This Much We Know – Gameweek 37

Two days and a pair of matches still remain in the Gameweek 37 marathon, but we already have much to ponder prior to Sunday’s season climax.

Alexis Sanchez has again reminded us of his potency as a Fantasy asset, his prolific talents inspiring a final day scramble for the Golden Boot which may just bring out the best in Harry Kane. Meanwhile, Antonio Conte’s first post-title teamsheet sparks new concerns over the troubled prospects of Eden Hazard.

Here are the issues occupying our grey matter as we prepare for the final hurrah.

Sanchez delivered when we needed him most…
Perhaps it was Arsenal’s new formation finally clicking. Or the fact that Double Gameweek 37 opponents Stoke City are on the beach and relegated Sunderland, drained by their “energy vampire” of a manager, now lack the necessary fight to compete.

You could also point to the installation of Olivier Giroud as the lone striker making all the difference – with the Frenchman lacking mobility up front, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil had to inject more energy into the Gunners’ attack, increasing their points output.

One thing’s for sure, though – when we needed a big performance from the Chilean, he didn’t let us down.

A total of 27 points over Double Gameweek 37 is the highest haul from any player this year, overtaking Sanchez’s own previous tally of 23 points plundered against West Ham back in Gameweek 14.

Now up to eleven double-figure tallies over the campaign, the Arsenal attacker has served up 10+ scores in three successive league matches for the first time this season.

Just when it seemed that the South American’s campaign was in danger of coming to a standstill, he’s turned it around to emphatically strengthen his spot at the FPL summit.

Should he stay at the Emirates in 2017/18, Sanchez will remain Fantasy royalty. Only re-classification as a forward would have us think twice about his instant recruitment.

Arsenal’s rollercoaster has kept the final day alive…
They may ultimately fall short in the quest for a top-four finish, but Arsenal’s upturn in form has ensured that the Gunners, and their rivals, still have plenty still to play for.

While Sanchez flexed his Fantasy muscles as the star turn for Arsene Wenger’s side, the likes of Ozil and Giroud also chalked up double digits to help keep the pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City above them.

Liverpool’s response away to the Hammers on Sunday proved equally emphatic and with City pair Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus also running riot over their two Gameweek 37 fixtures, there’s no lack motivation on show as the race for the Champions League spots goes down to the wire.

The ongoing battle just below the top two is a very welcome relief at a time when Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho teamsheets cannot be trusted, and Claude Puel’s selections have scuppered many Wildcard plans.

Without Arsenal’s blip and dramatic recent recovery, both Liverpool and Man City will have gone into the final day intent only on exhibitions, restricting our reliable final-day talent pool.

City’s attack against Watford looks tailor-made for returns…
Pep Guardiola’s side need just one point to secure third place in his first year at the helm.

Away to a Watford defence hampered by injury and suspension, though, City surely have the platform to finish the season in style.

Not for the first time, Walter Mazzarri is left scraping the barrel and fielding a makeshift defence against a powerful opponent. It’s happened twice before and, on both occasions, the Hornets shipped four to Spurs.

Ten goals in their last three matches, with De Bruyne and Jesus in top form and Sergio Aguero back leading the line, looks ominous for the Vicarage Road outfit on Sunday.

Backing City’s main men with the armband could also prove pivotal for those needing a final roll of the dice in their quest for mini-league glory.

Klopp’s diamond could be more than a Plan B…
After Southampton parked the bus and ground out a goalless draw at Anfield in Gameweek 36, Jurgen Klopp clearly needed a tactical rethink in the continued absence of Sadio Mane.

The switch to a midfield diamond proved a masterstroke as Philippe Coutinho delivered his biggest haul of the season courtesy of two goals and an assist in the 4-0 win at West Ham.

With Georginio Wijnaldum also earning double digits and front two Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge both among the goals, Liverpool turned in their most impressive display for months despite being devoid of the injured Roberto Firmino.

The Reds created 19 chances against Slaven Bilic’s side – more than in any Premier League match since Gameweek 20, the last time that Sturridge started.

Up against Middlesbrough at Anfield and with a win needed to secure a top-four finish, investment in the Merseysiders looks an enticing prospect for Gameweek 38, with Coutinho leading the way as the most in-demand asset.

Hazard’s 90 minutes may be ill-timed…
Eden Hazard was one of just two Chelsea regulars to retain their role at home to Watford,  only to fail to profit from the 4-3 victory and provide a meret five points for his 33% owners over Double Gameweek 37.

The Belgian’s minutes have been consistently managed by Antonio Conte in the latter stages of matches – he’s been withdrawn on more occasions than any player in this season’s Premier League – which made the decision to allow him the full 90 on Monday all the more surprising.

Granted, with six days until their home clash against Sunderland, fatigue can hardly be cited as a determining factor in the Italian’s next teamsheet.

Nonetheless, with the FA Cup final against Arsenal also on the horizon, Hazard owners will be a little concerned over his pitch-time against the Black Cats – as Conte showed on Monday night, we can expect the unexpected.

Over 24,000 FPL managers have already parted company as a result – only Roberto Firmino has suffered more sales among midfielders.

Lukaku’s slumber keeps Kane Boot chase alive…
Chelsea’s win at The Hawthorns finally extinguished Spurs’ title aspirations but, as evidenced on Sunday against Manchester United, Harry Kane won’t be giving up his Golden Boot without a fight.

Romelu Lukaku blanked for a fourth successive outing at home to Watford, allowing Kane to claw back the deficit to just two goals on the Belgian, netting his 22nd of the season in a 2-1 win over Jose Mourinho’s side.

Having chiefly hogged the headlines for joining in Chelsea’s live stream title-winning celebrations over the last few days, Lukaku has been sold by more FPL managers than any forward ahead of a final day trip to the Emirates – where Arsenal have five clean sheets in six.

Despite that title disappointment, Kane’s display against United offers hope to his owners ahead of trips to Leicester City tonight and Hull City on Sunday, as he attempts to overhaul Lukaku and see off the late claims of Sanchez as the league’s top scorer.

Pochettino keeps mum when it comes to injuries….
We witnessed it with Erik Lamela earlier in the season and again in the recent case of Danny Rose – when it comes to injuries, Mauricio Pochettino keeps his cards close to his chest.

The Spurs manager’s reluctance to rule out Rose as a long-term injury absentee has arguably prevented many from getting on board the Ben Davies bandwagon.

Since Rose limped off against Sunderland in Gameweek 23, Davies has started 13 successive league outings, playing all but 12 minutes over that stretch in a run that has accrued seven clean sheets and two assists.

Yet the Welshman sits in less than 5% of FPL squads due to his manager’s regular weekly updates on Rose being constantly tinged with optimism, only for him to be ruled out for the season yesterday after undergoing surgery.

Some managers – such as Jose Mourinho – have a tendency to roll out a worst-case scenario on injuries, only for the players concerned to make a miraculous return to action far earlier than predicted.

Pochettino is firmly in the other camp, which can prove just as frustrating. Perhaps it is no more than misplaced optimism from the Argentine but, from a Fantasy perspective, we will go into next season wary of his press conference updates and their impact on our decisions.

We would have welcomed Vokes’ form earlier.…
Having started just 20 of the opening 37 Gameweeks, the forward has been a peripheral figure in Burnley’s return to the top-flight, with Tom Heaton undeniably their main Fantasy performer.

Yet Vokes’ strike away to Bournemouth on Saturday took his tally to four goals in as many matches as he perhaps hints at what’s to come next time around.

In a season where our options for the budget third striker slot have been minimal, the Welshman’s improved displays arrive too late to be a real factor in our campaign.

He notched just five times in the first 32 Gameweeks, but Vokes could be a budget target for next season as he and Burnley become more accustomed to life in the top-flight.