Harry Kane fails to puncture Aston Villa’s resistance as Christian Benteke’s form overshadows this season’s Fantasy darling. Elsewhere, Yannick Bolasie and Glenn Murray indulge themselves at the Stadium of Light and Aaron Ramsey continues his resurgence as the Gunners march on. Here’s the notes from Saturday’s events…
Captain Kane Falls Flat Once Again
Sporting the armband for thousands of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers, Harry Kane blanked for the fourth time in his last six outings as Villa humbled Spurs in their own backyard.
Spurs’ inability to carve out chances has been obvious in three of their last four matches (discounting the seven-goal thriller against Leicester City). Across those three Gameweeks (29,31,32), only Stoke City (0) have chalked up fewer “Big Chances” than the Lilywhites (one), with the North London club’s aspirations of Champions League football dissolving as a consequence.
Kane’s output has stuttered, weakening his case as an assured FPL captain option, while Christian Eriksen’s form has been even more alarming: the Dane has just two assists to his name in his last nine starts. Still present in 25% of FPL squads, the tempting trip to a beleaguered Newcastle in Gameweek 33 is likely to be enough to grant Eriksen a further stay of execution and find Kane considered for the captaincy once again.
Benteke Goes On Delivering
Christian Benteke’s decisive header at the Lane gave the Belgian an eighth goal in his last six matches, rendering him the league’s form striker by some margin (Olivier Giroud ranks second with six in as many starts).
Considering his modest ownership (3.1%), Benteke is sure to attract an upsurge of investment in the wake of his revival under new manager Tim Sherwood – although not before Villa emerge from their blank Gameweek 33.
A trip to the Etihad Stadium awaits Benteke and Villa in Gameweek 34, followed by a decent quartet of fixtures (EVE, WHU, sou, BUR) to close out the season. City have only conceded 12 goals at the Etihad this campaign, yet Benteke’s form looks difficult to question having scored at the Lane and Old Trafford in his last three starts.
Bolasie Tears Into Sorry Black Cats
Crystal Palace dismantled Sunderland during a furious 14-minute spell which saw Yannick Bolasie and Glenn Murray fill their boots.
Murray’s sixth goal in seven starts and brace of assists vindicated our decision to name him as one of our Differential punts this Gameweek. Murray has now scored in his last six league matches, totaling six goals and four assists – a superb return for a 5.1 striker.
Bolasie was the star performer on show on Saturday, however. His pace and power embarrassed a pedestrian Sunderland back line as he helped himself to a second-half hat-trick – the first scored by a Palace player in the Premier League.
It appears that Palace’s attacking midfield trio of Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha have almost taken it in turns to tempt FPL attention. Puncheon’s superbly taken free-kick in the win over City last time out thrust him into the limelight following a superb 14-point haul at West Ham in Gameweek 27.
However, Bolasie’s Stadium of Light display has now lifted him in the Palace pecking order. His three goals go in tandem with four assists in his last four starts to promote him to the top of the FPL midfield form rankings. In contrast, Puncheon’s free-kick against City provides his only attacking returns in his last five outings.
With the West Brom and Hull defences due next at Selhurst Park, both Bolasie and Murray look leading attractions for those looking beyond double Gameweek 34 assets. That pair earned more transfers in overnight than any other FPL targets.
Van Aanholt Provides a Positive
While Sunderland’s defensive display was shambolic, Patrick van Aanholt did at least emerge from the 4-1 defeat with an assist and some credit.
This was the Dutchman’s fifth assist of the season – a decent return for a full-back that has amassed just 20 starts. Notably, Van Anholt also struck the woodwork as he consistently raided down the left-flank to lend his weight to the attack.
Despite this, Van Aanholt’s potential looks limited for the remainder of the season. Sunderland will sit out Gameweek 33 and follow that with a daunting run-in, with four away trips (sto eve ars che) in their final six.
Blunt Hammers Suffer Further Setbacks
Aaron Creswell stunning free-kick was the highlight of another underwhelming West Ham display as Stoke deservedly struck back to earn a point late on via a composed finish from Marko Arnautovic.
West Ham have won just one of their last ten league outings as their prime Fantasy assets – Diafra Sakho and Stewart Downing – have faded into obscurity. The Hammers have kept just two clean sheets in that run.
Sam Allardyce looked to solve the search for goals by restoring two up front as Enner Valencia returned to fitness. This saw a shift to the midfield diamond with Downing at the tip, although injuries Valencia and fellow striker Sakho forced further changes.
Valencia (foot) and Sakho (thigh) are now major concerns for the Hammers with Allardyce is hopeful that the former will return for next weekend’s visit to Man City but conceding that Sakho is likely to be out of contention.
With that City visit up next and three away trips in four, it’s hardly surprising to see Downing continue to shed FPL owners. The 6.3 midfielder has just a single assist in his last ten league starts.
Baggies Rearguard Routed Again
West Brom conceded another three goals in front of the Hawthorns faithful as their reputation as a robust defensive unit continues to evaporate.
Tony Pulis imparted a newfound resilience into their defence upon his arrival at the club (they conceded just four goals in his first six matches in charge) yet that form has unraveled of late, with the Baggies shipping 10 goals since Gameweek 29.
The budget potential of Boaz Myhill (4.1) and his defence has diminished and, given their remaining fixtures, it seems unlikely to make a recovery.
West Brom face free-scoring Crystal Palace next, with Liverpool and Man United also looming in their next three. With encounters against Chelsea and Arsenal in the final two outings, the away trip to Newcastle in Gameweek 36 now looks vital.
Last Gasp Vardy Keeps Foxes In the Hunt
Leicester City sealed their second dramatic victory in as many weeks courtesy of Jamie Vardy’s stoppage-time winner. Both he and David Nugent bagged their second goal in three outings – as the Foxes continue their last-ditch attempt to claw their way free of the relegation trapdoor.
Significantly, the turnaround was based on a shift in formation in the second period as Marcin Wasilewski replaced Ritchie de Laet with Nigel Pearson moving to a 3-4-3. This saw Jeffrey Schlupp pushed further forward as wing-back.
Aside from a home tie against Chelsea in Gameweek 34, Leicester are blessed with a favourable run-in that has them face off against mid-table sides and relegation rivals.
Furthermore, with a double Gameweek 34 on the cards and four of their next five fixtures taking place at the King Power Stadium, the likes of Nugent and Vardy have emerged as unlikely differentials in attack. Esteban Cambiassio is also earning attention as a 4.7 midfield option. The Argentine has four goals to his name and earned his first assist of the season with his pass for Vardy’s dramatic winner.
We can surely count Riyad Mahrez out of the equation, however. Having provided a bright spark earlier in the season, the Algerian is now struggling to maintain a starting role and was dropped to the bench for the second time in three Gameweeks – Marc Albrighton earned the start on the right flank this time around.
Ramsey On The Ascent
Aaron Ramsey’s winner at Turf Moor helped the Gunners to their eighth consecutive win and provided further evidence that the Welshman is edging back to his best.
Currently being deployed wide on the right, Ramsey now has two goals and three assists to his name in Arsenal’s last three outings, presenting himself as a prime source of Arsenal coverage beyond their blank Gameweek 33.
Alexis Sanchez owners will likely be considering switching out for the missing fixture, with the option of falling back on the flourishing form of Ramsey. The latter is priced at just 8.6, compared to Sanchez’ 11.3 FPL price tag.
Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud failed to score for the first time in seven starts, fashioning just one attempt on goal throughout the 90 minutes. Nonetheless, those who plan to shed the Frenchman over the blank will likely be reserving a strategy for his potential return ahead of Arsenal’s obliging run-in (hul SWA mun/SUN WBA), which includes a Double Gameweek 37.
Arsene Wenger’s defence earned their eleventh clean sheet of the season against the Clarets, with Hector Bellerin again retaining the right-back role. It remains to be seen if he can maintain his starts under threat from the fit-again Mathieu Debuchy. Given the rotation options, David Ospina in goal may yet present the most secure option in the Gunners back five over the season climax.
Pelle banishes goal drought
Graziano Pelle ended a personal 14-match scoreless streak as Southampton recorded a 2-0 win over a floundering Hull outfit. James Ward-Prowse had opened the scoring with a penalty, assuming spot-kick duties ahead of Sadio Mane, with Dusan Tadic on the bench.
Mane’s blank and withdrawal on the hour-mark cast further doubts over his potential as a fourth midfield option. The 6.6 Senegal attacker now has just a single goal and assist in his last eight appearances.
Having earned a fifteenth shutout of the season, Ronald Koeman’s decision to rest Nathaniel Clyne came as a bitter blow to his army of owners. We can presume that the right-back will make an immediate return to the starting XI at Stoke, with Ryan Bertand’s owners now pondering whether their man will also granted a similar absence – Clyne had played 2748 minutes over 29 starts before Saturday’s encounter, Bertrand has played 2650 with 28 starts.
Victor Wanyama’s remaining owners will certainly have to make plans: he will miss both the trip to Stoke and the home clash with Spurs after receiving his tenth booking of the season against the Tigers.
Southampton now end the season with four away trips in six, with Spurs and Villa the two sides to visit St Mary’s. Koeman’s side have kept just four clean sheets in 15 away trips this season and have averaged a goal-a-game in those matches.
Wounded Swans Make A Point
Swansea rescued a point against Everton courtesy of a Jonjo Shelvey spot-kick but the day was most notable for the injury to Bafetimbi Gomis and the impending loss of left-back Neil Taylor to suspension.
Gomis was forced off after just 17 minutes with a hamstring injury, with Garry Monk confirming post-match that the towering Frenchman will undergo scans early next week.
The injury and potential absence comes as a cruel twist for the 20,000 FPL managers who drafted in the former Lyon striker heading into the Gameweek in the wake of his brace against Hull City.
While the Swan’s will struggle to replace Gomis in attack, Monk will also have to contend with the absence of left-back Neil Taylor. He picked up his tenth booking of the season, ruling him out of the upcoming trips to Leicester and Newcastle.
With Kyle Naughton already missing the remainder of the season with the ankle injury sustained at Hull, Monk will now be forced to field a makeshift back four for those next two outings. Dwight Tiendalli is away on loan at Middlesborough, with Monk perhaps forced to turn to Jordi Amat to fill the full-back void.
