Kaoru Mitoma, Brighton v Chelsea
It took something special from Mitoma to bring down the raking long pass of the Brighton goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen. The Japan winger’s first touch as the ball came down over his head was sublime, each alternate angle proving better than the next, before he dribbled away from Trevoh Chalobah and curled a low shot past Filip Jörgensen. Mitoma has often received plaudits for his technical ability, but this one truly felt like one of his best. “The touch is as good as anything you will see in the Premier League this season. And the finish isn’t bad either,” said Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports. “That’s Messi-like and I don’t say that lightly. Pure genius.” Mitoma’s goal started the rush against Chelsea, with Yankuba Minteh adding two goals in the 3-0 victory. “I don’t know if I ever saw something like this as a coach from my own player,” said Fabian Hürzeler. “To coordinate everything – the speed of the ball, the height of the ball and your legs – is a special thing. We shouldn’t underestimate that he was in a full sprint. I wouldn’t try it at home, but he has a special talent.”
Jhon Durán, Aston Villa v Everton
It was a shock early in the season when Everton, who had yet to earn a Premier League point three games in, went 2-0 up at Villa Park with goals from Dwight McNeil and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Ollie Watkins restored parity for Villa either side of half-time but ultimately the substitute Durán was the hero, firing home a long-range screamer into the top corner 14 minutes from time to complete the turnaround. It was the third time in four Premier League matches Durán had scored a winner from off the bench and the effort was so impressive it stunned even his teammates, with Youri Tielemans and Emi Martínez holding their heads in disbelief after the winner. “It takes a moment of magic like that and Jhon has come up with it,” said Watkins. “Everyone knows what he can do and when he’s got the opportunity he shows it. It’s one of the best we’ve seen. If you back yourself to shoot from that far, why not?”
Harry Wilson, Fulham v Brentford
Fulham were a goal behind entering the final minutes of stoppage time when Wilson, who had come on with eight minutes remaining, met Adama Traoré’s cross with the outside of his boot in an audacious midair backheel that looped over the Brentford goalkeeper, Mark Flekken, and into the net. He scored again in the seventh minute of added time to snatch all three points. “The manager told me to find space and when the ball gets wide try to get in the box, and that’s what I did,” said Wilson. “The first one, I just helped it on to the back post. That moment when it left my foot, it seemed to take for ever to loop in. There was silence, and then the roar when it hit the net was amazing. That feeling will live with me for a long, long time.”
Leif Davis, Ipswich v Leicester
Ipswich are heading back to the Championship but they will not go down without their fair share of memorable moments. One of them being Davis’s stunning strike against Leicester when the left-back took Sam Morsy’s lofted pass first-time and volley the ball across the face of goal from a tight angle into the far corner for the opener. It was the 25-year-old’s first Premier League goal but talk after the match mostly surrounded Kalvin Phillips’s red card and the referee not awarding the hosts a penalty before Leicester equalised. “I’m buzzing that is my first goal but I would have been happier with the three points,” said Davis. “I was just in the right place at the right time. I’ve always wanted to score in the Prem.”
Ryan Christie, Bournemouth v Arsenal
Few things are as satisfying as seeing a routine straight from the training ground come to life on the pitch. Arsenal, who have found success hurting teams from set pieces, were given a dose of their own medicine when a clever corner manoeuvre allowed the Bournemouth substitute to open up his body and slam home an emphatic opener with some great technique. The short, low corner from Lewis Cook was followed up with Justin Kluivert’s clever nonchalant flick near the penalty spot before Christie sidefooted the bouncing ball high into the net. A few months later, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah delivered a similar blow to Manchester City but Christie’s effort just edges it on our list because of Salah’s deflecting in off a heavy touch from Nathan Aké. “The advantage they have at set plays is they are taller than us,” said the Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola. “So we had to find another way to make a difference. Today it worked and it was important.”
Omar Marmoush, Manchester City v Bournemouth
Marmoush wasted no time in atoning for his disappointing FA Cup final penalty miss against Crystal Palace. In Manchester City’s push for a Champions League place, the Egyptian opened the scoring against Bournemouth with a fizzing 30-yard strike that clipped a post before crashing into the top-left corner. Kepa Arrizabalaga was left rooted as the shot almost took the net off the goal and the roof off the stadium as fans were sent into a frenzy. What made the goal particularly special was the dip Marmoush got on the ball, as it initially appeared to be sailing high and wide when it first left his foot. The match marked Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell at the Etihad Stadium after a decade at the club and, while the Belgian did not score, Marmoush’s goal felt reminiscent of many the legend had amassed, a perfect ode to his time at the club.
