Sergio Aguero climbs off the bench to fire City to victory at Old Trafford. United’s superb defensive record is finally halted and Robin Van Persie fails to deliver once again as his goal drought continues. Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger talks up Tomas Rosicky ahead of Arsenal’s double Gameweek, while Hatem Ben Arfa could be back for this Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby.
United Defensive Concerns
A run of six back-to-back clean sheets came to an end last night as United threw away their chance to all but clinch the title. There’s little doubt the absence of Nemanja Vidic proved hugely significant – the United skipper had started each of the last five in the league but didn’t even make the bench for City’s visit due to injury. With Jonny Evans remaining doubtful and Chris Smalling also missing out last night due to injury according to the United website, the problems are growing at the back for the league leaders. Ferguson has recently alternated Rafael and Smalling at right-back but if the latter is unavailable, the Brazilian looks surely set to pick up in ownership for the double, while Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones appear to be the only two fit centre-halves right now heading into a bruising encounter at the Britannia.
As he looks to recover from crushing back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and City in the cup and league, Ferguson suddenly doesn’t look like having the option to continue his recent rotation policy. Indeed, post-match, as well as confirming Ashley Young is a doubt for the weekend trip to Stoke, he elaborateded on the situation at the back:
“We’ll have to assess the centre-backs as the week goes on. We’ve got six days until the Stoke game. We’ll have to hope we can get the centre-backs fit, particularly for the Stoke match because we know what it’s going to be like down there.”
Ferguson was full of praise for Jones in the youngster’s first appearance since Gameweek 26, going on to say:
“He was tremendous. He’s a fantastic player, the boy. He’s not had a lot of football at centre-back but today he’s come in, into a difficult situation when some of the other centre-backs are injured, and, like we expected, he was very good.”
Van Persie Drought Continues
It’s 10 games in all competitions for United without a goal for Robin Van Persie now. Despite scoring three times in two World Cup qualifiers for his country a fortnight ago, the Dutchman continues to toil domestically and has now found the net just once in the last eight Gameweeks. From a Fantasy perspective, United’s double Gameweek looks certain to save him from the chop as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side attempt to bounce back from last night’s defeat – the Red Devils make their way to Stoke and West Ham next but with a single goal in each of their last three, United are really struggling to find the net right now. While Wayne Rooney will also pick up plenty new owners, would-be suitors may be a little worried by Ferguson’s decision to withdraw the former Everton man late on when his side were chasing a goal. Rooney had scored five times in his previous five league starts yet it was he, and not Van Persie, who Ferguson chose to sub off for Javier Hernandez on 78 minutes.
Aguero on the Radar
Prior to the match, Roberto Mancini admitted the Argentine was not yet fully fit after a recent knee injury. Aguero warmed the bench as Carlos Tevez led the line but, after replacing Samir Nasri with 20 minutes remaining, scrambled back onto Fantasy radars with a superb solo effort which ultimately proved the winner for City. While many will opt for the United front two ahead of their double Gameweek, Aguero now has a home clash against Wigan on his agenda and with superb set of fixtures to follow – in addition to a yet-to-be-scheduled double – could well prove a significant figure in the last remaining weeks of our Fantasy seasons.
Silva Hamstring Concern
While the upcoming run of games makes the City playmaker an intriguing option, post-match reports indicate he was subbed off towards the end of last night’s victory with a hamstring problem. Silva is apparently a “big doubt” for the weekend FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea – frustrating news for those considering snapping him up ahead of a home clash with Wigan next midweek. Indeed, having produced double figures in three of his last four home appearances, Silva had the potential to outscore many double Gameweek midfielders but last night’s news is likely to divert attention away from the Spaniard until the club issue an injury update towards the weekend.
In Other News
Arsene Wenger was highly complementary towards Tomas Rosicky after the Czech midfielder grabbed both goals in the Gunners’ crucial win over West Brom last weekend. The Arsenal manager admitted that Rosicky could be key over the next few matches and indicated he is willing to play him in the role in “the hole” behind a lone forward:
“Before he played too far away from the box. Before I played him always wide but he plays more central now and he’s more dangerous. I said to him: ‘It’s a special game for you because you scored two goals.’ The most important thing is he scores them when you need them, and we needed them. There is the problem with injury and then there is the problem with competition for a place, with Wilshere and Cazorla, but he’s such an important player who turns the game forward, brings movement into the game, makes the game look simple and always you feel when he has the ball that something can happen. Not many players have that in the locker.”
All of a sudden, Rosicky looks a real contender for our consideration ahead of double Gameweek 33. Having played 53 minutes in the league all season before Arsenal’s recent home win over Reading, he has now started back-to-back matches and with Wilshere still a doubt for the weekend’s home game against Norwich, the Czech looks set to keep his starting berth. Indeed, Wenger could even choose to shift Wilshere alongside Mikel Arteta and keep Cazorla on the left, affording the 6.1 priced Rosicky the chance to flourish as the Gunners step up their pursuit of a fourth place finish.
Newcastle could be set for a significant boost for this weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland after Alan Pardew revealed Hatem Ben Arfa is building up his fitness after a recent hamstring injury setback:
“What has happened with Hatem is the scan has shown he has scar tissue still in the hamstring. He is showing no ill- effects from it. We have sent him to three experts, mainly a French expert, who have been looking after him. He thinks he is now 100% and we are now treating him as that. He is running. There could be a cameo as soon as Sunderland – he has a week’s work. If he gets through that work, then he could be involved. It would be a massive bonus for us, but it is still too early to call. After the last time, we said he would not play again this season. Half of me thought he might, though. I just wanted to clear his mind and see how he reacted. Hopefully, we will get a nice bonus.”
Ben Arfa has suffered the injury three times this season, though, and Pardew will clearly not push matters in spite of his club’s league position. Ben Arfa has featured just once in the league since the end of Gameweek 12, with his latest comeback lasting just one match away to Anzhi in Europe last month but if fit, his return would be hugely significant as the Magpies look to ensure their survival. With Pardew admitting Davide Santon could be out for weeks, Jonas Gutierrez may drop to left-back, affording Sylvain Marveaux another start on the wing, though Massadio Haidara may come into contention for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Benfica and offers an alternative should Santon’s hamstring prognosis confirm Pardew’s fears.
John Ruddy stepped up his return from injury yesterday by turning out for Norwich’s reserves away to Newcastle. Sidelined since Gameweek 13 due to a thigh injury, the Canaries number one looks to be closing in on a first-team comeback and his potential return will have Mark Bunn’s 5% of FPL owners on edge. The latter returned from a one-match suspension last weekend but was forced off after just 15 minutes due to a groin injury; with doubts over his availability for this weekend’s trip to Arsenal, Chris Hughton may turn to Ruddy over third-choice Lee Camp as the Canaries look to secure their survival. With home games against Reading, Villa and West Brom in addition to a trip to Stoke in the following four, the schedule affords reason for optimism as Norwich look to add to their tally of nine clean sheets so far.
