Weekend awards: Best goal, debut, cameo appearance and more

Football writer David Coverdale looks at the standout players and moments from Matchweek 4.

Best goal – Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)

Arsenal did not sign Martin Zubimendi for his goals. After all, the defensive midfielder netted just nine times in 180 La Liga appearances for Real Sociedad.

However, Zubimendi was the unlikely two-goal hero in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest – and the first of his brace was breathtaking.

The Spaniard was lurking on the edge of the box when Chris Wood headed away Noni Madueke’s corner in the 32nd minute at the Emirates. And Zubimendi unleashed a first-time volley which flew past Matz Sels via a slight nick off Forest defender Murillo.

Zubimendi's first goal v Forest

Zubimendi's sweet strike was voted the best goal of the weekend by fans on the Premier League WhatsApp channel and earned plaudits from his head coach, Mikel Arteta.

"I take zero credit for that incredible execution, the timing, the way he connects with the ball and the way the ball travels in that trajectory," said the Arsenal boss.

It was the first time Zubimendi has ever scored from outside the box in the top flight – and even his own team-mates were shocked.

"I haven't seen him do that in training, so it was good that he pulled that one out," said striker Viktor Gyokeres, who also admitted he was "surprised" that Zubimendi later scored with his head to register the first brace of his top-flight club career.

Best debut – Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)

With no senior recognised striker in their side amid the absence of Alexander Isak, Newcastle United failed to win any of their opening three games, scoring just twice.

The Magpies, then, were crying out for a goalscorer – and they appear to have found one in the club's record signing Nick Woltemade.

The giant German was thrown in from the start by Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe for Saturday’s visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And he made himself an instant hero on Tyneside when he scored the winner on his debut, a goal which helped ease the Toon Army's pain over Isak’s Transfer Deadline Day move to Liverpool.

Woltemade's match-winning moment at St James' Park came in the 29th minute, as he peeled off the back of Emmanuel Agbadou and powerfully headed home Jacob Murphy’s teasing cross from the right.

Woltemade's goal v Wolves

His goal made him just the third German to score on his Premier League debut, after Jurgen Klinsmann for Tottenham Hotspur in 1994 and Ilkay Gundogan for Manchester City in 2016.

Woltemade only had 20 touches in his 65 minutes on the pitch, the lowest of any Newcastle starter. But he completed 89 per cent of his passes and made his presence felt in an all-round performance which impressed his new boss.

"I was very pleased with how he played," said Howe. "You saw his technical qualities and his intelligence. But most importantly for a striker, when the ball comes into the box, you need to be there and he was. It was a great finish."

Best cameo performance – Kevin (Fulham)

We need to talk about Kevin.

In search of their first win of the season, Fulham were struggling to break down the resolute Leeds defence until the introduction of their club-record signing in the 76th minute.

Kevin immediately changed the tempo of the match, creating two chances with his fancy footwork down the left. Then in stoppage time, the Brazilian winger came close to a memorable debut goal when his strike from the edge of the box forced a fine save out of Karl Darlow.

The resulting corner resulted in the decisive breakthrough for the Cottagers, as Leeds United defender Gabriel Gudmundsson headed into his own net from Sasa Lukic’s set piece.

After the match, Fulham head coach Marco Silva lauded the cameo of Kevin, who was signed from Shakhtar Donetsk on Transfer Deadline Day, for a reported club-record fee of £34.6million.

Kevin caught on camera, before coming off the bench

He made a massive impact in the way we were playing," said Silva. "He is going to be a player that can help us and add something different to our team.

"He is young but even if he wasn’t playing in one of the best five leagues in Europe, he has already UEFA Champions League games, already Europa League games, and you know it gives him the maturity."

Best assist– Jordan Henderson (Brentford)

Jordan Henderson claimed his first Premier League assist in 880 days on Saturday – and it was worth the wait.

After two seasons plying his trade abroad, the former Liverpool captain returned to England in the summer when he signed for Brentford.

And Henderson’s best moment in a Bees shirt so far came in Matchweek 4 when he set up Kevin Schade’s 35th-minute opener against Chelsea with a sumptuous long pass.

Picking up the ball from Mathias Jensen midway in his own half, Henderson took one touch before glancing up and brilliantly bending a 40-yard ball over Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyo to send Schade clear.

Henderson's assist for Schade v Chelsea

It was the 55th assist of Henderson's Premier League career, but his first since April 2023 at Leeds.

The 35-year-old also now has six goal involvements against Chelsea, the most he has achieved against any team other than Spurs.

The England international’s overall display in the 2-2 draw with the Blues was praised by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, who said: “It was a masterclass.

"The energy and organisation he showed, he was absolutely brilliant. For Brentford to sign him is a masterstroke."

After completing 90 minutes for the first time this season, Henderson admitted he was delighted have returned to the Premier League.

"It's the best league in the world so to be back playing in it means a lot," he said. "I'm so grateful for the opportunity to come back and show people I can still play at this level."

Best save – Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)

When Aston Villa lost 3-0 to Crystal Palace in Matchweek 3, Emiliano Martinez was missing from their side amid speculation over his future ahead of Transfer Deadline Day.

However, the window shut with Martinez still a Villan - and the Argentinian showed just why his club were so keen to keep him upon his return to the team at Everton.

The 33-year-old produced a standout performance at Hill Dickinson Stadium to keep a clean sheet, his eighth in 11 appearances against the Toffees in the Premier League.

The pick of Martinez’s saves came in the 72nd minute when he reacted superbly to tip Michael Keane’s close-range header on to the bar with his left hand, following an inswinging cross from Jack Grealish, the Premier League’s Player of the Month for August.

Martinez's save v Everton

"It’s world class from Emi Martinez and it’s a big reason that they wanted to keep hold of him," former Villa goalkeeper Shay Given told the BBC.

Unai Emery was equally effusive about his No 1. "The goalkeeper came back and played a fantastic match," said the Villa head coach. "He saved us a lot of times. I am so, so happy. We need him."