Shearer includes Newcastle star ahead of Anthony Gordon in TOTW, also hails two Leicester players
Today at 10:15 AM
Tottenham Hotspur understandably dominated Alan Shearer’s latest Premier League Team of the Week, but there was room for a few Leicester City and Newcastle United faces too.
The competition’s all-time record goalscorer was left drooling as one of Steve Cooper’s more unexpected heroes as Leicester threatened to stun Arsenal during what nearly became a bonafide coupon-buster on a dramatic Saturday afternoon.
The Foxes barely got within biting distance of Mikel Arteta’s coop in a one-sided first-half at the Emirates.
But, even against newly-promoted opposition, this was a warning that you take your foot off the pedal at your peril. In the space of 15 minutes, James Justin not only cancelled out Arsenal’s lead almost single-handedly, the right-back also matched his tally from the whole of the 2023/24 season.
And if his first of a shock brace was rather straightforward – guiding a header home from a Facundo Buonanotte free-kick – then his second was anything but.
Alan Shearer could hit a mean volley in his time. But even the legendary number nine was left open-mouthed and awe-struck by the way Justin swazzed a swerving, curving strike in off David Raya’s far post.
Alan Shearer hails Leicester’s James Justin and Mads Hermansen
“Two goals at Emirates Stadium, including a stunning volley!” Shearer writes on the official Premier League website. “I would have been proud of that one!”
While Justin threatened to burst Arsenal’s bubble at one end, the heroics of Mads Hermansen at the other must have had even the most optimistic home fan fearing that this was going to be ‘one of those days’.
Hermansen’s 13 saves was the most by any Premier League goalkeeper since Manchester United icon David de Gea in December 2017.
And Arsenal fans will need little reminding who De Gea’s opponents were that day.
Hermansen was extraordinary in the second half, denying Kai Havertz from point-blank range in one particularly stand-out moment. He also left Leandro Trossard stunned after righting the wrongs of a mix-up of his own making when foolishly attempting to play out from the back against Arsenal’s high press.
“It may seem strange including a goalkeeper who conceded four goals,” Shearer adds. “But he made six or seven great saves as Leicester threatened an upset at Arsenal until the final moments.”
Lewis Hall earns Newcastle legend’s praise after Man City clash
With the Premier League table starting to take shape six games in, Shearer was also glowing in his praise for Tottenham quartet Micky Van de Ven, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson with Erik ten Hag pushed towards the brink at Manchester United.
Dwight McNeil and Liam Delapy were included in his Team of the Week too after a brace apiece from the Everton and Ipswich Town men.
No XI would be complete without Chelsea’s four-goal superstar Cole Palmer, meanwhile.
One of the competition’s more underrated players – Antoine Semenyo – made up Shearer’s attack after a fine individual effort in Monday’s 3-1 victory over derby rivals Southampton.
Completing the former England international’s line-up, meanwhile, was a player who continues to put a difficult debut first full season at Newcastle United behind him.
“A really solid performance,” Shearer says of young left-back Lewis Hall, making the team where Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and goalscorer Anthony Gordon did not after that 1-1 draw with Pep Guardiola’s champions.
“[Hall helped] to limit a free-scoring Manchester City side to just a single goal.”
