Gameweek 27 – Best Punts

For the third Gameweek running my punts failed to come off as I endure my poorest form all season. Last week Kyle Walker played well at right-back for Spurs, bombarding forward whenever he had the chance, but Tottenham’s defensive frailties resulted in two goals being let in and no clean sheet points for the Englishman. There was always doubt over Theo Walcott’s starting role for Arsenal and it was bad luck for me as I fell victim to Arsene Wenger’s rotation and the pacey winger didn’t even manage a single minute.

Up front I placed my faith in Christian Benteke with the hope that Tim Sherwood would rejuvenate his side. However, it was the same old Villa and Benteke continued his goal drought. This week’s new signings for my Best Punts article should break my mid-season blues and help me regain my form of a month ago! Ownership figures are correct as of February 26.

Kyle Naughton

Position: Defender

Club: Swansea

Price: 4.3

Ownership: 0.6%

January signing Kyle Naughton has made sure that he is one of the first names on the teamsheet since his arrival in Wales. The ex-Spurs defender has impressed in his first four performances for the club with an assist and a clean sheet to his name already. The Englishman has also averaged a 90% pass completion rate in the opposition half and 97% in the final third. He has an eye for an opportunity and it is rare for him not to give his strikers something to work with. Naughton is also good defensively, winning 72% of his tackles since arriving at the Liberty and making 15 recoveries, which shows that his work-rate is high. His average position is around the halfway line for each match which shows that he does as much work going forward as he does defending.

This Gameweek the Swans travel to Turf Moor to face a Burnley side who will be bouncing after their point against lead leaders Chelsea. After failing to score in five matches at the start of the season, Bunley have found some consistency and have netted in all but two of their last ten games. However, I think they will struggle this weekend against a sturdy Swans defence. On their travels Gary Monk’s side show a brilliant resilience and ability to withstand heavy pressing; their 1-0 win against Southampton earlier this month is evidence of that. Burnley aren’t goal shy but I can see Swansea making their priority not conceding this weekend and if they are hell bent on doing that I can’t see their backline being beaten. Throw potential attacking returns into the fray and Kyle Naughton is as good an option as any this Gameweek.

Kevin Mirallas

Position: Midfield

Club: Everton

Price: 7.2

Ownership: 2.1%

Everton need a result this weekend, there is no doubt about that, and a trip to the Emirates will not fill them with joy, especially with the Gunners’ current form. Towards the back end of last season the Toffees welcomed Arsenal to Goodison with the prospect of a top-four finish if they won the encounter. Roberto Martinez had the full backing of the Everton crowd and the Toffees romped to a 3-0 victory in what was one of their most impressive performances of the season. Nearly a year later and they still haven’t managed to recapture that form or, in fact, get anywhere near it. This Gameweek provides them with the perfect chance to do just that and Mirallas will be key. His selfishness provides that little bit of flair that will be needed if Everton are to pull off a shock win against Arsenal. The Belgian picked up two assists in that win over the Gunners last season and will be looking to do it again.

Romelu Lukaku is finally getting into the right positions to capitalise on the opportunities that are being created for him. He squandered chance after chance against Leicester last weekend after bagging a hat-trick in the Europa League. Although he was wasteful, the signs are hopeful. He and Mirallas link up well and the winger creates a goalscoring chance on average every 74 minutes. With Lukaku now in better positions that stat will rise and I can see the link-up play between the two Belgians finally giving Everton fans something to cheer about. However, it’s not all about the assists for Mirallas. He has eight goals in all competitions this season and has had 38 shots in the Premier League this term, which shows he has an eye for goal. Arsenal’s defence isn’t unbreachable and it is a punt but I think Mirallas will be making the headlines come Sunday.

Diafra Sakho

Position: Forward

Club: West Ham

Price: 5.5

Ownership: 2.5%

After failing to score since New Year’s Day, Diafra Sakho netted against Spurs last weekend. He has put the controversy of the Africa Cup of Nations behind him and is looking to recapture his early-season form which saw five goals in five games. This Gameweek West Ham face Crystal Palace at the Boleyln Ground and Sakho will be aware that this is the perfect opportunity for him to start a run of form. Going forward the Eagles have been rejuvenated by Alan Pardew but this has cost them a little at the back. Since his arrival they have only kept one clean sheet and that was against Leicester City who languish at the bottom of the table. West Ham will prove a challenge for Pardew’s side and I think Palace will go out all guns blazing with a mindset of “attack is the best form of defence” and this will open up space for the lightning-quick Diafra Sakho to exploit.

Sakho has eight goals and three assists to his name so far this season in only 17 appearances for the Hammers. With Andy Carroll ruled out for the rest of the season, the onus falls on him and Enner Valencia to fire the goals and Sakho looks strong enough to carry that burden. He has a conversion rate of 20%, and with an average of a goalscoring chance every 30 minutes, the statistics make it seem pretty likely that he will score. Sakho’s goalscoring ability has been proven and with an ownership percentage as low as 2.5% he is a steal!

Gameweek 26’s Best Punts

DEF – Santiago Vergini 9 pts, 4.5, 0.8% and Ben Mee 9 pts, 4.5, 0.2%

MID – Samir Nasri 13 pts, 8.2, 2.1%

FWD – Mame Biram Diouf 9 pts, 6.1, 0.5%