Southampton's Stuart Armstrong, Manchester United enforcer Nemanja Matic and Patrick van Aanholt all caught the eye for the same reason over the course of the weekend.

While the trio are far from revered for their playmaking abilities, all three showcased an eye-catching level of creativity which enabled their respective sides to clinch three points.

Together, they are Football FanCast's creative geniuses for matchday 27 in the Premier League...

Stuart Armstrong vs Aston Villa

The Saints put themselves within six points of a Europa League spot by beating Aston Villa on Saturday, and they were good value for that triumph - they managed a huge 28 shots to their opponents' four, with it being nine to one in terms of shots on target.

And the performance of Armstrong particularly stood out.

Whilst he also scored the second goal for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side in a 2-0 win, the former Celtic man led the way on the pitch in terms of key passes, with no other player able to match his five.

That is something of an anomaly for the 27-year-old, who has averaged just 0.6 per match throughout the top tier this season, but it seems he is beginning to get to grips with his role on the right side of midfield.

Jack Grealish, by comparison, recorded just a solitary key pass at St Mary's.

Nemanja Matic vs Watford

Rumours that Matic could be on his way out of Old Trafford during the January transfer window - which certainly weren't silenced by his own inconclusive comments on his future in December - but, in the end, he ended up staying with the 20-time English champions.

Despite Scott McTominay's return to fitness, he was selected in the starting line-up against the Hornets and put in a fantastic display alongside Fred in the middle of the park.

Usually known for his defensive ability - he has averaged over two tackles per game throughout his career and managed to win three here - it was his playmaking ability that caught the eye on Sunday.

Despite playing alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, no-one was able to match his tally of five key passes during the 90 minutes. None of them ended up being assists, but still, it showed he had an impact on his side's attacking play.

McTominay's return to the bench could see the 31-year-old forced into a more reduced role, but this display will give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a dilemma in the short-term.

Patrick van Aanholt vs Newcastle

Crystal Palace were wasteful against the Magpies, with Jordan Ayew the main culprit - he was unable to hit the back of the net with any of his seven attempts on goal.

However, that wasn't down to a lack of creativity, which Patrick van Aanholt provided in abundance.

Despite playing at left-back, the Netherlands international was able to provide a colossal six key passes for his team at Selhurst Park. For context, no other player from either side was able to provide half as many. He also got himself on the scoresheet with a wonderfully hit free-kick, which capped off a stunning performance from the 29-year-old.

Amongst the players to have started a Premier League match this season, only Luka Milivojevic has more key passes per match (1.2) than van Aanholt's 1.1 for the Eagles. Not only that, but only Ayew (six) has scored more than his three in the top tier.

Make no doubt about it - the former Chelsea man is a player Roy Hodgson cannot afford to do without.