A moment of brilliance from Alexis Sanchez unlocks Southampton at St Mary’s, the Gunners deliver a second clean sheet over Double Gameweek 36, but the Saints’ Manolo Gabbiadini fails to find the net again.
On the Rise
Alexis Sanchez
The most captained player for Gameweek 36, Sanchez’s opener in the 2-0 triumph was just reward for the patience of his 27% FPL ownership after a dire run of recent form.
It’s two goals in eight league outings now for the Arsenal man, who extended his lead at the top of the FPL standings after also claiming maximum bonus points at St Mary’s for an overall 14-point Gameweek 36 return.
The stats are still troubling – Sanchez scored with his only shot on target over clashes with Man United and Southampton.
But the determination to net that excellent solo effort suggests his armband potential shouldn’t be dismissed as the Gunners prepare for another pair of fixtures, with Arsene Wenger’s side travelling to Stoke City before entertaining Sunderland in midweek.
Rob Holding
The summer signing was one of only three Arsenal defenders, along with Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs, to start both double Gameweek fixtures. He ended as their top-scoring outfield asset, earning bonus points from each of his clean sheets.
Holding had featured in just one league match from Gameweek 4 onwards prior to the double, but the recent switch to three at the back seems to have boosted his prospects and elevated him ahead of Gabriel in the pecking order.
Despite the absence of Laurent Koscielny, Wenger was able to recall Shkodran Mustafi and once again bench the Brazilian – much to the chagrin of the 51,000+ who acquired Gabriel prior to last week.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll retain his role once Wenger has a fully fit quota of defenders to choose from, but there’s no denying that the 4.0-priced Holding was one of the stand-out performers over the Gameweek.
The former Bolton man chalked up 15 points and has collected over 14,000 new owners in the last 24 hours alone ahead of Double Gameweek 37 and a final day home match against Everton.
Petr Cech
Yet again, goalkeepers prevailed in a double Gameweek.
First it was Stoke’s Lee Grant (13 points in Gameweek 27) and then United’s David de Gea served up 17 points in Gameweek 34.
The Gunners’ top-scoring player on 16 points, Cech was second only to the Saints’ Fraser Forster, who earned 17 points thanks to his spot-kick save at Anfield on Sunday.
Yet the Arsenal stopper was the more consistent option, earning a clean sheet, one save point and a single bonus point in both of his appearances.
Having returned at least one save point in 14 successive league outings, Cech, at 5.3, remains a strong option between the posts for those favourable final three fixtures.
In Decline
Manolo Gabbiadini
Drafted in by over 108,000 FPL managers for Southampton’s matches with Liverpool and the Gunners, the Italian proved a bitter disappointment.
Gabbiadini scored four times in his first three league outings but has mustered just a single assist in the subsequent six as Claude Puel’s side struggle for a cutting edge.
Despite boasting a Double Gameweek 37 – away to Middlesbrough and at home to Man United – the winter signing is now facing a backlash, with over 12,000 owners parting company since last Friday’s deadline.
Having failed to find the net in four of their last five league matches, there’s a growing concern that the Saints are now at least halfway to the beach.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Revitalised by a recent stint at wing-back in the Gunners’ new 3-4-2-1 formation, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pair of assists at home to Man United suggested he could prosper as a budget-friendly option for the upcoming Double Gameweek 37.
Indeed, over 15,000 FPL managers had already acquired his services with one eye on the remaining matches only to watch him limp out of action before the break last night.
Post-match, Wenger admitted he was uncertain on the extent of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s hamstring injury.
But with the FA Cup final later this month, the Gunners boss may look to manage the midfielder’s fitness ahead of that Wembley clash against Chelsea.
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