Scout Notes – Gameweek 31 – Tuesday

Edin Dzeko is at the double and Yaya Toure nets again as City hammer United at Old Trafford. Romelu Lukaku serves up a goal and assist and Ross Barkley scores for the second successive match as Everton ease past Newcastle, whilst Wilfried Bony also takes his tally to two strikes over the double Gameweek in Swansea’s draw at Arsenal:

Dzeko’s Derby Double Sees City Cruise to Victory
Edin Dzeko took his tally to seven goals and two assists in his last nine starts as Manchester City swept aside troubled neighbours United. Almost 100,000 managers opted for the Bosnian ahead of the double Gameweek, but were immediately disappointed at the weekend when his name was missing from the teamsheet. Having recovered from illness, Dzeko was chosen to lead City’s attack last night as Manuel Pellegrini continued with a 4-2-3-1, and repaid his owners’ faith with a brace and maximum bonus points. Even with Sergio Aguero due to make his latest comeback from injury towards the end of the week, Dzeko’s recent displays have surely cemented his place in the starting line-up for the near future, adding yet more reason to be tempted by his modest 6.8 price-tag ahead of another double in a few weeks’ time.

Yaya Delivers, Silva Disappoints and Nasri Stakes a Claim
Moved to the role in “the hole” last night, David Silva turned in yet another silky display for the visitors. In spite of his impressive showing, the Spaniard failed to produce an end product and finished the double Gameweek with a single assist to his name – whilst Yaya Toure once again ran riot with a massive 31-point haul over the pair of fixtures, Samir Nasri’s trio of assists earned the Frenchman 15 points and suggests that, with a 3% ownership and price of just 8.1, he could be worthy of consideration as a midfield double-up with Toure as City prepare for two more doubles over the run-in.

Another Shut Out for City
A fifth clean sheet in a row for City sums up their value across the board right now. Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy continue to be alternated at left back, but Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta are nailed on and will surely harbour the attention of many in the coming days. Potential suitors be warned, however – City face Arsenal, Southampton and Liverpool in their next three, a run of fixtures which will likely determine their title ambitions and the essential status of their rearguard. The trip to Anfield is supplemented by a home clash with Sunderland in the same Gameweek, though, and with West Brom, Villa and West Ham also still to visit the Etihad, further defensive returns look more than likely.

Retained Lukaku and Barkley Spur Toffees
In a night that saw Roberto Martinez’s penchant for rotation irk Kevin Mirallas owners, it was Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley who stole the show in Everton’s 3-0 stroll at Newcastle. Retained from Saturday’s starting line-up, Lukaku and Barkley grabbed a goal apiece, which the former supplemented with an assist and maximum bonus points. An 18-point haul across the double Gameweek, as well as a clear immunity to Martinez’s teamsheet tinkering, justifies Lukaku’s lofty spot in our Watchlist right now, with the Belgian sure to see plenty of investment in the coming weeks prior to Everton’s next double.

However, it was Barkley who topped the Toffees’ scoring ranks for the Gameweek, suggesting that the 5.1-priced midfielder could yet re-emerge as a genuine budget option for the latter stages of the campaign. The threat of rotation still hangs over Everton’s attacking midfielders, though. Martinez has now replaced two of those slots in each of the last two league games and given that Barkley was the only player to start both matches behind the lone striker, there’d be no real surprise if Martinez freshened things up once again for the weekend trip to Fulham.

Strikers on Top at Emirates
With Arsenal missing Laurent Koscielny and coming into the game on the back of last Saturday’s mauling at the hands of Chelsea, and Swansea without a clean sheet in their last six, it looked like it might be a night for the attackers in north London. And so it proved. Swansea’s Wilfred Bony put the visitors ahead with his second strike of the double Gameweek before Arsenal duo Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski found the net for the Gunners in the 2-2 draw. Bony’s 14-point Gameweek return will naturally have satisfied his 5.1% ownership and with eight goals in 12 appearances since the turn of the year, the Ivorian, at 7.1, looks a valid in-form option for our third forward slot, with games against Norwich, Hull and Newcastle in the next four.

Gunners’ Resilience Slipping
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s defensive meltdown has come as something of a shock to us all. So often a reliable source of points this season, the Gunners’ two main back-line assets – Koscielny and Per Mertesacker – managed just one point between them over the double Gameweek, prompting many to contemplate parting company with the Gunners’ rearguard. Those pondering this option should note that the north London outfit have Manchester City and Everton in their next two, before the fixtures take a significant turn for the better for the remainder of the season. With West Ham, Newcastle and West Brom still to visit the Emirates and trips to Hull and Norwich also left to play, Arsene Wenger’s side could still have a major say in our Fantasy seasons over the run-in as they look to clinch that fourth place finish.