Juan Mata rediscovered the Midas touch for Manchester United in their 4-1 win over Newcastle last Saturday.The Spaniard's move to the north of England has sparked a steady decline in his career and we've rarely seen the best of the 32-year-old at Old Trafford - especially in the last couple of years.But Mata's virtuoso display at St James' Park was a hark back to the time when the elegant playmaker was the best at his trade in the Premier League with Chelsea.Now, the Mata season we're going to rhapsodise over for this week's 'The Streets Won't Forget' piece is from 2012/13, a campaign more fondly remembered for Gareth Bale's miraculous performances with Tottenham.The Welshman duly scooped the PFA Player of the Year award that season, but Mata was just as good - if not better - and it's a shame his heroics aren't lauded as much in the present day.
But one thing is certain, the streets will never forget Mata's unquestionable brilliance. The former Spain international scored 11 goals and contributed with 17 assists in his 35 Premier League appearances in 2012/13.Mata was simply unplayable, a footballing force of nature that appeared to be everywhere in both midfield and attack for Chelsea.His left foot wreaked havoc up and down the country, with 10 of his 28 Premier League goal involvements coming against the division's top six.
Three of them came in just one memorable game away at Tottenham on October 20, 2012, a fixture which saw Chelsea claim a 4-2 victory over their bitter London rivals.Mata scored two goals in three second half minutes to put the Blues 3-2 up at White Hart Lane, before teeing up Daniel Sturridge for an injury-time tap-in to seal all three points.To get your Saturday started in the correct manner, we've provided the Spaniard's highlights from that very game below.
So, so good. A performance that ranks among the very best in Premier League history.
Mata was just on a different level that season and it's a real shame that Jose Mourinho brought an abrupt end to his Chelsea career when he returned as manager in the summer of 2013.
However, instead of focusing on the negatives surrounding his exit, let's sit back and enjoy some of the Spaniard's best bits encapsulated into one video brilliant video, created by @CFCPys.
One of the nicest men in football off the pitch and - in his pomp - one of the very best performers on it.
In all competitions in 2012/13, Mata scored 19 goals and contributed with 35 - yes, you're reading that correctly - assists in 64 games.
'The Wizard' scored three and assisted three in six Champions League games, before adding one goal and five more assists in Chelsea's triumphant Europa League campaign.
A truly gifted footballer and a supreme entertainer, Mata's 2012/13 season is one that football connoisseurs will praise to the rafters in pubs for years to come.
Don't worry Juan, your place in the streets' memory is safe forever.