Spot the Differential – Gameweek 5

One of our three picks last week, Kelechi Iheanacho produced the goods in Man City’s 2-1 win in the Manchester derby, registering a goal and assist, and looks a good bet to plunder further attacking returns against Bournemouth tomorrow.

For our selections this time around, we fancy Wilfried Zaha to build on his promising performance against Middlesbrough, while we also call upon two of last season’s top performers, Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic and Watford’s Troy Deeney.

Marko Arnautovic

Like the rest of his Stoke team-mates, Marko Arnautovic has endured a difficult start to the campaign, having failed to produce any attacking returns so far.

Mark Hughes’ men have faced high-flying Man City, Everton and Tottenham, though, with Sunday’s clash at Palace the beginning of a very kind run of matches (cpl, WBA, SUN, hul, SWA) for the Potters over the next six Gameweeks.

The Austrian has interestingly racked up some pretty impressive underlying statistics, ranking joint-fifth among midfielders for both penalty box touches (22) and shots from inside the box (seven). The problem has been his lack of accuracy in front of goal, with just one of 11 attempts on target.

A lack of production this season has seen his value fall from a starting price of 7.5 in FPL to 7.3, but having scored 11 goals and provided six assists last season, there’s no doubt the Stoke man has the credentials to once again emerge as one of the leading mid-price midfield options.

So coming up against a Palace side that has yet to keep a clean sheet, Arnautovic, who has seen his ownership plummet to 1.4% in FPL, is a player whose proven pedigree means he could be worth rolling the dice on for the coming period should you be looking to make up lost ground.

Wilfried Zaha

Dropped to the bench for the Gameweek 3 clash against Bournemouth amid speculation linking him with a move to Spurs, Wilfried Zaha was restored to Crystal Palace’s starting XI against Middlesbrough last weekend.

The winger immediately vindicated Alan Pardew’s decision with a spectacular performance that registered a goal and assist in the 2-1 win.

Zaha’s underlying statistics hadn’t been overly impressive heading into the Gameweek 4 clash, though, managing two shots from inside the box and only three key passes.

But with Christian Benteke likely to improve on a week-by-week basis as he builds up his match fitness, the 5.4-priced midfielder now looks an attractive budget option given he now has a proven Premier League striker to finish off his good work from out wide.

On the back of a 12-point haul against ‘Boro, Zaha now faces off against a Stoke side that has conceded 10 goals so far, more than any other side, and have also allowed the most shots from inside the box (42).

Currently sitting in just 2.6% of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) squads, Zaha, who won the club’s Player of the Year award last term, could provide strong value in the short-term given the plum home fixture against the Potters is followed by a trip to struggling Sunderland.

Troy Deeney

It’s a slightly longer term outlook that has also brought Watford’s Troy Deeney into our thinking.

The Hornets skipper bagged his first goal of the season against West Ham last weekend, and following Sunday’s tough match-up at home to Man United, the 6.9-rated forward faces a very soft looking schedule (bur, BOU, mid, swa, HUL).

One of the major plus points regarding Deeney’s prospects is that fact he is Watford’s penalty taker. He converted six of his seven spot-kicks last term, and with more penalties being awarded this season, it’s increasingly becoming a crucial factor in deciding which attacking players to target.

Deeney has only totalled three shots from inside the box so far this season, though, which is a slight concern. But Walter Mazzarri’s side have had a tricky start to the season, taking on three of last season’s top seven and Chelsea, so those numbers should increase against weaker opposition.

Currently owned by just 3.2% of FPL bosses, Deeney should attract more investment over the coming weeks, particularly for those looking for a cheaper third forward in order to carry at least two heavy hitters in midfield, alongside the likes of Sergio Aguero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in attack.