As the dust settles on the midweek matches, we take a look at some of the lessons learned. Arsenal’s pair of playmakers and the upturn in forward options at both ends of the price brackets give us plenty to contemplate.
Ozil is stealing Santi’s limelight…
Handed another start on the left as Arsene Wenger opted for Alexis Sanchez up front against Leicester, the German’s form continued with a pair of assists in the 2-1 triumph. Since recovering from injury, Ozil has started each of the last three Gameweeks and has produced returns on every occasion for a total of 32 points, courtesy of two goals, three assist and six bonus points. Cazorla – the only other Arsenal heavy-hitter to also start the last three – seems to have tailed off by comparison and after producing a converted penalty and two assists against Villa, has delivered back-to-back blanks as Ozil becomes increasingly influential for the Gunners in the final third.
N’Doye could save the Tigers…
A vital home win over Villa suggested Hull have the appetite for a relegation scrap as Steve Bruce’s side scrambled clear of the bottom three. Fundamental to Tuesday’s triumph was the decision to partner Nikica Jelavic and new boy Dame N’Doye up top as the Tigers tore into their lacklustre visitors in Paul Lambert’s last match in charge. Prior to their midweek result, no Hull forward had played a part in more than one goal in any given Gameweek – on his first start for the club, N’Doye delivered a goal and assist and with QPR, Sunderland and Leicester in the next four, has the chance to fire the Tigers up the table.
’Arry’s exit might keep the R’s afloat…
Few, if any, gave QPR a fighting chance as they made their way to Sunderland. Having lost every away match under Harry Redknapp, the loss of top scorer Charlie Austin suggested they’d offer little resistance at the Stadium of Light but it seems that their former manager’s departure may be a blessing in disguise after Chris Ramsey orchestrated a shock 2-0 win. Ramsey’s task has been made that bit tougher after midweek scorer Leroy Fer was ruled out for ten weeks with a knee injury but his tactical tinkering proved decisive on Wearside. With Fer and the likes of Niko Krancjar and Matty Phillips fielded in their favoured positions and Rio Ferdinand alongside Steven Caulker at the back, Ramsey’s QPR already has a different feel about it.
Sturridge is back in business…
With Raheem Sterling sidelined through injury, the forward was handed his first start since Gameweek 3 as Liverpool edged past Spurs in a five-goal thriller at Anfield. Sturridge may have failed to score but his pair of assists served up an eight-point haul and brought him back onto our radars as Brendan Rodgers’ side continue their relentless climb up the table. As we noted in yesterday’s Technical Area article, Sturridge’s underlying stats since returning from injury are superior to last season’s and suggest that the Fantasy returns should be on the rise if he can start to stick away his opportunities.
as is Aguero…
A two-goal haul at Stoke last night finally brought the City striker’s barren run to an end. Having managed just two assists in four appearances prior to the Britannia visit, Aguero had disappointed since returning from injury but his sparkling display – allied with the return of Yaya Toure – bodes well for Fantasy managers ahead of clashes with Newcastle, Leicester and Burnley in the next four. With Diego Costa now free from suspension and Sturridge also in the mix, the battle of the premium priced strikers is set to intensify.
Chelsea lack bite without Costa…
There’s no question that the Blues suffer in the final third without their star striker. Jose Mourinho’s side may have won four and drawn two of the six league matches without Costa on board but, as we saw against Everton last night, they struggle to put away opponents and have triumphed by more than a single strike in just one of those four victories. Chelsea have notched 1.7 goals per match when Costa has been missing but that average leaps to 2.4 when he’s around – potentially good news for owners of Eden Hazard after the Belgian managed just one goal and assist over Costa’s three-match suspension.
We can’t write Ings off…
Harry Kane aside, there are few forwards quite as consistent as the Burnley forward right now. After finding the net just once in the opening 11 Gameweeks, Ings was slow in making his mark in the top-flight but eight goals and four assists over the subsequent 14 rounds of fixtures underlines the transformation. Impressively, Ings’ midweek strike at Old Trafford means he has produced points in ten of his last 14 league appearances and it’s fair to say if the Clarets are to get any joy out of a brutal next few matches (che, SWA, liv, MCY, sou, TOT, ARS), he needs to continue that form.
Pardew’s spoilt for choice…
The Palace boss has a couple of substitutes to thanks for salvaging a point at home to former club Newcastle. Fraizer Campbell had played just four minutes of Pardew’s first four matches in charge but, after being sent on as a replacement for the injured Yaya Sanogo, fired the equaliser courtesy of a Yannick Bolasie assist. Eased back into action after returning from the African Cup of Nations, Bolasie looks poised to challenge Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha for the wide roles, whilst Campbell’s strike – allied with the decision to bench Dwight Gayle – look set to cause Fantasy managers a real headache.
Ideye may be Pulis’ main man…
With Victor Anichebe calling off due to yet another injury, the Baggies summer signing grabbed his chance as the lone striker in a crucial win over Swansea. Having notched as a sub in the previous Gameweek, Ideye’s goal and assist in the 2-0 victory means he’s now played a part in three of West Brom’s last four strikes. With Sunderland, Villa, Stoke and QPR in four of the next six, the Nigerian – who had scored just a single goal due to limited pitch time under Alan Irvine – is suddenly another name to consider in the budget bracket.
