• Team of the Week

Team of the week

Robin van Persie was repeatedly thwarted by Wayne Hennessey in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Wolves © PA Photos

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After a weekend that saw Manchester United effectively finish off Manchester City's hopes of winning the title, we list the players who made telling contributions…

Goalkeeper
It may seem odd to include a goalkeeper from a team that lost 2-0, but without Wayne Hennessey Wolves would have been on the wrong end of spanking. Manager Mick McCarthy admitted the Welshman kept the score line respectable in a one-sided contest as he made save after save to deny Arsenal.

Defender
Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany is the reason that Wayne Rooney did nothing for the majority of the derby and, if the United striker is in our best XI, then it seems only fitting that the man who was only thwarted by an unstoppable strike gets deserved recognition too. The Belgian's perfectly-timed tackle in the penalty box as Rooney was about to pull the trigger was so good it would have been the iconic moment from the match, but for the winning goal.

Defender
Highly-rated Bolton defender Gary Cahill followed up his run-out for England in midweek with an accomplished performance, a goal and a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Everton that was all the more impressive given that he was shorn of his regular defensive partner Zat Knight after just 28 minutes and had to nurse new-signing David Wheater through the game. And all this against a side that scored five goals last week.

Defender
After Champions League-chasing Tottenham went a goal down against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, skipper Michael Dawson was determined to drag his team back into the match - and he did just that with a header on the stroke of half-time. But it is his leadership and determination that enabled a back four that looked decidedly dodgy early on to hold firm as Spurs secured a priceless comeback victory that earns him a place in our team.

Michael Dawson scored Tottenham's equaliser at the Stadium of Light © PA Photos

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Defender
It may have been a drab goalless draw at Ewood Park but Newcastle full-back Jose Enrique did his utmost to break the deadlock with a steady stream of crosses. Manager Alan Pardew singled out the Spaniard for praise, saying: "Enrique today, wow, if anyone deserved to win a game it was him, he was magnificent." We agree, and he makes our squad.

Midfielder
Nani earned his place in our midfield with a quality performance against Manchester City that left Pablo Zabaleta with twisted blood. The Portugal winger has the ability to cut inside and shoot with his left foot or go on the outside and cross with his right, as he did to supply Rooney for his wonder-strike. Nani also opened the scoring after taking down Ryan Giggs' lofted pass with an exquisite first touch and then slotting the ball past City 'keeper Joe Hart.

Midfielder
Raul Meireles has become so important to Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool that, despite suffering from a virus, he was still shoved onto the Anfield pitch to face Wigan - and only after "spewing" at half-time was he withdrawn. During his 54 minutes on the pitch the Portugal international extended his remarkable goalscoring spree to five in his last six matches and constantly picked holes in the Wigan defence. Once he went off, the Latics gained the ascendancy and scored their equaliser.

Midfielder
Tottenham's forgotten midfielder Niko Kranjcar produced another accomplished display and struck a sweet volley into the bottom left corner of Sunderland's net to fire Spurs into the top four. The Croatian, who nearly left White Hart Lane in the January transfer window, is only in the team due to injuries to Luka Modric and Gareth Bale but whilst his colleagues resorted to lumping high balls into the box, Kranjcar remained classy.

Wayne Rooney's sensational volley settled the Manchester derby in United's favour © Getty Images

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Striker
Starting off our three-pronged attack is Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who scored both goals as the Gunners beat Wolves 2-0 - a win that pushed last week's capitulation against Newcastle, when they threw away a four-goal lead, to the back of their minds. His first was an athletic volleyed effort from a Cesc Fàbregas cross, the second a neat finish from a Theo Walcott pass.

Striker
West Ham United striker Demba Ba is in, and not just because his name fits perfectly into the theme tune for Jim'll Fix It. The Senegal international marked his first start for the Hammers since his loan move from Hoffenheim with a two-goal salvo - including a volleyed equaliser in the 83rd minute - as his relegation-threatened side clawed back a 3-0 half-time deficit against West Brom.

Striker
There was much debate at Soccernet Towers about the inclusion/exclusion of Manchester United striker Rooney. For 88 minutes of the derby against City the England international continued to be well below par, but during the two minutes he shone Rooney won the game. First he challenged for the header that led to Nani's opening goal and then THAT overhead kick lifted the roof off Old Trafford.

Manager
Our manager of the week is West Ham's Scott Parker. Okay, so technically he is not a manager but after hearing West Ham striker Carlton Cole reveal how he was moved to tears by his captain's half-time speech before the Hammers blasted back from three goals down it couldn't really be anybody else. It does make you wonder what Avram Grant does though.

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