Scout Notes – Gameweek 34 – Tuesday

Arsenal climb above Everton into fourth spot after a 3-1 home win over West Ham. Lukas Podolski bags a brace, Olivier Giroud is also amongst the goals, whilst Aaron Ramsey catches the eye of Fantasy managers by delivering an assist in a brief second-half sub appearance:

Podolski at the Double
The German notched twice in his side’s win over West Ham, taking his tally to three strikes in his last four league appearances. Having powered Arsenal to a 2-2 draw against Swansea from the bench back in Gameweek 31, Podolski has been handed a starting berth in each of the Gunners’ last three games, with last night’s 13-point haul underlining his importance for Arsene Wenger’s out-of-sorts team. With maximum bonus points also accrued, the forward’s performance will have caught the attention of managers hunting for late-season differentials, and with the German coming in at 7.7 to Olivier Giroud’s 8.4, Podolski may well be the key beneficiary of Arsenal’s strong set of final fixtures (hul, NEW, WBA, nor).

Midfield Boost for Wenger
Having played 113 minutes in Saturday’s FA Cup Semi-Final win over Wigan, Aaron Ramsey was handed a second consecutive substitute appearance in the league following his return from injury. The Welshman’s impressive 18-minute cameo off the bench brought with it an assist for Podolski’s second and Arsenal’s third goal, suggesting that, as the midfield transfer market kicks into overdrive, he could still have a part to play in the remainder of our Fantasy seasons. With eight goals and seven assists in just 20 appearances, Ramsey – now down to 7.0 in FPL – is certainly the most budget-friendly of the Gunners’ attacking midfield options; Santi Cazorla’s assist last night takes the 9.3-priced Spaniard’s recent record to a trio of assists in his last 11 appearances, whilst Mesut Ozil – who is expected back in time for the weekend trip to Hull – still sits at 9.6.

Koscielny’s Return Not Enough to Ensure Clean Sheet
The centre-back made his first appearance since Gameweek 31, when he was brought off at half-time against Chelsea with a calf complaint. Fantasy managers would have been optimistic that the Frenchman’s reinstallation alongside Per Mertesacker might have brought to an end a run of meagre defensive displays that have seen Arsenal’s backline breached 12 times in their last four games. However, Koscielny’s return could not prevent the Gunners conceding yet again, making it only one clean sheet in the last eight games for the north London outfit. Managers should, however, take heed before rushing to get rid of Arsenal’s defensive assets – the aforementioned schedule could see that decision come back to haunt those who decide to jump ship.

Carroll’s Inconsistency Continues
Whilst Matt Jarvis found the net for only the second time this term last night, Carroll was unable to cause Arsenal’s backline much trouble, further highlighting the big Geordie’s inconsistency as a Fantasy option. Without Kevin Nolan to link up with, the frontman cut an isolated figure at the Emirates as the Hammers slumped to defeat and has now scored just twice in 11 appearances since recovering from injury. Big Sam’s side now entertain Crystal Palace this weekend knowing a win would take them onto the 40-point mark and, with Nolan possibly set to miss that one, too, Carroll’s contribution looks more vital than ever as the Hammers look to get the points on the board before squaring up to Tottenham and Man City in the final two Gameweeks.