Our pre-Gameweek members article, which focuses on the main captaincy contenders, arrives once again this afternoon. As always, we take a three-part approach which includes the weekly poll standings, the Opta statistics and our Rate My Team projections to help steer your thoughts on the armband conundrum.
The Captain Poll
Sergio Aguero is the runaway leader of this week’s poll, with over 53% of the votes cast heading the City striker’s way ahead of a home clash with QPR. Since his manager switched to 4-4-1-1, the Argentine has racked up five goals in four matches and will fancy his chances of replicating his 13-point return at Loftus Road back in Gameweek 11 against a side with the worst away defensive record in the top flight.
The red-hot Christian Benteke is next in line. Somewhat surprisingly, the Villa forward has earned only 18% of votes so far after taking his tally to ten goals in eight league appearances with a weekend double against Everton. Benteke has now served up double figures in three of his last four at Villa Park and welcomes a West Ham side with two away clean sheets to their name all season.
Alexis Sanchez is the other main contender. After bagging a brace in Arsenal’s impressive win at Hull, the Chilean has three goals and an assist in his last four league matches and plays host to a Swansea side that’s conceded at least twice in three of their last four road trips. Over 13% have voted for Sanchez, who has already found the net against Garry Monk’s side this season.
With those three taking up the vast majority of votes, there are a number of armband differentials to consider this weekend. Both David Silva and Olivier Giroud have collected just 2% backing ahead of home encounters with QPR and Swansea. Silva has earned just two assists in four since the move to a lone striker system – prior to that switch, he’d scored four times in three home appearances. The points have also dried up for Giroud of late. It’s three league outings without any returns now for the Frenchman, though he has still managed to score in four of his last five home starts – only Chelsea have kept him at bay.
Elsewhere, Eden Hazard has received just 2% of the votes ahead of Chelsea’s home clash against Liverpool, despite scoring in three successive appearances at the Bridge. Aaron Ramsey is rated 50-50 to shrug off a knock in time for Arsenal’s clash with Swansea. Since returning to the starting line-up in Gameweek 29, the Welshman has served up three double-figure hauls in six appearances. Hull’s Dame N’Doye has notched five times in ten starts as struggling Burnley attempt to stave off the imminent threat of relegation at the KC Stadium.
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