Key Battles- Gameweek Fifteen

Our Friday regular looks at Juan Mata’s prospects at the Bridge on Monday evening as Man City make their way to Chelsea. Theo Walcott and Leighton Baines’ match-up looks a tantalising clash at the Emirate, while a red-hot Gareth Bale will fancy his chances at the Britannia on Sunday afternoon.

Juan Mata vs Micah Richards/ Pablo Zabaleta
The Spaniard’s 3 goals and 7 assists in just twelve appearances highlight his importance to Chelsea going forward. The creative hub of the Blues attacks, Mata is the man most likely to make things happen as Andre Villas-Boas aims to send City to their first league defeat of season. With the visitors conceding in each of their last seven, Mata will have plenty chances to infiltrate their back-four with his pinpoint passing and provide for the likes of Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge in Monday night’s live showdown.

Richards’ rampaging runs from deep have been an integral part of City’s attacking ploys this season. So far, he’s picked up 6 assists, with his ability to bomb forward and join in attacks proving dividend. Fabio Capello has turned his back on Richards, with his defensive merits a concern and it’s noticeable that Roberto Mancini has also played him just once in Europe- a 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich. Richards was, admittedly, a doubt for the Bayern return on Wednesday with a slight calf strain but and Roberto Mancini has revealed today there may be a question mark against him for the Stamford Bridge clash. If he’s absent, Pablo Zabaleta should come in as a replacement, though the Argentine is not fancied by Mancini on the domestic stage, having failed to pick up any minutes since the win at Blackburn in gameweek seven. Whether either of the pair has the ability to nullify Mata’s threat is another thing entirely.

Theo Walcott vs Leighton Baines
The Gunners winger has stepped up in his consistency of late, without providing spectacular Fantasy returns. As the Arsenal new boys click into place and another new Arsene Wenger team evolves, Walcott has come to the fore in their recent unbeaten run, with his understanding with Robin Van Persie particularly catching the eye. Having scored or assisted in each of his last five league games, Walcott’s got the form and, having been rested for the Champions League trip to Olympiacos, will be fully fit and ready to torment Everton at the Emirates this Saturday.

While the Toffees wide men flatter to deceive and David Moyes bemoans a lack of creativity, Baines has been his usual consistent self. Despite a single assist all season, the left-back has set up more goalscoring opportunities per game that last term, with poor finishing from the Everton front men letting him down. His delivery from the flank is arguably more crucial than ever for Moyes’ side but Baines has a quandary, though- the further forward he forages, the more space he leaves for Walcott to utilise behind him.

Gareth Bale vs Andy Wilkinson
Bale has been untouchable over the last five gameweeks as a Fantasy asset, returning double figures on four of those occasions for a total of 56 points. While Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael Van der Vaart have hogged the headlines on occasion, the Welshman has produced the goods on a more regular basis than either of the pair in recent times- a sure sign of his maturity and flourishing form within Harry Redknapp’s side as the season unfolds. Stoke’s physical game may pose problems for Spurs at the Britannia but Bale’s speed and ability against the more agricultural Potters back line may prove their undoing. Harry Redknapp revealed today he is a slight doubt due to a knock, but with the game not until Sunday, Bale will be optimistic of recovering in time.

Wilkinson was benched last week, though he did come on as a second half sub for Jonathan Woodgate in the win at Everton. This time round, though, he is likely to be handed the unwanted task of attempting to shackle Bale at the Britannia and can expect a torrid time. The 1-0 Goodison win was only the second clean sheet in ten matches for the Potters and faced with one of the most potent and in-form attacks in the Premier League, another one on Sunday perhaps seems unlikely. His only hope is Redknapp’s recent tendency to switch Bale and Aaron Lennon on the flanks, with Marc Wilson bracing himself for a head to head with the Welshman if he changes over to the right.