Scout Notes – Gameweek 38

Theo Walcott explodes to fire Arsenal to a final-day blitz of the Baggies. Elsewhere, Diego Costa, Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero all strike as the Argentine claims the Golden Boot. Leicester show no mercy as they smash five past a relegated R’s, while Stoke go one better and knock a disjointed Liverpool for six at the Britannia. Here’s all the notes from the final day of the season…

Walcott hat-trick stuns Baggies

Arsenal snapped their three-match goalless streak at home courtesy of a 4-1 victory over West Brom. With one eye on the FA Cup final next weekend, Arsene Wenger named a trio of changes, drafting in Theo Walcott, Gabriel Paulista and Francis Coquelin for Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny.

On a day that served up few goals from Fantasy favourites, Walcott emerged as a huge differential by way of a first-half hat-trick, earning the highest points tally (20) of any player this Gameweek. Jack Wilshere also strengthened his case for a starting role next season, bagging the Gunners’ third of the afternoon in his second consecutive start. Santi Cazorla rewarded those managers that retained his services beyond Arsenal’s double Gameweek, carding attacking returns for just the second occasion in eight starts with a couple of assists.

Gareth McAuley scored a consolation goal for the visitors, while Chris Brunt – who’s served up attacking returns in five of his previous seven starts – laid on the assist. Despite boasting four shut-outs in the past five Gameweeks, the Baggies rearguard buckled under the weight of Arsenal’s effervescent offence, conceding three or more goals for the fourth time in nine matches.

Ings affords Clarets final hurrah

Danny Ings netted his second goal in three starts as Burnley ended their campaign with a 1-0 win away to Aston Villa. The Clarets maintained their laudable defensive record in the final quarter of the season, securing their third successive clean sheet. No side conceded fewer goals (six) than Sean Dyche’s outfit over the last nine Gameweeks, yet Burnley’s dire offensive record (two goals in nine fixtures) was a major contributor to their downfall. Ings finished eighth amongst forward on 139 points and with 11 strikes to his name, looks primed for a summer move back into the top-flight.

Remy double beckons in Blues celebrations

Chelsea recorded a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, with Jose Mourinho naming six changes from the XI that started against West Brom. Although the visitors took the lead through Steven Fletcher in the 26^th minute, Diego Costa – who was subbed on for Didier Drogba on the 30-minute mark – restored parity with a spot-kick after John O’Shea fouled Juan Cuadrado. Eden Hazard surprisingly sacrificed the penalty, with the Belgian’s owners relying on an assist and a couple of bonus points instead. Loic Remy’s second-half brace helped secure the three points, taking his tally to four goals in his last five appearances.

Costa’s 20^th league goal underlined the stop-start nature of his campaign. The former Atletico Madrid marksman (106.7 minutes per goal) ranks second only to Sergio Aguero (101.6 minutes per goal) with regards to scoring rates, yet recurring hamstring injuries and suspensions have prevented him from being a mainstay in our squads. In Costa’s two seasons at Atletico, the combative frontman chalked up an average of 48 appearances – as compared to his 34 this campaign – so there’s hope he was unlucky this term.

Chamakh inspires Eagles to top-half finish

Marouane Chamakh netted for the first time in 1008 minutes as Crystal Palace registered their first win at Selhurst Park in four encounters. The Moroccan striker’s afternoon ended on a sour note, though, when he picked a hamstring strain midway through the second half, having just earned his second start following a three-month layoff with a similar injury. Scott Dann matched his best points haul of the season (12) by virtue of the Eagles clean sheet, an assist and three bonus points. This was just the second shut-out the Eagles had managed since Alan Pardew took the helm in Gameweek 21.

Kane signs off with belated strike

Harry Kane capped of his astonishing breakthrough season with the only goal in Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Everton. The PFA Young Player of the Year will be delighted to end his season on a high note, having drawn blanks in six of his previous seven starts before the Goodison Park showdown.

The Spurs frontman is now afforded a brief rest, before travelling with England to the European U-21 Championship in Czech Republic next month. Should the Three Lions progress all the way to the final on 30 June, it’s likely Kane’s pre-season schedule would have to be adjusted following a well-earned vacation, with Mauricio Pochettino perhaps keen to court caution with his fitness for the start of the following campaign.

Tigers Drop following stalemate

Although results elsewhere ultimately made Hull’s exploits against Manchester United futile, the Tigers failed to deliver on their end as they were held to a 0-0 draw. Steve Bruce’s men couldn’t capitalise on a one-man advantage after Marouane Fellaini received a red card for a dangerous challenge on Paul McShane just before the hour mark; the Belgian midfielder now sits out the Red Devils first three fixtures of the 2014/15 season.

Angel Di Maria earned a rare start, with Ashley Young moved into the centre to accomodate the Argentine, but was forced off after 23 minutes with an abdominal problem. Meanwhile, United revealed after the match that they won’t, as expected, be renewing Radamel Falcao’s loan deal from Monaco. Yesterday’s goalless draw means that Louis van Gaal’s side failed to score in three of their final four away fixtures, with the need for new recruits up front obvious.

Rampant Foxes thrash Hoops

Leicester City rounded off their topsy-turvy season with a thumping 5-1 victory over relegated Queens Park Rangers. The Foxes recorded their seventh win in nine matches, with goals from Marc Albrighton, Esteban Cambiasso, Jamie Vardy, Leonardo Ulloa and Andrej Kramaric. Vardy (two goals and assists in five) and Ulloa (three goals and one assist in four), in particular, have flourished in recent weeks and should attract significant attention in the next iteration of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL). In defence, Wes Morgan and Jeffrey Schlupp further illustrated their propensity for attacking returns with an assist apiece.

Charlie Austin netted a consolation goal (his first in six starts) as the R’s shipped five away from home for the second time in three fixtures. Given the fact that only three forwards (Aguero, Kane and Costa) tallied more goals than Austin (18) this season, it’s likely the English marksman will remain in the top-flight via a summer transfer away from Loftus Road.

Aguero on target as City cruise past Saints

Sergio Aguero netted his ninth goal in seven starts as Manchester City beat Southampton 2-0 at the Etihad. The Argentine frontman (26 goals) finished five clear of Kane (21 goals) in the race for the Golden Boot – having served up attacking returns in the last seven Gameweeks – and will likely be the first name on every Fantasy manager’s squad list next season. Frank Lampard scored the Sky Blues’ other goal in his final Premier League outing, while James Milner’s assist perpetuated his recent hot streak (two goals and one assist in three starts).

Due to their seventh-place finish, Saints now need Arsenal to win the FA Cup in order to qualify for the Europa League. With strong evidence to suggest that involvement in the tournament negatively impacts league form, the outcome of that tie will doubtless enter our thinking when weighing up Southampton coverage. Certainly, rest and rotation will be a factor next term if the Saints manage to qualify.

Gutierrez steers Magpies to survival

Newcastle United beat the drop by virtue of a 2-0 victory over West Ham United – their first win in 11 matches. Jonas Gutierrez gave rise to an uplifting narrative, cementing the three points with a low strike five minutes from time after Moussa Sissoko headed in the opener from his left-wing cross.

The Toon were aided by another toothless West Ham performance; The Hammers lack of attacking flair (two goals in six matches) was laid bare for all to see, with the London club engineering just four shots (one on target) throughout the 90. The Irons lay claim to just two wins in 16 Gameweeks, so news that Sam Allardyce’s contract will not be renewed could be a blessing for those supporters who’ve witnessed the attacking intent diminish in recent months.

Potters humiliate woeful Reds

Stoke City ensured that Steven Gerrard suffered in his final appearance for Liverpool, recording a 6-1 victory over the hapless Reds outfit. Mame Biram Diouf did the early damage with a five-minute brace, before Jonathan Walters, Charlie Adam and Steven N’Zonzi all netted to make it 5-0 at the break. Peter Crouch added insult to injury for Brendan Rodgers in the dying embers of the match, nodding home in the 86th minute to surpass Alan Shearer’s record league tally of headed goals (46). Marko Arnautovic got in on the action with a couple of assists, while Adam and Diouf also bagged an assist each.

Adam’s end of season form has been staggering. The Scot has fired five goals and an assist in his last eight league outings, suggesting that he may well remain pivotal to Mark Hughes’ side for the new season.

Gerrard pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, but the result was already a foregone conclusion by then. Liverpool’s crushing defeat piles further pressure on the under-fire Rodgers, who revealed he will walk away from the job if the owners request it. Providing he stays at Merseyside, Rodgers clearly has a major rebuilding job on his hands and it remains to be seen if Raheem Sterling will be part of Liverpool’s squad come August – Sterling was left on the bench yesterday, with his manager conceding the recent speculation over his future had placed
“a huge weight” on the youngster’s shoulders.