JOE’s Top Five weekend goals: Benzema, Arteta, …and Crouch of course

No prizes for guessing which effort came top of the pile in our goals of the weekend, which also features a belter of a free-kick from Mikel Arteta and a glorious bicycle-kick from Russia.

5. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid v Real Sociedad)

A goal that was simple yet magnificent in its execution. Long ball from Alonso, beautiful touch and finish from Benzema. It’s easy when you know how. Skip ahead to 0:50 in the video below.

4. Juan Tomas (Celta Vigo v Huesca)

If there's a better way to make an impact from the bench than scoring a late equaliser from a bicycle kick, then we have yet to see it. Check out this fantastic looping effort from Celta Vigo's Juan Tomas on Saturday, complete with the obligatory pointing to the back of the jersey goal celebration afterwards.

3. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal v Aston Villa)

At first glance, it looks as if Shay Given might have done better - he was already at fault for the first Arsenal goal - but watch it again and look at the trajectory of the ball, which seems to gather pace the closer it gets to goal before nestling in the top corner. To score from that distance past a goalkeeper of Given's quality takes some doing. Take a bow, Mikel.

av30 by arsenalist

2. Kornel Salata (Rostov v Spartak Nalchik)

Executing an overhead kick is tricky enough, but doing so when you're running back towards your own goal is nigh on impossible and makes this effort from Rostov's Kornel Salata all the more special. Would have been the goal of the weekend on any other, but for one other cracker scored on Saturday...

1. Peter Crouch (Stoke v Manchester City)

Crouch is often tagged with the 'good feet for a big man' label and never was that more amply demonstrated than with this absoutely stunning effort against Manchester City on Saturday. The contest for goal of the season is dead in the water. A simply astounding strike.