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Matchday 23 of the Premier League is over and it proved to be an absolute joy to the viewers. With Watford and Burnley playing the only goalless game of the weekend, it certainly was a goal fest in other fixtures.
We saw the game week starting with Wolves clinching three points at Molineux Stadium in a 4-3 thriller against Leicester City. While the end to the game week saw Tottenham scraping all three points against Fulham right at the brink of the final whistle.
There were certainly some standout performances amongst others, who are worthy of appreciation. So let's take a look at the top three players from matchday 23.
Few honourable mentions which couldn't make into the top three are Mohamed Salah, Marcus Rashford and Jan Bednarek.
So without further ado, let's jump into it.
#3 Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal)
The highlight fixture of the game week took place at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal faced off with Chelsea. The stakes were high as a loss could have taken the Gunners nine points off from the UEFA Champions League spots.
However, at the end of an exhilarating 90 minutes, Arsenal came out as the final victors closing the gap between themselves and the Champions League spots to a much achievable three points.
The stand out performer for the Gunners was their French captain Laurent Koscielny who deservingly won the man of the match award for his heroics on the pitch.
The veteran defender made 13 clearances and 3 crucial interceptions throughout the game. Aerially he dominated the ball and positionally he was spot on. He put his body on the line making vital blocks to ensure his team sees it through.
Defensively on top of his game, Koscielny also contributed at the other end of the pitch. With a hint of luck, the ball came off his shoulder and looped into the goal. Seeing his performance you can't deny that the fortune favours the brave.
#2 Fabian Schär (Newcastle United)
A highly significant fixture that changed the dimension of the bottom of the table took place St. James' Park where Newcastle United hosted Cardiff City.
In a 3-0 battering of the Bluebirds, Rafa Benitez's men secured three very essential points that took them above Cardiff City and most importantly out of the relegation zone for the time being.
The heart and soul of that victory for the Magpies was its 27-year-old Swiss defender Fabian Schär. Schär scored his first goal after making a dicey run into the penalty box and then finishing it off by curling the ball in the bottom left with composure.
The second one followed soon but with more luck involved than skill this time. From a corner, the Swiss international deflected a glancing header from Jamaal Lascelles into the left side of the goal past Neil Etheridge.
The cherry on the cake was his work as a defender that made sure Newcastle finished the game with a clean sheet.
#1 Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
The weekend started off with a bang as Wolves and Leicester City played out a 4-3 thriller. The outcome of which was determined in the dying moments of the game.
Jota seems to be enjoying his new position alongside Raul Jimenez and made the most of it against the Foxes as the young Portuguese shone for his team.
Jota opened the proceedings of the game in the 4th minute when he got in front of Simpson to put a cross delivered by Moutinho past the Leicester goalkeeper. His second one was worked up brilliantly as he beautifully chested down a long ball by Neves and then forcing it past Schmeichel.
His third and probably the one that he'll cherish the most came three minutes after the usual 90. A lob pass forward found Jimenez up front who curled it into the path of a charging Jota who made no mistake to slot it into the back of the net.
Jota scored a hattrick in a fixture in which his team needed it the most, earning him the man of the match award and surely the player of the week.
