Rickie Lambert is hoping to shrug off a back problem in time for Southampton’s home clash with Stoke, while Luke Shaw is also doubtful due to illness. Arsene Wenger is uncertain whether to bring back Olivier Giroud up top for Arsenal, though Mikel Arteta looks a likely omission as a result of a calf complaint. Alan Pardew is determined to give the Magpies faithful something to cheer about, though, while Paul Lambert may have Matt Lowton back in the Villa side for Sunday’s trip to Wigan:
Mauricio Pochettino is sweating over the fitness of Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw this weekend after the due having missed training this week. With the likes of Gaston Ramirez serving the last of a three-match suspension, the Southampton boss admitted he may have to turn to some of the club’s youth players for the visit of Stoke:
“Luke has a virus, while Rickie has had a knock to his back for the last month, but hopefully they will recover for the game on Sunday. Perhaps today we will have more under-21 players than senior players training because of those missing! Maybe we’ll give a few of the youngsters a chance to be in the squad on Sunday. As I do in all games, I will line up the players that I think are best capable of facing the opposition.”
The news is a real blow for the 16,000+ Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who have drafted Lambert in ahead of the weekend deadline. Only Daniel Sturridge and Lukas Podolski have proven more popular this week, with many hoping for a repeat of his previous game against the Potters, which harvested 15 points back in Gameweek 20 – his highest haul of the season. It may also explain why the goals have dried up in recent matches for the club’s top scorer – Lambert has now gone six matches without finding the net, having previously notched 14 in the opening 31 Gameweeks.
Arsene Wenger has conceded he has yet to decide whether to recall Olivier Giroud to the Arsene first XI for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle. The Frenchman is available for selection after serving a three-match suspension but his manager admitted he has a dilemma on his hands ahead of the Tyneside showdown:
“I’m happy to have him back. He has been out for a while now and missed some games so he will be full of enthusiasm and can help us at some stage. Is it from the start or coming on? I don’t know yet.”
While Lukas Podolski failed to fire in the first couple of matches as the lone striker, the German’s brace against Wigan on Tuesday certainly hints at an upturn in form. Giroud, by comparison, had notched twice in his last 10 starts and may well have to warm the bench as Wenger goes in search of the points – potentially good news for the 16,000+ FPL managers who have snapped him up this week. Certainly, Podolski’s presence also seems to have had a positive effect on Theo Walcott, too – the winger has notched in each of the last three with the German leading the line, having previously gone six games without scoring.
Wenger also admitted Mikel Arteta’s chances of featuring the St James’ Park clash are “minimal” after the Spaniard was subbed off towards the end of Tuesday’s 4-1 win over Wigan. The Gunners boss revealed Jack Wilshere could come into contention, though the youngster will need to be monitored, according to his manager, as he is set to undergo a minor ankle operation after the season is finished. From a Fantasy perspective, then, the obvious knock-on effect from Arteta’s absence would be the spot-kick pecking order – Podolski is normally next in line but if Wenger chooses to omit the German, Theo Walcott is third in line to take spot-kicks, according to a statement by the Gunners boss earlier in the season.
Alan Pardew has spoken of his determination to get a result against the Gunners as Newcastle look to draw a line under a massively disappointing campaign. The Magpies only managed to clinch their survival last weekend with a 2-1 win at QPR and while Pardew came in for criticism after joking he was unconcerned whether his side won or lost against Arsenal, he took time out yesterday to stress the importance of finishing the season with a home win. Bearing in mind that Newcastle have been hammered 3-0 by Sunderland and 6-0 by Liverpool in their last couple of St James’ Park fixtures, Fantasy faith in Arsenal is strong heading into Sunday’s deadline but Pardew is adamant he will give the home support something to cheer about this weekend, with a victory potentially allowing Newcastle the chance to finish as high as 10th:
“We want to get a result this time, and we need to send our fans home in a better mood than the last two games. Now we can really focus on one game. We can play without any inhibitions, unlike against Liverpool. That’s important. We want to win the game for our fans, who have been magnificent.”
Paul Lambert could be set to welcome back Matthew Lowton to the Villa fold for Sunday’s trip to Wigan. The right-back had been one of the midlanders’ star performers in recent weeks, producing a goal and three assists in six appearances before limping off with a thigh problem in the Gameweek 36 win at Norwich. Certainly, with his side’s safety secured there is no need for Lambert to take unnecessary risks but with Christian Benteke unavailable through suspension, the Villa boss is optimistic of having Lowton back as he looks to maintain the strong form that has harvested five wins and a draw in the last nine matches.
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