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February was historic in many ways for the Premier League as it saw the winter-break being introduced for the very first time in English football. The season is now in its final stage and games are coming thick and fast for each team.
February was rounded off with Liverpool’s invincibility finally coming to a standstill as an Ismaila Sarr-inspired Watford came out as surprising 3-0 winners. Leicester City’s poor form continued as they picked up only two points out of a possible 12 last month. Arsenal’s resurgence under Mikel Arteta is starting to take shape and Bruno Fernandes’ arrival has rejuvenated Manchester United.
In this section, we take a look at the best performers of the Premier League in February.
Goalkeeper: Rui Patricio
With three clean-sheets in three consecutive games, Wolves shot-stopper Rui Patricio should deservedly feature in goal for the Premier League Team of the Month for February. The Portuguese keeper played a telling role in Wolves’ emphatic win over Norwich following their hard-fought draws at Manchester United and against Leicester.
Patricio has been brilliant between the sticks for Nuno Espirito Santo and has bailed them out of several matches with his defining performances. He made a remarkable 12 saves in Wolves’ trio of games last month, keeping them in the hunt for successive Europa League qualifications.
The 32-year-old has had a decorated career with the Portugal national team, winning the European Championship in 2016 and the inaugural Nations League last summer. He has been equally pivotal for Wolves and this season has perfectly represented that.
Defenders: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Roman Saiss, Harry Maguire, Bukayo Saka
Right-back: Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka had a terrific February with three clean-sheets and an assist against Chelsea. The 20-year-old has continued his impressive form from last season and has been one of the few positives for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in what has been a stop-start campaign so far.
The English defender is currently only behind Leicester City’s Ricardo Pereira in terms of most tackles in the division. Wan-Bissaka is not the best crosser of the ball but he marauds forward on the right-flank and can link-up with the forwards. Defensively, the former Palace man is almost unsurpassable. He rarely mistimes a tackle and his quickness allows him to make recoveries easily. An increase in productivity going forward could surely make Aaron Wan-Bissaka one of the top right-backs in Europe.
Centre-back: Romain Saiss
Patricio’s job at Wolves is made easier because of the wall-like defence in front of him. Whilst Conor Coady is the leader of the pack, Romain Saiss’ performances lately have been overlooked at the left-side of Nuno’s defence.
The captain of the Morocco national team, Saiss is a no-nonsense defender who thrives on tackles and duels. As a result, he was labelled as rash and impulsive by many. However, in recent weeks, the 29-year-old has grown into a reliable defender for Wolves at the back. Willy Boly’s injury earlier this season gave Saiss a regular run-in in the team and he is now looking irreplaceable.
He kept three clean-sheets in February and recorded an assist for Diogo Jota’s second goal in Wolves’ hammering of Norwich. Apart from his improved disciplinary record and authoritative displays, Romain Saiss has shown that he can control the tempo of games as well.
Centre-back: Harry Maguire
Often under a magnifying glass because of his eye-brow raising £80m move to Manchester United, Harry Maguire was at his supreme best in February. Clean-sheets against Wolves, Chelsea and Watford have steered the Reds within four points off fourth-placed Chelsea with a game in-hand.
Maguire has taken the mantle of club captain from the departing Ashley Young and is revelling in his new role. He is seen marshalling the defence with utmost command and also helps dictate play from the back. The England international also scored a thumping header at Chelsea earlier this month to showcase his threat from corners.
However, the 26-year-old needs to replicate this form consistently if he is to justify his massive price-tag and be considered one of the best centre-backs in the country.
Left-back: Bukayo Saka
Mikel Arteta was forced to call on 18-year-old left-winger Bukayo Saka to slot in at left-back in the middle of January following a thigh injury to first-choice Sead Kolasinac. Kieran Tierney’s debut season at the Emirates has also been plagued with multiple injuries with the Scotsman nursing a shoulder problem currently.
Saka, however, to much surprise, has been Arsenal’s best performer since his leap into the starting XI. Against Burnley, he could not continue after half-time due to a knock in the hip region. However, during those 45 minutes, he did not just showcase his defensive aptitude but also how dynamic he can be going forward. The teenager shrugged off any injury concerns to star in the 4-0 win against Newcastle where he assisted Arsenal’s second goal and kept another clean-sheet.
He rounded off February with another assist in the Gunners’ comeback victory over Everton which has given them an outside chance of achieving European football for next season.
Midfield: Bruno Fernandes, Robert Snodgrass
Central midfield: Robert Snodgrass
With two goals and two assists in February, Robert Snodgrass has yet again shown David Moyes his importance to this West Ham side. The Scotsman has been in and out of the team under both Manuel Pellegrini and now Moyes, but he has displayed his impeccable talent whenever called upon. Extremely creative and hard-working, the 30-year-old midfielder can play both as a winger and an attacking midfielder.
He can back up the attackers well and also find the net himself. Though a forward-minded player, Snodgrass possesses an incredible work ethic which enhances his playing style. After putting a Man of the Match performance against Brighton and creating problems for Liverpool's defence earlier this week, Robert Snodgrass has finally received the appreciation he deserves.
Centre-midfield: Bruno Fernandes
It has been a dream start for Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United as the Portuguese playmaker has already recorded 3 goal contributions in his first 3 appearances for the club. An assist against top-four rivals Chelsea and a goal and an assist against Watford in a Man of the Match performance has already turned heads across the country.
The 24-year-old playmaker arrived at Old Trafford for a deal in excess of £60m in the January transfer window after his headline-making performances for Sporting Lisbon. In 17 appearances this season, Fernandes had 8 goals and 7 assists in the Primeira Liga before packing his bags for England.
The Portuguese’s presence in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield trident has given them a different dimension going forward. Marcus Rashford’s injury left the Norwegian manager with Anthony Martial and a budding Mason Greenwood up-top, however, Fernandes can not only pick a piss out but also chip in with a lot of goals. His set-piece delivery is brilliant, vision unparalleled and link-up play superb.
Forwards: Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah, Heung-Min Son
Right-winger: Nicolas Pepe
Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe failed to impress in the first half of the season after his outrageous £72m transfer from Lille in the summer. However, under Mikel Arteta’s tutelage, the Ivorian has sparked into life with three assists and a goal in February. The Gunners, despite their inconsistencies, are remarkably unbeaten since the turn of the year.
In the 4-0 routing of Newcastle earlier this month, Pepe set up two goals and scored one himself. He then assisted the all-important match-winner against Everton to round off a brilliant month. The 24-year-old, on his day, is one of the most explosive attackers. His tricky feet, change in direction and blistering pace makes him unstoppable at times. Arsenal fans will hope that their record-signing will continue this form into the next three months if they are to even have a slight chance of attaining European qualification.
Left-winger: Heung min-Son
Before fracturing his arm a fortnight ago, Heung Min-Son produced two inspiring performances against Manchester City and Aston Villa earlier this month. The South Korean buried the reigning Premier League champions with a well-taken finish following Steven Bergwijn’s screamer and also scored a vital brace to inspire a stunning comeback at Aston Villa. Son has, without a doubt, been Jose Mourinho’s most consistent performer, especially after the unfortunate injury to club captain Harry Kane.
However, Spurs now have an uphill task to attain Champions League qualification without a recognised striker in their ranks. Son’s absence at Stamford Bridge was evident as Mourinho’s men not only looked shy in front of goal but also lacked the confidence to take the Chelsea defenders on. The 27-year-old attacker has been one of the unsung heroes of this season and will surely be missed throughout the remainder of the campaign.
Striker: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal’s red-hot striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang completes the Team of the Month for February. The Gabonese found the net thrice in Arsenal’s must-win clashes against Newcastle and Everton. He is now level with Jamie Vardy as the division’s top goalscorer with 17 this term.
Aubameyang has not always been deployed in a central role by Arteta which goes onto show how impactful he can be even from the left-flank. His versatility, attacking prowess and clinical finishing make him one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League. He can also score all types of goals: long rangers, headers, solo efforts and even the odd poacher’s goal.
Several reports have suggested that Aubameyang’s future at the Emirates Stadium is in the balance because of his desire to play in the Champions League next season. Now 30, the forward wants to finish his career on a high note with the project at Arsenal still in its initial phase. If he is to leave this summer, English football will lose one of its most deadly strikers.
Striker: Mohamed Salah
Despite Liverpool's shocking loss at Watford, Mohamed Salah still had an excellent month in front of goal. The high-flying winger scored three goals in February, with a well-taken brace against Southampton and the all-important equaliser against West Ham.
The 27-year-old has been under Sadio Mane's shadow this season after the Senegalese's incredible form. However, his injury in January put the spotlight back on the Egyptian. Salah is no doubt one of the Premier League's best performers consistently. Apart from his goalscoring exploits, he also creates a lot of chances for his teammates. His pace and directness allows him to get past defenders easily and into promising positions.
Jurgen Klopp will be distraught by Saturday's result and will look towards his big guns like Mohamed Salah to help resume their march towards the title.
