A late flurry at the Emirates provided cheer for Olivier Giroud’s owners, while those who took a punt on Darron Gibson, Victor Anichebe or Andy Carroll will be content with their lot. Elsewhere, the Gameweek got off to an inauspicious start, as the likes of Santi Cazorla, Marouane Felliani and Luis Suarez delivered blanks. Here’s the Stock Check on Saturday’s five matches…
On the Up
Olivier Giroud
The Frenchman stood out as the one major success story amongst the double Gameweek assets as he played his part in a late Arsenal surge to claim a goal and assist. Despite being frustrated by the woodwork earlier in the match, those who invested in the big striker will be more than content with those late returns as they now look ahead to the home clash with Everton in midweek.
Kieran Gibbs
The young left-back has been patiently waiting for a recall having returned from injury and today Gibbs was given that opportunity by Arsene Wenger. With his last league start back in Gameweek 23, it could be that Gibbs is now considered the first choice left-back, although the teamsheet against Everton on Tuesday will likely tell us more.
Andy Carroll
The big Geordie maintained his recent outstanding form by firing in a 20-yard free-kick to claim his fifth goal in nine league outings. With United rolling up to the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday, Carroll will fancy his chances of troubling a defence that’s likely to be without Nemanja Vidic. Hindered by an inflated Fantasy price tag, Carroll is nonetheless putting himself in the shop window for next season.
Gaston Ramirez
We’ve been waiting for the Uruguayan to establish himself under new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, and with today’s goal, he took another big step. Pochettino has, however, rotated his midfield resources and, had he had Jay Rodriguez fully fit, it may well have seen Ramirez start on the bench. Nevertheless, with a second goal in his last five league appearances, Ramirez appears to be settling into the new system and may yet earn Fantasy interest as Southampton close the season with favourable fixtures.
Victor Anichebe
The muscular Nigerian has now started the last four league outings, with David Moyes again opting to keep Nikica Jelavic on the bench for the Goodison clash with QPR. Anichebe duly rewarded the faith shown in him with sixth goal of the season. With a 4.3 price tag, there’s little doubt that he has the potential to offer outstanding value for the run-in and those who invested for the double Gameweek will be delighted at early profit with the trip to Arsenal to come.
The Everton Defence
It’s now three clean sheets in four for David Moyes’ rearguard, providing strong returns for those who invested in the likes of Leighton Baines and Sylvain Distin ahead of their double fixture. With four of the next six away from Goodison, however, Everton may struggle to maintain their recent defensive form.
Alex McCarthy
Back in the Reading goal with Adam Federici aggravating an ankle injury in the defeat to Southampton, McCarthy was simply outstanding – repelling the Liverpool tide of attacks, denying the efforts of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as the Royals clung to a point. At just 3.9 in the Fantasy Premier League, McCarthy would be the cheapest active keeper available should he retain his start.
Daniel Sturridge
While Sturridge was kept at bay by the heroics of McCarthy in the Royal’s goal, the former Chelsea striker was recalled to the Liverpool starting lineup after being benched in the previous two. Sturridge has suffered heavy sales in the FPL over the past five Gameweeks, with over 80,000 net transfers out. Having regained his start, Sturridge may now come back onto the radar, although Liverpool’s lack of goals will be a concern: they’ve scored just three in the last four league outings.
Going Down
Santi Cazorla
The Spaniard went into the first of two fixtures in the Gameweek with huge expectations on his shoulders and, perhaps predictably, came up short. Cazorla delivered his eighteenth blank in a season which has seen Cazorla explode, without maintaining consistent returns. Today he may have suffered from a tactical switch as he was shifted to a flank role to make way for the return of Jack Wilshere. While the Everton fixture remains, those who captained Cazorla for the Gameweek will now be looking on with some anxiety at Sunday’s events at the Britannia.
Gervinho
His outstanding recent form kept Theo Walcott on the bench from the start but, with the Gunners struggling to break the Norwich resistance, Arsene Wenger hauled off Gervinho with Walcott providing the assist for Arsenal’s third. The Ivorian’s starting role would now seem under serious threat when Everton pay visit on Tuesday.
Nacho Monreal
Having started all seven or the Premier League matches since his arrival in North London, the Spaniard was relegated to the bench today to make way for the return of Kieran Gibbs. It remains to be seen if Monreal was sacrificed as part of a full-back rotation policy when the Gunners face Everton – the concern for Monreal’s owners is that he has now relinquished the left-back role to Gibbs for the remainder of the season.
Marouane Felliani
Back in the Everton lineup, there were high hopes that the Belgian would crash into an ailing QPR defence and earn immediate double Gameweek profit. Sadly, Fellaini came away with just another yellow card, his eleventh of the season, for his day’s efforts. He will now take the hopes of his Fantasy owners to the Emirates on Tuesday, as the two Champions League place hopefuls clash head-on.
Luis Suarez
Once again Suarez tormented the opposing defence but, once again, he drew a blank in a fixture that, on paper, looked potentially profitable. Suarez has now gone four league outings without a strike, breaking a previous run of five goals in three starts. This week saw Suarez suffer a transfer deficit for the first time since Gameweek 16 – it will be interesting to see whether that trend continues following today’s blank. On the plus side, Suarez has now successfully navigated himself over the suspension tightrope – he’ll need to fetch six more cards to face a ban this season.
Stewart Downing
So impressive in 2013, Downing was taking ill prior to the 0-0 draw with West Ham and only lasted 24 minutes before being replaced by Daniel Sturridge. Today, Downing lost his starting role to the same player and, although he was introduced on the hour-mark, he may well face a struggle regaining a role in Brendan Rodgers’ lineup.
Jon Arne Riise
Dropped to the bench for the visit to Villa, the Norwegian left-back has been targeted by Martin Jol previously this season sitting out four league matches from Gameweek 20 onwards. With Kieran Richardson slotting in at left-back at Villa today, Riise now looks set to face a battle to regain the shirt once again.
Damien Duff
The Republic of Ireland winger limped from play after just ten minutes with a reported groin problem. Duff will now be a major doubt for the midweek derby match with Chelsea at the Cottage. A bitter disappointment for those who took a punt for the double Gameweek.
Javier Garrido
Almost ever-present in the Norwich defence, Chris Hughton made the decision to drop the former City man to the bench to allow Steven Whittaker to earn a recall to the Canaries lineup. With Norwich putting up such a brave performance at the Emirates, it could be that Garrido will struggle to regain his place in the short-term.
Bonus Predictions – Courtesy of the BAP Chap
Arsenal 3 Norwich 1 – Giroud 3, Arteta 2, Podolski 2 (in the mix Turner)
Aston Villa 1 Fulham 1 – N’Zogbia 3, Ruiz 2, Hangeland 1
Everton 2 QPR 0 0 – Gibson 3, Anichebe 2, Distin 1, Mirallas 1 (in the mix Baines)
Reading 0 Liverpool 0 – Gerrard 3, Morrison 2, Suarez 1, McCarthy 1 (very tight behind Gerrard)
Southampton 1 West Ham 1 – Carroll 3, O’Neil 2, Tomkins 1 (in the mix Ramirez)
