A night that saw some familiar names come to the fore, as Michu and Marouane Fellaini restored order for the template midfield, while Gareth Bale maintained his hot streak. Rafa’s Chelsea continue to struggle for a cutting edge, while Robin Van Persie found his to stop the rot after consecutive blanks. Here’s the Stock Check on Wednesday’s matches…
On the Up
Gareth Bale
The Welshman scored for the third consecutive league game, whilst providing the assist for Aaron Lennon’s strike. Despite notching an unfortunate own goal, with bonus points likely, Bale could be heading for his fourth double figure return of the season. All of a sudden, he’s living up to his price tag and discovering the form that made him devastating at times like season. With strong fixtures over Christmas, the prospects look good.
Michu
An eighth goal of the season for the Spaniard who is showing little sign of letting up as a supreme Fantasy asset. While fixtures stiffen for the Swans, Michu’s threat, either up front or behind the striker, looks unshakable.
Wayne Routledge & Pablo Hernandez
While Michu is clearly the weapon of choice amongst Swansea’s assets, this pairing continue to impress to offer alternatives. Hernandez notched his second and third assists of the season, while Routledge, seemingly back in favour having started the last two, notched a brace to take him to four goals for the season.
Marouane Fellaini
Like Michu, the big Belgian is showing no sign of slowing down his scoring. His first-half goal was his seventh of the season – Felliani has now scored or assisted in his last five league outings.
Theo Walcott
A first minute goal announced Walcott’s return to the Gunners lineup and offered indication that he could be the key target with Arsene Wenger’s ranks to cover their forthcoming favourable fixtures. While Santi Cazorla remains an integral link man in the Arsenal midfield, Walcott has the goal threat that could well outscore the Spaniard over a spell that finds the Gunners face four home matches in six Gameweeks.
Robin Van Persie
Back on the scoresheet after just 30 seconds, the Dutchamn justified the Fantasy armband and offered some reassurance to those feeling fidgety after two consecutive blanks. With Rooney faltering and Antoinio Valencia injured and out of form, Van Persie remains the only real viable cover of United’s attacking potential, unless a gamble on Javier Hernandez is considered.
Rickie Lambert
For so long we’ve regarded the Saints’ striker as the most fancied budget forward and tonight he notched his sixth goal of the season to help his cause. The Saints were stalled by Norwich and with a blank in Gameweek 17, Lambert’s owners may well be making exit plans despite tonight’s strike.
The City Defence
A fifth clean sheet in six league outings. Roberto Mancini’s side struggled to dominate the first half but swept the Latics aside in an impressive second half showing. The back four was shuffled by Mancini but Vincent Kompany and, in particular, Matija Nastasić, impressed again. The young Serb looks unshakable right now and, at 5.5 in the Fantasy Premier League game, is offering a cut-down route to City’s current superb run of defensive form.
Cesar Azpilicueta
The Spaniard made his fifth consecutive league start tonight, keeping Gary Cahill on the bench. With David Luiz picking up his fifth booking, he looks set to maintain his run of starts in a side that looks to be set up to earn clean sheets as a priority. Fixtures and the Gameweek 17 blank is an obstacle to investment, however.
Going Down
Carlos Tevez
An unused sub at the DW Stadium tonight, his star has plummeted, having been the top scorer in Gameweek 13. With Mario Balotelli scoring and Edin Dzeko also in the queue for starts, Tevez’s owners will surely be planning an exit with a plethora of more secure options available elsewhere. Sergio Aguero’s owners will not be much happier – the Argentine blanked and was subbed on 68 minutes.
Wayne Rooney
For a few weeks, Rooney was looking set to provide cover of United’s attacking potential but tonight’s blank means that he’s now gone five league starts without a goal, notching two assists in that spell. Such returns fail to justify his price tag and again, he is failing behind Robin Van Persie in the scoring stakes.
Chelsea’s Attacking Assets
Rafa Benitez set the tone for the evening by benching Juan Mata from the start and, perhaps unsurprisingly, saw his side struggle to break down a determined Fulham. Chelsea have kept consecutive clean sheets under Benitez but with no goals scored, owners of Hazard and Mata will be hugely concerned. With a blank in Gameweek 17 looming, big sales of both look guaranteed in the next two Gameweeks.
Leighton Baines
The Everton defence have now gone nine matches without a clean sheet, while Baines has gone five without a goal or assist. More significantly, there are reports post-match that Baines suffered a hamstring injury in tonight’s game, making him an early doubt for the trip to City at the weekend. That could well be the final straw for his frustrated owners.
