As the season winds down, the tension cranks up, and neither pacemaker nor peloton can afford to underestimate the importance of the approaching stage. With no fewer than five teams dangling the carrot of double returns from a fast-dwindling stock, the decisions of the coming days may prove decisive in many of our mini-league races. Keen to hit the ground pedalling, we kick start our double Gameweek coverage with a peek at Arsenal’s potential.
The Prospects
It only takes a glance at the top of the season ticker to discern that this might be a decent week for Arsene Wenger’s men. A duo of domestic engagements with Norwich and Everton are even kinder on the eye in the frame of their subsequent fixtures, and with an average of three goals per game at home since Christmas the Gunners have the ammunition to unleash a devastating broadside on their visitors.
Solid and combative against their peers, Norwich remain prone to a pasting when paying court to the top sides – shipping four at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford, and five at Anfield. The Everton rearguard will likely set a sterner test, David Moyes’ men seemingly set on yet another late-season surge. Unlucky to leave White Hart Lane with just a point despite a depleted squad, their previous two games both yielded wins and clean sheets.
Defensively Arsenal have been in fine fettle lately – averaging under a goal a game over their last eight, with only Per Mertesacker’s lunge away to West Brom denying them a fourth clean sheet over that period. Mertesacker’s suspension is certainly ill-timed from a Fantasy perspective but with Norwich goalless in four of their last five away games, the German’s absence seems unlikely to put a serious dent in Arsenal’s chances of a clean sheet on Saturday.
The Likely Lads
Lukas Fabianski has staked a claim as a tempting pick between the sticks in recent weeks. Displacing Wojciech Szczesny three weeks ago in the latest round of Emirates musical goalkeepers, the risk that he might immediately fall victim in turn is palliated by a pocket-friendly price of 4.3 in both Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and Sky Sports.
With Nacho Monreal yet to establish his primacy over Kieran Gibbs at left back, and Wenger’s recent comments casting doubt on Laurent Koscielny’s security in the middle, Bacary Sagna stands alone as the safe bet in the Arsenal back line. The Frenchman’s latest injury having helpfully dropped his price from 5.1 to 4.6 in FPL (7.2 in Sky Sports), he also offers strong value for the double and beyond. Destitute of attacking returns thus far in an injury-hit campaign, Sagna’s record from previous seasons demonstrates he’s more than capable of getting involved in advanced areas.
It’ll be a brave Fantasy manager that goes into this weekend without Santi Cazorla on the books. Already homing in on the 200 point mark in his first FPL season, his recent re-appropriation of set pieces have served to underline his Fantasy supremacy in the Arsenal side. Reaping 42 points over the last six games, a steady stream of transfers in swelled to a torrent following injuries to Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale. Already up to 9.9 and rising (6.7 in Sky Sports) – the Spaniard is currently the hottest midfield property in the game and looks likely to enter the fray this weekend at the top of our captaincy poll.
Throughout his career Theo Walcott has demonstrated many fine qualities as a footballer, but until recently we could hardly describe “consistency” as being one of them. Prior to picking up an injury on international duty he had scored and/or assisted in ten of his last 13 league starts, and is comfortably in double figures for both goals and assists despite scarcely starting a game in the first three months of the season. Initially expected to return for last weekend’s visit to West Brom, the latest news we have from Wenger is that he “could be available” for Norwich. Still offering good value at 8.7 (7.5 in Sky Sports), those who have kept the faith may yet be rewarded for their patience, and if passed fit he could prove a tempting target for those looking to go “all in” on the Arsenal double.
Olivier Giroud’s first season in the Premier League hasn’t been plain sailing, and being the only out-and-out centre forward in the squad hasn’t precluded his omission from the starting eleven on a number of occasions. Finally, however, the Frenchman seems to have done enough to secure his starting status and has consequently emerged as a serious candidate for Fantasy investment over the last few months. Currently priced at a temptingly midrange 7.6 (8.7 in Sky Sports), and into double figures in terms of goals for the season, he looks a decent bet for those looking to roll the dice with their front three over the closing weeks. The only slight caveat, aside from recent form, is the fact that Gervinho offers a potential option down the middle should Wenger have Walcott available. Given the Ivorian’s recent run (more on that below), the Gunners boss may look to retain him in the starting lineup, with Giroud a possible fall guy for one of the two matches.
Cheeky Punt
The lack of clear prognoses for Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere promotes a pair of cheeky punts into the reckoning: Gervinho and Tomas Rosicky. Bit part players under normal circumstances, both have lately demonstrated their potential to bring home the bacon when given the chance: Gervinho to the tune of two goals and three assists over the last three, and Rosicky with a graceful brace last weekend. Priced at 6.9 and 6.1 respectively (7.6 and 5.0 in Sky Sports), Fantasy Managers might be well advised to wait for news on Walcott and Wilshere before taking the speculative plunge.
