Amid the bedlam of the final few days of the transfer window, 20 Premier League teams had regular on-field duties to fulfil in gameweek 24, where leaders Liverpool maintained their lead at the top of the division courtesy of a 2-0 win over an in-form Bournemouth.
While Arsenal still have an unassailable gap to make up, the Gunners made quite the statement of intent by demolishing holders Manchester City 5-1 at the Emirates, but even that was not as emphatic as Nottingham Forest's 7-0 annihilation of Brighton & Hove Albion.
The final coveted Champions League place once again belongs to Chelsea courtesy of their 2-1 success over Graham Potter's West Ham United on Monday night, but Newcastle United slipped up again, going down 2-1 at home to Fulham.
Speaking of Northern giants being humbled at home, that was the case for Manchester United as Crystal Palace left Old Trafford with a 2-0 victory to their name, as did Tottenham Hotspur against London rivals Brentford as the Lilywhites ended a four-game losing run in the Premier League.
Elsewhere, Everton recorded their fastest goal in Premier League history during their 4-0 battering of Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers controversially bested West Midlands rivals Aston Villa 2-0, and Southampton belatedly won away from home with a 2-1 triumph at fellow relegation candidates Ipswich.
In a gameweek with an embarrassment of riches in terms of individual masterclasses, Sports Mole selects its latest Premier League Team of the Week.
DEFENCE
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The astounding 7-0 scoreline at the City Ground did not tell the full tale of the tape between Nottingham Forest and Brighton, the latter of whom were not short of opportunities whatsoever, but Golden Glove favourite Matz Sels put in another exemplary performance with six saves and two successful run-outs to help slaughter the Seagulls.
From Forest present to Forest past, Djed Spence is currently making a name for himself as a left-back in a Tottenham shirt but reverts to his more familiar right-back slot for the purposes of our Team of the Week. Barely six months ago, Spence's Spurs career appeared to be dead in the water, but the defender's revival has been wonderful to witness, and he excelled against Brentford with four tackles, three successful dribbles, two key passes and five clearances - including one off the line.
Spence shifts over to the right to accommodate another North London full-back talent, one who was memorably insulted by Erling Haaland in September before turning the tables on the Man City talisman. Already soaking up the big occasion like he has been doing it all his life, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly opened his Arsenal account thanks to some positive attacking intent at the Emirates, where he also drew three fouls, won six of his seven ground duels and served up a true Hale End humbling.
Speaking of Manchester teams being humbled, Ruben Amorim's Man United were condemned to that sinking feeling against Palace, thanks in no small part to Maxence Lacroix; the Frenchman's header against the bar preceded one of Jean-Philippe Mateta's two goals, while he also put in an astounding 11 clearances, four interceptions and three tackles to deny the Red Devils.
There were better fortunes for the Merseyside clubs over the weekend, and James Tarkowski was one of the stars of the show in Everton's pummelling of Leicester, laying on a gorgeous assist for Beto in addition to registering 10 clearances, two blocks and winning all three of his aerial duels.
MIDFIELD
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Another day, another milestone for the magical Mohamed Salah, who registered his fifth 20+ goal season in the Premier League with a penalty and customary curler against Bournemouth. Also leaving Frank Lampard in his wake in the overall charts, the electrifying Egyptian is now the sixth outright highest scorer in PL history and is just seven away from overtaking Sergio Aguero too.
Salah also leads the way in this season's Premier League assist charts, but Forest's own wing wizard Anthony Elanga is not too far behind thanks to a trio of helpers in the Brighton battering, where he delivered the pinpoint corner for Morgan Gibbs-White before laying on a delicate cross and final pass for two of Chris Wood's strikes.
Also showcasing his playmaking proficiency at the weekend, Arsenal's £105m man Declan Rice continues to make waves in the number eight role and provided the helpers for both Hale End heroes against Man City, setting up Lewis-Skelly with a crisp pass into his feet before a wonderful switch out to Ethan Nwaneri on the opposite flank.
Our final assist king in this week's selection, Everton lynchpin James Garner replicated Tarkowski's stunning pass to Beto with an equally exquisite long ball to the Toffees striker against Leicester, where he also created another two chances and won all five of his ground and aerial duels combined.
ATTACK
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From the helpers to the scorers. It would be fair to say that Everton frontman Beto has not really acclimatised to English football, but the 27-year-old was as cool as you like against the Foxes, ruthlessly finding the far corner for his first before displaying composure that even Ruud van Nistelrooy himself should have been proud of.
Last but by no means least, Nottingham Forest have witnessed 33-year-old Chris Wood age like a fine wine at the tip of their attack, and the New Zealand international etched his name into the Garibaldi record books with their first-ever Premier League home hat-trick against Brighton, enhancing his credentials both for Champions League football and an unforeseen Golden Boot challenge.
SPORTS MOLE'S PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK
Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week (4-4-2): Sels; Spence, Lacroix, Tarkowski, Lewis-Skelly; Salah, Garner, Rice, Elanga; Wood, Beto
Ben Knapton
