Deeney Defends Isak, Picks Havertz Over Gyokeres for MOTW — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Troy Deeney named his Premier League Team of the Week, including four Arsenal players (David Raya, Ezri Konsa, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz) and three Liverpool players (Ronald Araujo, Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak).
- Alexander Isak was included despite criticism he "bottled it" against Newcastle, with Deeney noting the Liverpool striker was tipped for the Golden Boot and played through a broken leg last season.
- Kai Havertz was named Arsenal's best striker "hands down," with Deeney pushing back on the narrative that new signing Viktor Gyokeres will eventually overtake him: "Havertz is their best striker... best finisher."
- Martin Odegaard was praised as a "massive winner" and "captain, leader," with Deeney questioning how pundits discussed getting rid of the Arsenal captain.
- Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) scored two goals from left-back, and Harvey Barnes (Newcastle) finished into the far corner — both praised by Deeney as underrated players who don't get enough headlines.
- David Moyes was named manager of the week, with Deeney highlighting that Everton delivered a result despite a "bad transfer window" that cost them attacking options.
Why it matters: Deeney's selections function as a counter-narrative to mainstream punditry: he defends Isak against the "bottled it" label after one blank game, insists Havertz remains Arsenal's top striker over their marquee summer signing Gyokeres, and credits Moyes for extracting results despite a poor window — three pointed challenges to the consensus narratives around Liverpool, Arsenal, and Everton.
Ask SkimNews
