With the 2014-2015 Premier League season drawing to a close it’s time for our final edition of Names of the Premier League, Just Football’s weekly column highlighting the most noteworthy performances during the weekend’s Premier League action…
Theo Walcott, Arsenal
He may have been sidelined for over a year with a torn ACL and, upon his return, he may struggled to find his form (in large part due to the much deeper and more talented nature of this year’s Arsenal squad and his difficulties of cracking into that line-up).
And while these factors have obviously been out of Theo Walcott‘s control, it hasn’t stopped The Rumour Mill from firing up the standard fare linking him with Club X or Club Y.
Whether or not the English media’s coverage of Walcott’s reluctance to commit his future to Arsenal holds any weight, we likely won’t know until at least this summer. But while the jury may still be out on his future uniform, he made a resounding statement on what he envisions for the 2015-2016 season in terms of on-field performance by racking up an impressive hat-trick in Arsenal’s 4-1 demolition of West Bromwich Albion.
He may not have scored it with Sadio Mane-like quickness, but it was still quite the performance all the same. After a pass from Santi Cazorla found him on the right side of the box, Walcott buried the finish into the far corner to start the scoring in the fourth minute (outdone only by Jack Wilshere‘s beauty of a volley). Walcott then collected a loose ball in the box to poke it home for his second before latching onto to Cazorla’s low-cross at the far post to finish off the hat-trick.
Jonas Gutierrez, Newcastle
It wasn’t always easy. Nor was it always pretty. But somehow, someway, Newcastle found a way to stave off relegation after taking just four points from a possible 33 in their final 11 matches. And it was in that very fashion that Newcastle managed to defeat West Ham 2-0 to ensure another season atop the English football pyramid.
While West Ham had several chances to spoil Newcastle’s day (although, with Hull City and Manchester United playing to a goalless draw, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway), Newcastle found a way to back through – much to the delight of interim manager John Carver, who earned just his third win in his 19-match tenure.
Salvaging what little was left of his club’s train-wreck of a season, Argentinian striker Jonas Gutierrez carried his side to victory with a tremendous – and emotional – performance. After his inspired fight against testicular cancer, Gutierrez, whose contract expires at the conclusion of the season, returned for one final match at St. James’ Park – and what a match it was.
After finding space on the left, Gutierrez found Moussa Sissoko – who headed it home to open the scoring. And as one last parting gift, the Argentinian sealed the deal with a goal from long range in the final minutes.
Frank Lampard, Manchester City
After seemingly transferring away from England last summer with a deal to play for the MLS’ New York City FC before returning on loan to Manchester City, I suppose we can’t quite say for certain that Frank Lampard has finally said goodbye to Premier League football. But if it indeed was his swansong in English football, then at least he made the most of it.
Capping nearly two decades as one of the most dominant performers of his generation, Lampard started and scored for City in their 2-0 win over Southampton after James Milner’s cross found him unmarked from eight-yards out. The Citizens were able to wrap up the victory – their sixth straight – as Sergio Aguero nodded home the 26th goal of his Golden Boot-winning campaign.
The victory – along with a recent run of impressive form – allows City to enter the off-season with their share of confidence, something which seemed inconceivable just a few short months ago.
However, despite their dominant finish to the season, Lampard isn’t the only one who is expected to leave the Etihad this summer – with both Yaya Toure and James Milner linked with moves elsewhere. So while manager Manuel Pellegrini may have earned another season at the helm, he may be surrounded with plenty of new faces next season.
Mame Biram Diouf, Stoke City
Frank Lampard may have had the perfect curtain call with a goal in Manchester City’s victory. If only the same could be said for Steven Gerrard. While the outgoing Liverpool legend was able to hop on the scoreline, it was a poor consolation for the shambolic display from his team as they were embarrassed in a 6-1 thumping at Stoke City.
SEE ALSO: Farewell Stevie – Is Steven Gerrard Liverpool’s greatest ever player?
Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf led the charge as his brace and assist ensured that Gerrard (and perhaps Brendan Rodgers) wouldn’t end his Liverpool career on a high note. Jonathan Walters, Charlie Adam, and Steven N’Zonzi all added to Liverpool’s misery with goals of their own as Stoke entered the break with a five goal lead. While Gerrard pulled one back for the Reds, the damage was already done after Peter Crouch added a sixth after the break.
The loss concludes a nightmarish end to the Premier League campaign for Liverpool as Rodgers’ position as manager looks increasingly precarious. And even more importantly, the club’s ongoing feud with young forward Raheem Sterling has intensified, the 20-year-old left out of the starting line-up after the club cancelled contract discussions that were scheduled for earlier in the week.
Little is certain for Liverpool as they enter the off-season. With Sterling’s sights evidently set elsewhere and Rodgers on the hotseat, Liverpool may have a very different look and feel before the start of the 2015-2016 Premier League campaign. Regardless, though, the drama and intrigue has, sadly for the Liverpool faithful, only just begun.
Marc Albrighton, Leicester City
If you thought Marc Albrighton would feature on our weekly instalments of Names more often than Mario Balotelli (scoring more goals in process), then perhaps you’re more qualified to be writing this column. While the Italian striker made to the move to Anfield in the summer transfer window amid much fanfare, Albrighton joined a newly-promoted Leicester side to the literal sound of silence.
But that hasn’t stopped the former Aston Villa winger from making an remarkable impact in Leicester’s brilliant run to escape relegation. While the impact of Esteban Cambiasso and Jamie Vardy has been well-documented, one aspect of Leicester’s recent run of form has been manager Nigel Pearson’s use of a three-man (or five-man) back-line. And instrumental to Pearson’s implementation of such a formation has been Albrighton’s role as the right wing-back.
Punctuating his resurgent campaign, Albrighton was once again vital to Leicester’s efforts as the Foxes posted a 5-1 win over Queens Park Rangers. The Englishman found the back of the net for Leicester’s third goal before sealing up the victory with a solid defensive shift – notching four tackles and three interceptions from a right-back position that he’s made his own.
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