Weekend awards: Best goal, playmaker, save and more

Football writer David Coverdale spotlights the standout players and moments from Matchweek 9.

Best goal – Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)

When Arsenal completed the signing of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace in August, Mikel Arteta said his new acquisition could "create magic moments".

Well, Eze certainly demonstrated that on Sunday when he scored the winner against his former club at Emirates Stadium.

The England winger had it all to do when Gabriel knocked down Declan Rice’s free-kick, with the ball bouncing up to chest-height.

Yet Eze was able to adjust his body to strike a sweet half-volley into the right corner, leaving goalkeeper Dean Henderson rooted to the spot.

Watch Eze's goal v Crystal Palace

It was a finish every bit as good as the one Eze produced for Palace against Arsenal in the same fixture last season.

And Eze’s first Premier League strike for the Gunners was voted goal of the weekend by fans on the Premier League WhatsApp channel.

"He took the goal really well," admitted Arsenal head coach Arteta. "He did it very similarly last year but against us when he scored from that corner.

"That's what big players do and he's certainly a big player. Hopefully that's going to give him a big boost and the confidence to generate many more moments like this, because they are the moments that sometimes define a season."

Palace boss Oliver Glasner added: "If you give Eze a shot in the box it is often a goal. We benefited from it last season and today we suffered."

Rivalling Eze for best goal of Matchweek 9 was Zian Flemming, who expertly steered in a first-time volley from Quilindschy Hartman’s cross-field ball to open the scoring for Burnley in their 3-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

An honourable mention must also go to Aston Villa defender Matty Cash for his winning strike against Manchester City.

Best assist – Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford)

The Gtech Community Stadium is fast becoming the home of this season’s top assists.

Only last month, Brentford fans were treated to two sublime passes by Jordan Henderson, teeing up Kevin Schade against Chelsea and Igor Thiago against Manchester United.

And those same supporters were given another assist to savour at the weekend, this time courtesy of Mikkel Damsgaard.

The hosts were already a goal to the good against champions Liverpool when some quick thinking and footwork from the Danish midfielder helped them double their advantage.

Damsgaard had both Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones for company when he collected the ball in the middle of his own half.

But the Brentford star was one step ahead of his opponents, spotting Schade making a run behind Ibrahima Konate and bending a magnificent ball into the forward’s path, which carved the Liverpool defence wide open.

Schade then did the rest, carrying the ball into the box and slotting past Giorgi Mamardashvili as the Bees went on to register another memorable win.

Watch Damsgaard's assist for Schade v Liverpool

"You will not see a better defence-splitting pass this weekend," said Ally McCoist, co-commentator for TNT Sports.

"What a ball. What vision that man has. Out of this world. I could watch that all night. It’s an excellent goal."

Best save – Martin Dubravka (Burnley)

Martin Dubravka is starting to look like one of the signings of the season.

Burnley bought the Slovakian goalkeeper from Newcastle following James Trafford’s summer move to Manchester City.

And the 36-year-old has already proved invaluable for the Clarets, none more so than in the 96th minute against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.

Burnley had only just retaken the lead at Molineux through Lyle Foster when Santiago Bueno had the chance to level again for the hosts with one of the last kicks of the game.

The Uruguayan must have thought he had scored as he fired towards the bottom corner from 12 yards.

However, with the ball seemingly past him and his weight on the other foot, Dubravka somehow managed to get down to his left to claw out Bueno’s strike.

Watch: Dubravka's victory-sealing stop v Wolves

It was a match-winning save and one which could prove pivotal at the end of the season, coming as it did against a relegation rival.

"It is going to be in the competition for save of the season," said Wolves legend Don Goodman on Sky Sports.

The other standout save of the weekend came at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario reacted brilliantly to keep out Beto’s overhead kick.

Best playmaker – Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

His Man Utd career is now 300 matches old, but Bruno Fernandes continues to find new ways to amaze.

The Red Devils' captain did not actually score or assist any of his side’s goals in their 4-2 win over Brighton and Hove Albion. But Man Utd would not have had their much-needed final goal of the game were it not for Fernandes, even if he did not actually touch the ball.

In the 96th minute, with Brighton piling the pressure on the hosts and sensing a famous comeback from 3-0 down, Man Utd defender Ayden Heaven stepped into the Seagulls' half and played a pass forward.

It was directed towards the feet of Fernandes, yet the Portuguese playmaker had already scanned around and seen Bryan Mbeumo making a run in behind, so he left the ball alone.

Watch Mbeumo's sensational display and Fernandes' clever dummy 

Fernandes' clever dummy completely caught out the Brighton backline, and allowed Mbeumo a clear run on goal as he slammed in his second goal of the match.

Premier League pundit and former Man Utd midfielder Owen Hargreaves said: "He’s so clever, he’s so smart.

"Bruno’s always checking his shoulder and knows where everybody is. That’s just beautiful. Sometimes the best thing you can do is not touch the ball."

Ex-England midfielder Jamie Redknapp added on Sky Sports: "He won’t get the assist, but he absolutely should because that is a brilliant piece of play."

Best hold-up play – Brian Brobbey (Sunderland)

While most of Sunderland’s new signings have hit the ground running, Brian Brobbey has taken longer to adapt to his new surroundings.

The Dutch striker joined the Black Cats from Ajax for a reported fee of £21.6million on Transfer Deadline Day.

But Brobbey has yet to start a game for his new club and has had to make do with brief cameo appearances from the bench.

The latest of those came at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, when the 23-year-old replaced Wilson Isidor with 15 minutes to go.

Yet in one action, Brobbey showed supporters exactly what he is all about – and just why the Black Cats bought him.

After a late Chelsea attack broke down in Sunderland’s box, Lutsharel Geertruida advanced with the ball and launched it forward for Brobbey to chase.

Brobbey beat Tosin Adarabioyo to the pass but with his team-mates nowhere near him, he held the ball up expertly while he waited for support to arrive.

When the cavalry finally came, he rolled a perfect pass to Chemsdine Talbi, who scored a memorable 93rd-minute winner.

Watch Sunderland's stoppage-time winner at Chelsea

"It was tough to hold the ball during the second half, but we know that Brian has this ability to keep the ball under pressure," said Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris.

More reaction from Matchweek 9