his penchant for fixing his hair and cruelly suggest he touched it more than the ball at Old Trafford.

Gyokeres was clearly aware of the online attempts to poke fun at him. 

After dispatching his penalty against Leeds to make it 5-0, a smirking Gyokeres followed his trademark mask celebration by making a point of rearranging his hair while he looked down the camera.

Asked if the social media chatter was the inspiration for his adapted celebration, Gyokeres admitted with a smile: “Yeah it might be. It could be.”