This Much We Know – Gameweek 37

We cast an eye over the weekend’s nine fixtures and assess the lessons learned so far. City and Arsenal’s strikers, Stoke and Sunderland’s form men and the players most likely to be snapped up amongst the relegated teams all find their way onto our regular Monday lunchtime radar:

Aguero’s injury concerns just won’t go away…
The City striker is perhaps the only player who can currently compete with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge at the top of the scoring charts but can we risk investment next season? Limping off after notching the first of his side’s three goals at Goodison, Aguero’s propensity for picking up injuries continues to limit his game time – he’s started 19 of City’s 36 fixtures, with a trio of appearances off the bench. Frustratingly, his average of seven points per game is second only to Suarez but with Yaya Toure delivering 6.8 ppg and missing only three matches by comparison, many may decide to overlook the Argentine. When fit, there’s no denying he’s a points magnet across the Fantasy games but time and again this term, Aguero has burned us – will we show him the same patience in 2014/15?

Which means that City need Dzeko…
With Alvaro Negredo’s early-season form long gone, the Bosnian has been more crucial than ever to Manuel Pellegrini’s title-chasers. Seven goals and a pair of assists in his last nine appearances, supplemented with 10 bonus points, underlined Dzeko’s form over the closing stages. When handed starts, he’s more than justify the erratic Fantasy investment that has come his way and, feasibly, could easily outscore Aguero over the final two matches – even if the latter recovers in time for the midweek meeting with Villa. Pellegrini surely can’t afford to let Dzeko leave in light of his consistent showings.

And Arsenal may yet need Giroud…
As we mentioned in this morning’s Scout Notes, the Frenchman sits just a single point behind Daniel Sturridge in the FPL forward standings, yet still sits at 8.5; his season starting price. While his role in the Gunners’ XI will surely be under threat next season, he could justify a price hike having built on his first Premier League season – Giroud has now accumulated 61 points more than last term’s haul. Now up to 16 strikes, he’d surely have flourished further if the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil remained fit and in form throughout the season.

Cardiff and Fulham are gone but some may not be forgotten…
The two strugglers finally fell through the relegation trap door at the weekend, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Felix Magath no longer able to stave off the inevitable. The goal exploits of players such as Steven Caulker and Steve Sidwell will surely place the pair on Premier League shopping lists this summer after their successful personal campaigns. Us Fantasy managers will certainly hope to have them at our disposal as likely low-to-mid price options next time around, whilst Norwich’s likely relegation will have top-flight clubs eyeing up the playmaking talents of Robert Snodgrass.

Arnautovic will be on our pre-season radar…
The big Austrian struggled for form during his first few months in the top-flight, as Stoke became accustomed to Mark Hughes’ change in playing style. Arnautovic delivered his highest haul of the season last weekend as the Potters condemned Fulham to the Championship and with three goals, four assists and eight bonus points, his strong end to the season makes him a potential mid-price midfield differential for the next campaign. A slight price hike looks likely but with the likes of Jon Walters and Charlie Adam no longer guaranteed a spot in the first XI, Arnautovic (as the recent draw at Cardiff suggests) looks first in line for spot-kicks amongst Hughes’ preferred starters.

As will Wickham…
Gus Poyet’s decision to recall the forward from a loan stint at Leeds look set to save Sunderland’s season. Wickham has played a part in seven of the Black Cats’ last nine strikes, with five goals and a pair of assists in four appearances – if, as expected, the Wearsiders seal their survival, he’ll be firmly on Fantasy radars next time around. Whilst his outstanding form more than merits our interest, he has, nonetheless, racked up just 54 points this season with a couple of matches remaining –enough to keep him budget-friendly when the player price lists are rolled out again in July.

Hazard will remain an untouchable…
Despite recent quotes from Jose Mourinho, yesterday’s showing by Chelsea and Hazard’s cameo from the bench underlined the Belgian’s importance to the Blues. They will undoubtedly snaffle a world class striker with Diego Costa seemingly destined for the Bridge but, despite the presence of a genuine goal threat up front, Hazard is surely all set to remain one of the first names on Jose’s teamsheet – provided his services are retained.

But Ashley Cole looks set to depart…
The left-back was in tears after the curtain came down on Chelsea’s final home match of the season, with John Terry lending him a shoulder to cry on. Cole’s emotions seem to indicate he’s poised to depart the Bridge and that Jose Mourinho will pursue a new left-back to contest Cesar Azpilicueta. That signing will be crucial for Fantasy managers – we will already be lining up at least one Chelsea defender for their initial squads and any Mourinho signings at the back could shake things up and prompt a re-think. Ideally, we’d want them to wait onto the player price lists are out before looking at the domestic market – potentially making long-term target Luke Shaw a bargain.