🦁 Premier League Player of the Week: Captain Marvel | OneFootball

Things are getting tight at the top after Arsenal dropped points, Manchester City closed the title race gap and Liverpool went into freefall off the pitch for a change.

Our Premier League Player of the Weekend is ...

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Sir Jim Ratcliffe finally has a glimpse of his Manchester United vision.

The billionaire yearns to restore Old Trafford to a glorious heyday when Eric Cantona was his object of affection, but another 1990s icon is currently being embodied.

Bruno Fernandes has become United's new Bryan Robson; a Captain Marvel that singlehandedly drags them through misery, malaise and potential banana skins.

Monday's trip to a lowly Wolves threatened to follow the latter theme as Ruben Amorim's side saw Fernandes' scrappy opener cancelled out in first-half added time.

This was hardly unchartered territory for the Red Devils in a season where they have made incredibly hard work out of beating down the Premier League's underlings.

Some supporters were already fearing a fresh repeat at Molineux, against a team who were winless all campaign and had previously failed to score since October 26.

Ratcliffe's presence risked magnifying a possible humiliation, especially after he was captured in animated talks with sporting director Jason Wilcox at the break.

Fernandes, however, inspired United to an eventual 4-1 win with another goal and an assist that saw him join illustrious company in the modern top flight's record books.

The Portugal international became only the fifth player in Premier League history to create an assist in five successive away games, yet there is so much more to him.

Like Robson at the dawn of United's success-laden dynasty, he raises standards in a team which is yet to realise its true potential and brings the best out of individuals.

Mason Mount has been the latest beneficiary of Fernandes' leadership qualities, striking up a partnership which has kickstarted the playmaker's Old Trafford career.

The pair combined again in the Black Country as the former Chelsea prospect delivered the visitors' third of the evening and staved off fresh potential crisis talk.

Mount's star turn earned him the Man of the Match, which in itself is testament to Fernandes that his three goal involvements failed to move that particular needle.

He has now produced 123 in 210 Premier League outings since making his debut, coincidentally against Wolves five years ago, and 194 in 306 games overall.

Despite those impressive figures, it is increasingly assumed that - similar to Robson in his prime - he will continue to deliver the goods with minimal fuss or fanfare.

The 31-year-old's selfless ethic will be key with United facing a hat-trick of tricky clashes with Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Newcastle before the end of 2025.

📸 Alex Pantling - 2025 Getty Images

📸 DARREN STAPLES - AFP or licensors