The Digest – Gameweek 1

Our final look back at a hugely underwhelming Gameweek 1 brings Leicester’s two-goal midfielder, West Ham’s perfect combination of form and fixtures and Arsenal’s dire opening display onto the lunchtime menu.

The Player

With just four goals to his name in 2014/15, Riyad Mahrez wasn’t a player that immediately leapt into Fantasy managers’ pre-season plans. Despite a kind price of 5.5 and a couple of goals over the summer, the arrival of Claudio Ranieri proved enough of a deterrent, with the Italian’s tendency to tinker persuading many to ignore Leicester’s attackers for fear of rest and rotation.

Two goals and a maximum bonus haul against Sunderland has changed all that. Granted, Ranieri was true to form, unexpectedly changing his tactics from 3-4-1-2 to 4-4-2 and shifting Mahrez from the role in “the hole” onto the right flank, yet the Algerian thrived against a beleaguered Black Cats and took full advantage of Patrick van Aanholt’s defensive frailties down the visitors’ left.

Ranieri’s decision to shift Leonardo Ulloa to the bench has seen Mahrez climb up the penalty pecking order, as evidenced by his converted spot-kick on Saturday afternoon. Despite the fact that team-mate Marc Albrighton equalled his 15-point return, the Algerian’s goal threat (he fired six attempts to Albrighton’s two) makes him the most sought-after midfielder this week.

Crucially, his budget price tag allows us to free up considerable cash to target the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero after both emerged from the bench in the first round of fixtures. With clashes against West Ham, Bournemouth and Villa in the next four, though, Mahrez has the fixtures and form to prove more than just an enabler for our 15-man squads.

The Team

Having seen his new side tumble out of Europe prior to the start of the season, Slaven Bilic was already up against it as West Ham made their way to the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.

A 2-0 win against the Gunners answered any doubters as the Hammers turned in a performance at both ends of the pitch that is bound to see interest in their main assets pick up. One look at the fixtures shows why – up next are four superb home encounters in the next six (LEI, BOU, NEW, NOR), which more than atone for tricky trips to Liverpool and City over the same period.

With Dimitri Payet pulling the strings behind Diafra Sakho and Mauro Zarate, Bilic’s side look perfectly placed to kick on from their weekend win. Payet is already up and running with an assist for Cheikhou Kouyate’s opener against the Gunners and, at 7.5, could prove a steal if he continues in the same vein.

At the back, meanwhile, the Hammers will be buoyed by the weekend scoreline, bearing in mind they managed just two clean sheets away from home in 2014/15. The only real downside from a Fantasy perspective is that there is still some uncertainty over Bilic’s back-four. With Carl Jenkinson now available this weekend, it remains to be seen whether he will come straight into the XI, and, if so, who Bilic will select as his two first-choice centre-halves.

Young Reece Oxford also deserves a mention. One of only two 4.0-priced defenders to start Gameweek 1, the 16-year-old benefitted from the absence of Pedro Obiang to start in central midfield at the Emirates. Again, though, there are question marks over whether Bilic will retain him in his starting line-up once the Hammers have a fully-fit squad, though his 43,000+ new FPL owners are clearly undeterred.

The Talking Point

Heading into Gameweek 1, the Arsenal midfield posed one of the biggest dilemmas for Fantasy managers.

Devoid of Alexis Sanchez over the summer, Arsene Wenger’s side still looked in fine form and finished their pre-season with a convincing Community Shield win over Chelsea which left Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and even Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all tussling for our attentions.

Fast forward a week and there’s a very different slant on things. Wenger’s decision to drop Walcott to the bench and select Olivier Giroud up top is surely a sign of what’s to come, with the Gunners boss adopting a “horses for courses” approach for the lone striker role which may well kill off both as Fantasy assets.

Whilst Ozil, Cazorla and Ramsey looked lethargic and failed to convince against the Hammers, Sanchez’ explosive cameo off the bench highlighted just why he’s the most expensive Fantasy option at the Emirates. In just 29 minutes, the Chilean produced 11 touches in the box and three attempts inside the penalty area as Arsenal desperately tried to claw their way back into the match. Away to Palace next weekend, he’ll surely start as Wenger’s side look to bounce back from their opening day disaster.

Yes, he may set you back 11.0 in FPL but you get what you pay for with the Chilean. On the evidence of Sunday’s showing, it won’t be long before his 6% ownership is on the up.