The Scout Picks – Gameweek 38

It’s time for the final set of Scout Picks for 2015/16 this Friday evening. We stick our necks out and triple up on both Arsenal and Southampton as they prepare to host Villa and Palace, whilst we opt for just one of the league’s three top scorers as the race for the Golden Boot goes to the wire.

Tim Howard is set to be handed his final start for Everton this Sunday. Up against a Norwich side that’s scored a single goal in their last seven away matches, the US international looks a strong shout for a clean sheet before departing Goodison over the summer.

Arsenal’s home encounter with a Villa side that’s failed to score in three of their last four away matches brings Hector Bellerin into our defence. The Gunners have a trio of shut-outs in four ahead of this one and the right-back – who has a goal and five assists to his name so far – will pose plenty of problems with his raids down the right.

Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk entertains a Palace side that’s scored just once in their previous three road trips this weekend. The Dutchman is placed joint-second amongst defenders for efforts in the box over the last four as he look to add to his three-goal tally for Ronald Koeman’s side.

We opt for Chris Smalling’s security of starts as United entertain Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Bearing in mind that they played West Ham last Tuesday and don’t face Palace in the FA Cup final until the following Saturday, rest and rotation look unlikely factors for Louis van Gaal. Given that the Red Devils could finish anywhere between fourth and sixth, their manager is unlikely to gamble with his team sheet as he looks to secure a European slot for next year.

Runaway leader in this week’s Captain Poll, Alexis Sanchez welcomes Villa to Emirates in the midst of his most consistent form of the season. The Chilean’s leveler at City last Sunday means he’s scored or assisted in eight of the last ten as Arsenal look for the win that could yet see them overtake Spurs in second spot.

Dusan Tadic has played a part in eight of Southampton’s last 11 goals ahead of a home clash with a Palace defence that’s managed two clean sheets in the last 18 Gameweeks. The Serbian has chipped in with two strikes and six assists in his last four outings and we expect Alan Pardew to ring the changes for the visitors ahead of next weekend’s FA Cup final.

We also call upon Andros Townsend as Newcastle prepare for their final home match before dropping into the Championship. Up against his former club Tottenham, the winger has served up double-figure hauls in two of his last three at St James’ Park and is still owned by only 2% of FPL managers.

Marko Arnautovic’s home form cannot be ignored as Stoke play host to West Ham. Having netted eight of his last nine at the Britannia, the in-form Austrian squares up to a defence with a single clean sheet in their previous nine league matches.

We also call upon Olivier Giroud for Arsenal’s clash with Villa. With Danny Welbeck ruled out, the Frenchman is poised to lead the line against Eric Black’s relegated outfit – a goal and assist away to City last week may well work wonders for his confidence on Sunday.

Sergio Aguero travels to Swansea on the back of a six-match scoring spree that’s plundered eight goals. Manuel Pellegrini will be looking to bow out with all guns blazing at the Liberty as he attempts to cement a top four spot before leaving in the summer and with the likes of Lukasz Fabianski and Ashley Williams set to be rested, Aguero looks poised to get amongst the points again.

Shane Long earns the final spot in our starting XI. The Irishman’s mobility through the middle has been key to Southampton’s recent renaissance – he’s racked up three goals and as many assists in five ahead of his St Mary’s meeting with Palace.

Craig Dawson warms the bench for West Brom’s home clash against Liverpool. With Jurgen Klopp set to start a number of fringe players at the Hawthorns, the Baggies right-back offers the likeliest chance of points at either end of the pitch, having found the net on four occasions to date.

Swansea’s in-form Andre Ayew comes in for the visit of Man City. The Ghana international has thrived in a lone striker role in recent matches and racked up double-figure hauls against Liverpool and West Ham in each of the last two Gameweeks.

A home clash with Bournemouth brings Anthony Martial onto the bench. The Frenchman – who has scored or assisted in five of his last seven league starts at Old Trafford –welcomes the Cherries on the back of a two-goal salvo at Upton Park on Tuesday night.

The Community Champions

Having scrapped the weekly vote idea from last season, we now operate a lottery system to pick our weekly candidates. The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season.

In addition to a shot at the £100 Amazon prize, FantasyBet are offering a chance for further prizes to Community Champions that are eligible to play their games. More details can be found here.

Red Devil leads the way after beating the Picks by 25 points in Gameweek 17.

Gameweek 37’s community champion King Ozil defeated the Scout Picks 97 to 81.

The Gameweek 38 Community Champion is AZ, who has selected the following team: De Gea, Valencia, Koscielny, Bertrand, Walcott, Mane, Tadic, De Bruyne, Vardy, Giroud, Rashford.