Andy Carroll dismantles Arsenal’s bullied back four, prompting Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez into a response as Alex Iwobi sparkles again. Elsewhere, Sergio Aguero goes on delivering for City as Romelu Lukaku fluffs his lines on his opening night of double Gameweek 33.
Carroll Bullies Gunners Rearguard
West Ham United recovered from a two-goal deficit at the Boelyn Ground to secure a 3-3 draw that extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches.
Andy Carroll (6.3) was the hero of the piece, bagging a 10-minute hat-trick with headers either side of the half. Afforded a rare start by virtue of Diafra Sakho’s absence due a “minor injury”, the former Newcastle United frontman (four goals in three outings) now represents an intriguing differential pick ahead of the Hammers’ double Gameweek (lei, WAT).
Slaven Bilic deployed his troops in a 3-4-2-1 set-up for the Gunners’ visit, fielding Michail Antonio as the right wing-back and James Tomkins as the third centre-back. The Croatian manager reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation after the break, shifting Antonio into the right-back slot – although he was still able to contribute with an assist with a superb lofted cross for Carroll’s third.
Dimitri Payet emerged from the encounter empty-handed registering his first blank in five league outings, this despite creating four chances for team-mates on the day. Manuel Lanzini also failed to produce but was only denied a goal by a rather dubious offside decision.
At the back, Aaron Cresswell reaffirmed his status as the luxury item defender by claiming his fourth assist of the campaign. Regardless, his valuation (5.7) will likely prove too steep for many Fantasy managers prior to the double, given that West Ham have surrendered nine goals in their previous quartet of league ties.
Iwobi Atones for Shambolic Gabriel
Arsenal’s title bid is all but dead in the water after the North Londoners failed to batten down the hatches following an impressive start to the local derby.
Both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil grabbed a goal apiece, satisfying their respective ownerships before a promising double Gameweek (CRY, WBA). The former now boasts three goals and assists in five starts – rendering him an attractive captaincy candidate for the Gunners’ back-to-back home ties – while Ozil did enough to stave off sales by avoiding his fifth successive blank.
Underlining his worth as a budget enabler, Alex Iwobi (4.5) notched an impressive brace of assists: he’s now delivered two goals and assists in his maiden three starts for Arsenal. Even though Aaron Ramsey’s return to action heightens the youngster’s rotation risk, Iwobi now looks a strong candidate to figure in both the Gunners’ Gameweek 34 outings. Iwobi attracted more new owners than any other FPL asset overnight.
The same cannot be said for Gabriel at the back, who endured a torrid afternoon at the hands of Andy Carroll. Both he and goalkeeper David Ospina – again preferred over Petr Cech on Saturday – would now seem to be prime rotation risks ahead of the Gameweek 34 ties.
Puncheon Earns Eagles Vital Win
Crystal Palace propelled themselves 10 points clear of the relegation berths with their first victory of the year.
Jason Puncheon was the unlikely hero, ending a run of 26 league matches to claim his first goal of a disappointing campaign for the playmaker. Just 2,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers drafted in the winger, with much of the pre-Gameweek transfer traffic concentrated instead on Yannick Bolasie.
While Bolasie drew a blank, the Palace back four did their job, earning a first clean sheet in 13 outings. Investors in the Londoners’ rearguard could be in line for further returns in midweek, considering that Everton managed just one goal in their last three outings. That being said, Palace’s tough fixtures in Gameweek 34 (ars, mun) and blank in Gameweek 35 dampen enthusiasm for Alan Pardew’s squad following Wednesday’s encounter.
Lukaku Fails First Armband Audition
Everton stretched out their winless run to four matches as they shared the spoils with Watford in a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.
Romelu Lukaku – who’d been pinpointed as the prime captaincy pick by 75% of voters in this week’s Captain Poll – failed to deliver the goods in Everton’s opening fixture of the Gameweek. Lukaku will now face a Crystal Palace defence that will be buoyed by a first clean sheet in 13 following their win over Norwich.
While Lukaku disappointed, owners of Ross Barkley and particularly Phil Jagielka have further concerns. The former was replaced on 65 minutes with a “knock to his knee” according to Roberto Martinez but Jagielka’s prognosis looks far more serious after he was forced off on 90 minutes with a hamstring complaint.
Martinez believes the injury will sideline him for the Palace clash in midweek and the defender also looks a major doubt for Everton’s double Gameweek 34 fixtures with Southampton and Liverpool. Over 20,000 FPL managers invested in Jagielka prior to Saturday’s deadline.
Nasri Inspires City Win
Manchester City consolidated their top-four berth with a 2-1 win over West Brom at the Etihad.
Much to the frustration of Kevin de Bruyne’s 120,000 new backers heading into the Gameweek, Manuel Pellegrini elected to rest the Belgian following his back-to-back starts on his return from injury.
De Bruyne could now be a risk for two starts over City’s Gameweek 34 double at Chelsea and Newcastle, although Gameweek 35 looks more of a concern.
Given that the City boss went into Saturday’s encounter without the injured David Silva and Raheem Sterling, it’s clear that the Gameweek 35 home encounter with Stoke will be another hotspot for De Bruyne’s owners. Should City progress past Paris St Germain in midweek, they would face a Champions League semi-final to follow that Stoke clash, heightening the likelihood of heavy rotation for that league fixture.
Sergio Aguero was in the City starting lineup on Saturday and duly converted from the penalty spot to record his fourth goal in five starts. Although the Argentine striker left the field in the dying embers with a knock, Pellegrini confirmed in his post-match presser that Aguero will be available for the midweek PSG match-up.
In just his second start of an injury-riddled season, Samir Nasri netted the winning goal, boosting his chances of clocking further minutes during the double and heightening Pellegrini’s rotation options. The former Arsenal man took advantage of Silva’s absence, but with the Spaniard set to return against PSG, Pellegrini now faces a selection headache given Nasri’s impressive return to the fold.
As expected, we saw rotation in the full-back areas with both Pablo Zabaleta and Aleks Kolorav handed starts. The latter was a constant threat down the left for City and earned Aguero’s first-half penalty. It remains to be seen if that showing dents Gael Clichy’s minutes over the Gameweek 34 double. Certainly we can anticipate that Kolarov will be involved in that Gameweek 35 meeting with Stoke.
Pelle & Long Fill Their Boots
Southampton dispatched of Newcastle United with consummate ease as they ran out 3-1 victors at St Mary’s Stadium.
Graziano Pelle maintained his late season form with a goal and assist against the Magpies, ensuring that he’s contributed (four goals, three assists) to seven of Saints’ last eight goals. Elsewhere in the Saints’ camp, Shane Long replicated Pelle’s output with a goal and assist of his own, while Victor Wanyama (goal) and Jose Fonte (assist) also emerged from the comfortable win with returns.
Despite recording a third win in their last three, Southampton’s testing schedule (eve, avl, MCI, tot) and lack of a double Gameweek continues to dampen any prospects of investment.
Magpies Suffer First Half Mauling
Newcastle remain six points adrift of potential safety following a pitiable first half performance against Ronald Koeman’s troops.
Worryingly for his 15,000 new owners, Aleksandar Mitrovic offered minimal attacking threat on his return to the starting XI, failing to fashion a single goal attempt throughout the 90 minutes. Instead, Andros Townsend (5.8 in the FPL) served up a consolation for goal (his second in five outings) for the visitors, with Vurnon Anita earning the assist.
Optimistic investors in Newcastle’s double Gameweek backline will have been alarmed at the ease at which Southampton tore the Magpies apart. The continually shuffled back four have now gone seven league outings without claiming a shut-out, allowing17 goals in the process.
Rafa Benitez’ side face two home matches in Gameweek 34, with the first against Swansea City next weekend looking vital before they take on Man City just three days later.
Sigurdsson’s Goals Keep Flowing
Swansea City recorded their third successive 1-0 win on home turf to consign Chelsea to their first defeat in 16 matches
Gylfi Sigurdsson reminded us of the dangers of ejecting form players in the pursuit of greater double Gameweek coverage by netting his ninth goal of the year – only Harry Kane (11) and Sergio Aguero (10) possess stronger scoring records.
At the back, the Welsh outfit enjoyed their third clean sheet in five outings, instilling confidence in their capacity to repel Newcastle’s attack next time out.
Courtois Sits Out Swans Defeat
Chelsea chalked up just eight attempts and two shots on target as they produced an impotent display at the Liberty Stadium.
Guus Hiddink stayed true to his word with regards to experimentation, fielding American youngster Matt Miazga at centre-back for a second successive league outing.
The decision to recall Asmir Begovic in goal, dropping Thibaut Courtois to the bench, was far more surprising. Hiddink suggested that the move was only a temporary measure, although he also hinted that Begovic could see further minutes over the remaining fixtures.
Hiddink’s willingness to shuffle his resources during this period clearly increases the rotation risk of Chelsea’s regular starters prior to their double Gameweek 37 (sun, liv).
