ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- David Raya makes Troy's Team of the Week after huge saves, hailed as the best goalkeeper in the league.
- Tyrick Mitchell earns his place after scoring two goals from left-back for Crystal Palace.
- Alexander Isak is backed by Troy, who says critics ignore his injuries and a Golden Boot tip.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Troy's team of the week is less a selection than a defence of the unfashionable. Tyrick Mitchell scoring twice from left-back, Harvey Barnes finishing into the far corner, Vitaly Janelt and Cesar Palacios doing the work nobody notices — the thread through this XI is players who perform without headlines.
The positional calls are the interesting part. Ezri Konsa, listed as an Arsenal player, is now someone they "can't live without", with right-back his home once everyone is fit. Ronald Araujo gets credit for doing the same job at Liverpool, having spent his Barcelona years being too aggressive for his own good. Two centre-halves, two full-back shifts, one consistent theme.
Up front the argument sharpens. Kai Havertz is Arsenal's best striker "hands down" while Gyokeres waits to come good, and Alexander Isak is defended against a verdict formed in a single game. Same complaint both times: judgement measured in weeks, not seasons.
Havertz's next start settles it. If Gyokeres takes the shirt and the goals, Troy's line about Arsenal's best finisher takes the hit.
WHY IT MATTERS
Troy's weekly selection is a narrative corrective as much as a football one, spotlighting consistently overlooked performers like Mitchell and Barnes while pushing back on the rush to judge Isak after a single quiet game.
Alexander Isak
ST
Sweden
Strengths
- ✓Clinical finisher who has been tipped for the Golden Boot
- ✓Pace and movement to stretch defences in behind
- ✓Delivers while managing an injury-interrupted season
- ✓Composed in front of goal when chances are limited
- ⚠Can he stay fit across a full season after two injuries last year, including a broken leg?
- ⚠Why does one blank game against Newcastle trigger claims that he has bottled it?
TACTICAL FIT
Troy's picks lean on full-backs reshaping games: Mitchell scoring twice from left-back, with Konsa and Araujo both slotting in at right-back for their sides this week.
THE DEBATE
Is Isak still an elite striker, or are the doubters finally right?
Here are this week's choices. Do you agree? Tell us your thoughts using the comments form at the bottom of this page.
David Raya (Arsenal): Huge saves, again. It's why he's the best goalkeeper in the league. He keeps just coming up with big moments.
Ezri Konsa (Arsenal): Solid performance. He comes in again and just makes that massive tackle on Morgan Rogers. I think he slots into what is an already incredible Arsenal team. I can see a position now that they just can't live without him, he'll have to play right-back when everybody comes fit and available.
Ronald Araujo (Liverpool): I've given him a bit of stick for his games at Barcelona and his ability to not defend properly, because he's normally the one who's really aggressive. But I have to give it to him, he's been really good for Liverpool and played at right-back in that situation.
Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace): Two goals from left-back. He deserves to be in any team of the week. He came off as well, but he's just Mr Consistent. He's never really spoken about enough.
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle): Gets a goal. Good finish into that far corner as well. He's been excellent and not spoken about a lot. Anthony Elanga and all the others get the headlines, but Barnes has been fantastic.
Martin Odegaard (Arsenal): Captain, leader and a massive winner. It's just one of those moments where you just think, how did they talk about getting rid of Odegaard? It's scary.
Cody Gakpo (Liverpool): Two goals created from midfield. Imagine thinking you're playing for Spurs and then for Man City, and then somehow you have to stay at Liverpool and compose yourself, and still perform.
Cesar Palacios (Fulham) and Vitaly Janelt (Brentford): Both very similar: solid and get the job done. They don't really get noticed in games unless they score, but if you're watching and you've played the game, you know these two are really important.
Alexander Isak (Liverpool): The guy they keep telling you isn't good. They say last year he wasn't good, even though he had two injuries, one being a broken leg. This season, he doesn't score in one game against Newcastle and, 'oh, he's not good enough, he's bottled it'. Just remember, someone tipped him for the Golden Boot.
Kai Havertz (Arsenal): The best striker for Arsenal, hands down. They keep telling us that Gyokeres will come good, but Havertz is their best striker. He proves it week in, week out. He's the best footballer they've got, and also their best finisher.
David Moyes (Everton): Bad transfer window, loses his attacking options and still delivers a result.
_ Do you agree with Troy's selections? Who would be in your Team of the Week? Have your say using the comments form below: _
AI-assisted · generated from BBC Sport reporting, not editor reviewed
