Our latest captain poll has now launched to assess your thoughts on the optimum armband options for Gameweek 11.
Nine out of ten of those who voted in our last poll for Gameweek 10 dismissed Sergio Aguero (13.0) as a viable captain. With a brace and assist away to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, many won’t be making the same mistake this time around.
An Etihad meeting with Middlesbrough is expected to see the Manchester City striker dominate this week’s poll, after he so cruelly punished the 100,000 Fantasy Premier League managers that ditched him in the previous two Gameweeks. Already 50,000 have moved to acquire the Argentine ahead of the weekend.
Aguero’s team-mate Kevin De Bruyne (10.7) offers a solid alternative. Back from injury, he supplied the killer pass for City’s fourth goal on Saturday from a cameo role off the bench. That was the 9.0% owned midfielder’s seventh assist of the season, the highest tally of any player so far; he looks set to start against ‘Boro ahead of the international break.
A word of caution, though, as the Teesside team may not be as obliging as West Brom. Aitor Karanka’s troops have conceded just twice and kept two clean sheets over their last four league fixtures – one of them at the Emirates.
Interest in another star of Gameweek 10, Alexis Sanchez (11.4), may be muted this week, with a tough North London derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur beckoning.
Despite the 24.9% owned Chilean’s brace away at Sunderland, Spurs will present a far sterner test. Like ‘Boro, they boast a defence that has conceded just twice in their last four outings.
Another London club provide two options that will surely tempt consideration.
With three goals and an assist over his last trio of matches, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard (9.9) looks to be back to his best, flourishing in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 formation. It would be no surprise to see the 19.9% owned Belgian pushing Aguero for top spot this week ahead of Everton’s visit to Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, his team-mate Diego Costa (10.4) has also proved a revelation, topping the scoring charts with eight goals and providing just two blanks over his ten Gameweeks.
The 38.2% owned Spain international has also crushed the notion he cannot earn bonus points, accruing seven to this point.
Liverpool present a raft of alternative candidates when Watford visit Anfield.
Philippe Coutinho (8.5) brought his season assist tally to five at the weekend and has also found the net on four occasions.
Roberto Firmino (8.6) is just eight FPL points behind him and another Red to offer consistent returns. The “false nine” has delivered attacking returns in three of his last four Gameweeks.
With 34 FPL points across his previous four Anfield matches, Sadio Mane (9.0) is another armband candidate from Liverpool’s fluid attacking midfield. Of the trio, Coutinho is by far the most popular, commanding a 40.9% ownership, more than any other midfielder.
Two south coast teams offer some left-field options thanks to kind match-ups in Gameweek 11.
Hull City showed spirit in the 1-0 defeat to Watford but may struggle to keep Southampton at bay at the KCOM Stadium.
The Saints’ Charlie Austin (6.6) presents a differential option for the trip to Humberside. The 12% owned striker has scored four times since claiming a starting role in Gameweek 5.
With four goals shipped at home to Arsenal on Saturday, Sunderland’s defence remains in an obliging mood.
Their visit to Bournemouth presents Cherries forward Callum Wilson (6.6) with a good opportunity of adding to his three-goal tally, all of which have been scored at the Vitality Stadium.
We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later this week, as we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering our view of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
7 years, 6 months agoIs November a cursed month for Arsenal?
As many of you know, November is not the favorite month for Arsenal. Watching them play last Saturday I was convinced that they would win the game when the score was 1-1. In season's past they would have lost two points. But this year I'm seeing an Arsenal side with much more experience and a lot more options for Wenger to choose from.
Taking a look at Arsenal's fixtures in November, they have 6 matches in all competitions. They start tomorrow away at Ludogorets in Bulgaria. Then they have the North London derby on Sunday vs Spurs. Arsenal have not won this game in the league since 2013. After the derby there is the international break. Next is an away game vs Man Utd on the 19th, with Mourinho doing his best to keep his positive record against Wenger. Four days later they wait for PSG at the Emirates in the Champions League. A home league fixture is next against Bournemouth and again 3 days later they host Southampton in the EFL cup. Those are the November fixtures and the Gunners start December with an away game in London vs West Ham. This is their fixture list:
01/11 AWAY vs Ludogorets (CL)
06/11 HOME vs Spurs
IB
19/11 AWAY vs Man Utd
23/11 HOME vs PSG (CL)
27/11 HOME vs Bournemouth
30/11 HOME vs Southampton (EFL)
03/12 AWAY vs West Ham
Should we ditch Sanchez, Walcott, Ozil, Bellerin, Koscielny and all our Arsenal assets for the coming month? Should we jump on Chelsea and Liverpool players having form and no European matches? Will Wenger be able to beat the curse of November this year?