The Watchlist Updated – Gameweek 23

Arsenal’s main men are on the rise in this week’s refresh of the Watchlist rankings. In-form Stoke and Palace also climb steadily, whilst a number of budget options jostle for inclusion in our three-man frontlines.

The Defence

Sunderland’s Costel Pantilimon and Patrick van Aanholt retain their lofty positions in this week’s shake-up. The former’s 4.8 points per appearance underlines his potential ahead of three enticing home fixtures (BUR, QPR, WBA) and trips to Swansea and Hull in the next six, though Van Aanholt, at just 4.2, has been utilised as a left wing-back in the last two and could benefit from a more advanced berth under Gus Poyet.

David de Gea and Phil Jones also have a trio of home matches (LEI, BUR, SUN) in the upcoming five. The latter has started each of the last seven now and looks a secure route into Louis van Gaal’s backline – at 5.3 to 5.8, he’s cheaper than the Spaniard for those looking to save cash and has, somewhat bizarrely, been handed a share of corner kick duties of late.

Stoke’s kind run of fixtures elevates Asmir Begovic and Philipp Wollscheid in our thinking. Mark Hughes’ side are belatedly finding their form and have racked up three clean sheets in the last five ahead of a superb run which pits them against just one top-half opponent in the next eight Gameweeks (QPR, new, MCI, avl, HUL, EVE, wba, CPL). At 4.5, new boy Wollscheid is certainly the most budget friendly of Mark Hughes’ regulars after immediately being handed a place in the heart of the back-four.

Our faith in Southampton remains resolute in spite of a number of injuries to key players. Ronald Koeman’s side have shown time and again that they are more than capable of serving up a clean sheet regardless of opponent and with four home fixtures (SWA, WHM, LIV, CPL) and trips to QPR and West Brom in the next six, Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand look poised for further returns.

Arsenal’s back-to-back clean sheets against Stoke and City bring both David Ospina and Laurent Koscielny onto our radars. The former seems to have ousted Wojciech Szczesny as Arsene Wenger’s number one and, at a price of just 4.8, is far kinder on the budget than Koscielny’s 6.0 as the Gunners prepare for three kind home fixtures (AVL, LEI, EVE) and trips to Palace and QPR in the next six. Hector Bellerin, at 4.4, also looks an option if he can nail down the right-back berth ahead of Calum Chambers, though with new signing Gabriel Paulista also versatile enough to deputise for the injured Mathieu Debuchy, Bellerin’s acquisition does not come without risk.

Once again, Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic leads the way in the defender rankings. The Serbian – who is expected to recover from a foot problem in time for City’s visit on Saturday  – has served up an assist in each of his last three to cement his spot as the top points-scoring defender in the Fantasy Premier League game ahead of clashes with Villa, Everton and Burnley in the next four. Chelsea’s progress to the Capital One Cup Final does, however, mean their Gameweek 27 clash with Leicester will no longer take place, ensuring the Blues have a blank that week.

The Midfield

There’s no move at the summit here, with big-hitters Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard holding steady.

Below them, though, Jason Puncheon and Victor Moses lead the charge amongst the budget midfielders. Puncheon, at 5.5, has scored in both league matches under Alan Pardew, and with their form on the rise, the Eagles’ short-term fixtures (EVE, lei, NEW) affords reason for optimism. Stoke’s aforementioned schedule brings the 5.2-priced Moses into contention as a cheap fourth midfielder. The on-loan wide man racked up a goal and four assists in eight appearances prior to picking up a thigh injury in November but has since returned to action and served up a goal and assist in Monday’s cup win at Rochdale.

At a cost of 8.3 to team-mate Sanchez’s 11.5, Santi Cazorla offers a double-up option alongside the Chilean. Five goals, two assists and 11 bonus points in his last eight highlights the Spaniard’s turnaround since being moved into a central berth and despite the return of Mesut Ozil, Cazorla’s form makes him the favourite to continue as Arsene Wenger’s chief playmaker.

United’s kind fixtures, allied with a recent move up front, keeps Angel Di Maria in contention here – with just two assists in his last eight, though, he’s done little to justify the 9.5 outlay in recent months.

Dusan Tadic has bagged two goals, an assist and six bonus points in the last four Gameweeks for in-form Southampton and could be poised to benefit from a favourable run of fixtures, though team-mate James Ward-Prowse, priced at 4.8 to the Serbian’s 7.7, has five assists in six and offers a viable option as a fourth or fifth midfielder. Sadio Mane’s surprise exit from the African Cup of Nations with Senegal could also elevate him in our thinking – he notched in each of his last three prior to departing on international duty.

The likes of Raheem Sterling, Stewart Downing and David Silva drop down this week. The former two have some tough-looking schedules on the horizon, whilst Sergio Aguero’s return seems to have blunted Silva’s output in recent outings for the champions.

The Forwards

Diego Costa led the way earlier today prior to being slapped with an FA charge for violent conduct. If the Chelsea striker successfully appeals this, we’ll return him to the summit but, for now, we’ve removed him until the verdict comes through tomorrow. This means Sergio Aguero takes over top spot as the obvious premium priced replacement in spite of a tough trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend. Granted, he’s yet to find his match sharpness since recovering from injury but once he’s up to scratch, we’re expecting business as usual from the City striker as the champions look to take advantage of some excellent fixtures from Gameweek 24 onwards, with three home matches (HUL, NEW, LEI) in five highlighting his armband potential.

Four goals in his last five brings Olivier Giroud into the reckoning. The Frenchman’s physical attributes suggests he’s poised to lead the line over the above-mentioned schedule and at just 8.2, with a 4% ownership, he could be a deadly differential. On the other side of north London, Harry Kane has some tricky fixtures (wba, AR, liv, WHM) up next, though his 37% owners will be confident the 5.9-priced frontman can prevail, bearing in mind he served up 18 points against Chelsea just three Gameweeks ago.

Certainly, there are alternative budget options for those looking past the likes of Kane and Charlie Austin, who has netted once in the last four. Jermain Defoe and Dwight Gayle both have the fixtures to prevail, while Danny Ings’ form – a goal or assist in eight of the last 11 Gameweeks – suggests he may still prevail in spite of a dreadful upcoming schedule.