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Arsenal’s Midfield Options – Sanchez v Ozil

11 November 2015 31 comments
Jose's Magic Omelette Jose's Magic Omelette
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Only a few weeks ago some people were beginning to use the dreaded “essential” word when referring to Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, but after registering six goals and eight bonus points in just three games, who could blame them? His sudden goal explosion came as a welcome boost to managers, many of whom had stuck with the Arsenal man through his barren spell because he had been delivering as many shots and shots on target as anyone else in the league.

As Gameweek 13 approaches Sanchez owners may find themselves in a familiar situation: the Chilean has failed to score or assist in his last three league games (his last five in all competitions), while his team-mates continue to fill their boots. The critical question is, has he just been just unlucky (as he was in the first six weeks in the season) or is he not getting/producing as many opportunities as he was before?

Jose's Magic Omelette "Omelettes, eggs. No eggs, no omelettes, and it depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have eggs (class I, class II, class III) and some are more expensive than others, and some give you better omelettes. So when the class I eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem." --- José Mourinho, 2007

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  1. J0E
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Thanks for this. I was all set to do Mata to Ozil before the Bony and Payet injuries. May still throw a couple of hits at the next Gameweek to get him in though.

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  2. Ziro Becomes One
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Having both seems best in the short term. Cheers!

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  3. Doolittle
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Great stuff, doubling up is certainly something I'll be looking at on my WC (if I can fit both into my midfield).

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  4. FPL_Sponge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Currently doubled up, now just to decide if/when to downgrade Sanchez to fund Aguero...

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  5. BbBb
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    I have both as well but thinking of dropping Sanchez if he doesn't start to perform soon

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  6. Woy of the Wovers
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    That graph puts both Ozil and Sanchez on roughly the same level for points potential. That's surprised me a bit.

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    1. Jose's Magic Omelette
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      I really didn't expect it myself!

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  7. Bibelnissen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone for Dann?

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    1. Bibelnissen
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Wrong article obv. My bad.

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  8. JK - Cønt ⭐
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Giroud is the key here of that I am convinced

    Check Sanchez GWs 7-9 (3 double digit hauls) v GWs 10-12 (3 blanks)

    Look at his average position and his key stats.

    What changed betwween GW9 and GW10?

    Walcott got injured.

    Basically, my theory is this

    Walcott likes to drift about so he can drop deeper and run and players or move into the channels, this is turns opens up space in around the box that Sanchez likes do drift into, and when he gets into those spaces he's lethal. Let's remember that from GWs 2-7 although he was blanking in FPL his stats were off the charts, he was clearly an explosion waiting to happen.

    Giroud on the other hand is much less mobile, so he will be much more static than Theo and this means there is less of that space for Sanchez, which keeps him wider and deeper, and, conversely, benefits Ozil who has a focal point to hit

    Is there a case for having both? Absolutely. But ditching Sanchez for Ozil? I think that may be premature

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    1. The Raging Bull
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      if you want to pair up with Arsenal outfield players, it's Ozil-Giroud whilst Walcott is injured. Once Walcott is back in the side and a regular, your Arsenal pair is Sanchez-Walcott.

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      1. JK - Cønt ⭐
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Sanchez will cost too much to buy back and Giroud not an option for me now if I get Ozil as I only have 1 Arsenal spot open

        Walcott may come in for Ozil later

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    2. Jose's Magic Omelette
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Great point, thank-you! I can try to compare his shots and shots on target in the first three games and most recent three this season (in which Walcott has played 51 minutes total) and the middle six (where Walcott played 449 minutes total). If you're right there should be a noticeable difference.

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      1. Jose's Magic Omelette
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Sanchez mainly without Walcott GW2-3 (shared the pitch for ~ 8 mins per game)
        SH 5.0
        SIB 4.5
        SOT 0.5
        CC 1.5

        Sanchez mainly with Walcott GW4-9 (shared the pitch for ~ 70 mins per game)
        SH 5.3
        SIB 3.5
        SOT 1.8
        CC 2.0

        Sanchez without Walcott GW10-12 (did not share the pitch)
        SH 2.7
        SIB 2.0
        SOT 0.3
        CC 1.7

        SH=Shots Per Game, SIB=Shots In The Box Per Game, SOT=Shots On Target Per Game, CC=Chances Created Per Game

        Excluded GW1 as neither featured much. Each group is a very small sample size so hard to be confident but from this it does appear he did get most chances when Walcott was CF for most of matches so there might be something in what you're saying.

        Having said that his shots, shots in the box and chances created are far worse now than they were in GW2-3 (when Walcott also played a limited role in matches). I wouldn't expect this to be the case if the recent drop in Sanchez's performances are purely to do with Walcott.

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        1. Jose's Magic Omelette
          • 12 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I mean SH and SIB are down on the start of the season without Walcott, clearly CC are approximately the same!

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      2. DaveVak
        • 14 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        There is, but you cannot ignore fatigue as a factor here.

        If you compare to last year, similarly Sanchez did better when Welbeck was playing, than when Giroud was. Moreover, in Chile he plays with Vargas, and he dominates there.

        Overall, Giroud's hold up play, takes the sting out of Sanchez. That is quite obvious.

        If you pair this with him playing 10 games in 30 days, it will make sense he'll underperform.
        I agree though it is scary to take him out of the team. He can still explode, plus bringing him back, will be pretty hard if he performs.

        He now has, in the next 10 days, 2 games with Chile, and 1 away at WBA. I will look at all of these, and keep him. But if he's still crap for Nor away, he's out for me.

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        1. rookie manager
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          10 years, 5 months ago

          I am thinking the same thing with him, seems ridiculous for me to cost myself points to get him out (Payet to Ozil already done this week) and then I am not going to be getting out for the Norwich game, but after that I will be able to see if Giroud has secured himself the starting striker spot as he seems to be earning it, and then look at midfield alternatives - Countinho looks tempting which would free up funds for Aguero.

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  9. Hibbo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    GW 10-12

    Everton (H)
    Swansea (A)
    Spurs (H)

    Tight enough fixture wise.

    Also comparing GWs 1-9 with 10-12 seems a disparity in sample size to me.

    I'd be interested how Sanchez's stats compare from say GWs 1-9 to GWs 10-16.

    Personally for me it isn't a choice between the two. I need both. Sanchez to Özil isn't an option to my mind for example. These next 4 fixtures are primed for points IMO.

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    1. Jose's Magic Omelette
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      But I'm comparing both players over the same period, my point is that whatever has had an influence on one hasn't on the other.

      Interesting point about fixture difficulty perhaps being the cause of his decline. Looking at the statistics though Everton has proved to an easy fixture attacking wise for teams this season and average xG conceded per game by teams faced in GW10-12 (1.2) is comparable to that of teams faced in GW1-9 (1.4). Arsenal have also registered 6 goals in the last three weeks (slightly above their average goals per game in weeks 1-9) so fixtures don't seem to be hugely relevant.

      Will of course be interesting to see if he can reverse the trend in the next four.

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      1. The Raging Bull
        • 12 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        Everton and Swansea are not the toughest of fixtures. Both concede goals with the latter going through a tough period in form at the moment. If anything those were ripe fixtures for Sanchez.

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      2. rookie manager
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        They can be tough fixtures, but not been that strong in defence - and when you consider the higher rate of attack output of other arsenal players in those games then other factors must be affecting his points potential more.

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  10. The3rdTurd
    • 15 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    That chart looks very familiar!

    Thanks for the credit.

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    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      ?

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    2. Jose's Magic Omelette
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      So sorry! I included in the previous one (http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/2015/11/03/vardy-and-mahrez-are-they-season-keepers/) I missed it off the end of this one so I've emailed Jonty to ask him to add it.

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  11. sawant
    • 10 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Let me see it

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    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Best Comment Ever

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    2. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      😯

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  12. FPL Daniel
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Omg what's happening. My stomach hurts. RIP

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    1. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      10 years, 5 months ago

      Anyone know the details about the death in Paris..? It was after the.match or..?

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      1. FPL Daniel
        • 16 Years
        10 years, 5 months ago

        http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34814203

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  13. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    • 16 Years
    10 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone know about vvd injury. He was taken off at ht?

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