Weekend awards: Best goal, most wholesome moment, and more!

Football writer David Coverdale hands out his personal accolades to the Premier League heroes of Matchweek 12.

Best goal – Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur)

It was a north London derby Spurs fans will want to forget. And yet the goal their team scored will always be remembered.

With the visitors trailing 3-0 early on in the second half, Richarlison briefly lifted the away faithful’s gloom with an outrageous strike in the 55th minute.

After Joao Palhinha robbed Martin Zubimendi of possession just inside the Arsenal half, the ball fell into the path of Richarlison, who spotted goalkeeper David Raya off his line and, without taking a touch, successfully lobbed him from 35.3 yards.

Watch: Richarlison's goal v Arsenal

It was the longest distance a goal has been scored from in the Premier League this season, as well as the longest in a top-flight north London derby since David Bentley’s wonder goal for Spurs in October 2008.

"Extraordinary" was how commentator Peter Drury described it on Sky Sports, with his co-commentator Gary Neville adding: "It’s a wonderful, wonderful execution.

"He has the awareness to know that Raya is off his line. The goalkeeper gets back quickly but it’s inch perfect."

Richarlison's incredible effort was voted the best goal of the weekend by fans on the Premier League WhatsApp channel, the second time he has claimed that accolade this season, following his acrobatic strike against Burnley in August.

Best performance - Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)

"Who's Eze?"

That was the playful response from Spurs boss Thomas Frank when asked about Eze – a summer target for the club – before the north London derby.

Well, the Arsenal winger and boyhood Gunners fan made sure everybody knew who he was on Sunday by scoring his first senior hat-trick.

In doing so, he became the first player to notch a treble in the north London derby in the Premier League era.

In fact, you have to go back to Alan Sunderland in 1978 for the last time anyone had achieved the feat in this fixture.

What made Eze's historic hat-trick so memorable was the quality of all three of his goals.

For his first strike, he skipped past two Spurs defenders and powered a shot beyond Guglielmo Vicario with his right foot. His second goal was a sweet strike into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot.

Eze then sealed his treble when he let Leandro Trossard's pass roll across him, leaving the sliding Destiny Udogie on his backside, before hammering home from just inside the box.

Watch: Eze's historic hat-trick against Spurs

"I don't think I could have ever dreamt of it," Eze told the BBC's Match of the Day. "It’s a special day for me and my family."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta added: "He's a big player who can create magic moments which unbalance a team.

"When I spoke to [England manager] Thomas Tuchel about Eze, I said, 'How good is he?' He said to me, 'One of the best I have seen'.

"I rate him one of the best in terms of talent. If we add in now his work-rate, willingness to play for this team and the joy I sense when he is in the building, we have a special player."

Best free-kick – Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Another game, another amazing "knuckleball" free-kick by a Villa midfielder.

Before the international break, Emiliano Buendia netted against AFC Bournemouth with the free-kick technique associated with Premier League legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. 

Then at Leeds United on Sunday, Rogers stepped up and scored in replica style, before celebrating with Villa's set-piece coach, Austin MacPhee.

The England star's strike was 10 inches above the height of the crossbar when it sailed over the Leeds wall. But it then dipped and nestled halfway up the net, leaving baffled goalkeeper Lucas Perri rooted to the spot.

Watch: Rogers' incredible free-kick v Leeds

Incredibly, it was the first free-kick Rogers had ever taken in the Premier League, and he was only given dead-ball duties because Buendia had been subbed at half-time.

"I call it 'the Emi Buendia'," laughed match-winner Rogers to the BBC's Match of the Day. "He did it in the last game before the break.

"That technique is something I’ve been practising, probably not as much as him and I’m not as good as him. But once he was off the pitch, and I looked around and there was nobody else that really practised them, I thought, 'Why not?'

"I know I’ve got it in my locker. It's just about consistency. From so close, it’s about getting it up and down as quickly as possible. I’m really happy that one went in."

Best impact – Enes Unal (Bournemouth)

After going 341 days without a goal, Unal needed only one minute against West Ham United to get back on the scoresheet.

With Bournemouth trailing 2-1 at home, the Turkish forward was brought off the bench in the 80th minute and made an immediate impact.

With his first touch of the game, he expertly controlled a pass from Marcos Senesi, then with his second touch, he lifted the ball over Alphonse Areola to clinch a point for the Cherries.

Watch: Unal's late leveller v West Ham

Coincidentally, Unal's last goal – which came in December 2024 – was also a late equaliser from the bench at home against the Hammers.

Since then, though, the 28-year-old has largely been out of action having suffered a second serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in January.

In fact, his late cameo on Saturday was just his second brief substitute appearance since his return to fitness, making his leveller even more special.

"It feels great to score again," said Unal. "It's such an amazing feeling. The manager always gives clear details to the substitutes. He told me to play on the left and said he saw a good opportunity for me to get chances there."

Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola added: "I am very happy for Enes. He has been through difficult moments. An ACL in the same knee and 10 months fighting [to recover] almost alone.

"He has had to do hard work to be available for us, so everyone is so happy and so pleased when these things happen."

Most wholesome moment – Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)

Sunderland captain Xhaka has earned plenty of plaudits for his performances on the pitch this season.

The Swiss midfielder has contributed vital assists and a goal, while superbly shielding the Black Cats' defence.

But Xhaka has also set the standards for his new club off the pitch, something he demonstrated again with his thoughtful gesture at Fulham on Saturday.

As he prepared to lead his Sunderland team-mates out at a cold and wet Craven Cottage, Xhaka spotted his accompanying mascot shivering in a short-sleeve shirt and immediately offered him his club jacket.

The young boy initially turned down the coat out of shyness, before he was persuaded to put it on, with Xhaka even doing up his zip for him.

Not only did the Sunderland skipper succeed in keeping the mascot warm, he warmed the hearts of all of those who have seen footage of the wholesome moment.

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