Per Mertesacker limps out of Arsenal’s win over Norwich with a hamstring problem. Marko Arnautovic is forced off during Stoke’s draw with Sunderland, whilst Roberto Martinez concedes that Gerard Deulofeu is likely to miss the rest of the season for Everton.
Arsenal
Per Mertesacker was forced off after just 50 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Norwich with a suspected hamstring injury.
The Gunners have now served up three successive clean sheets since the German usurped Gabriel at centre-half in the second match of double Gameweek 34. Bearing in mind that Arsenal now travel to City next weekend and are without a double, those holding the likes of Hector Bellerin are likely to bench the Spaniard on Sunday. Should Mertesacker be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, Gabriel owners may well opt to hold the Brazilian ahead of a plum home clash against Villa in Gameweek 38 and the 4.3 option may well prove a popular final day acquisition.
Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew revealed that Scott Dann played the full 90 minutes of the Eagles’ 1-0 loss at Newcastle despite suffering from illness:
“Scotty Dann was not well today and at half time he was sick and wasn’t feeling very well at all and don’t know how he came through the game so fair play to him.”
Everton
The Toffees are likely to be without Gerard Deulofeu for the final three league fixtures, according to Roberto Martinez:
“Gerard Deulofeu is out for the season. On Friday he got a knock on his knee. He doesn’t need an operation, it’s a medial ligament grade one tear. He could maybe have a chance for Norwich but I doubt it.”
Having started just one of the three matches prior to the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, the Spaniard has become a peripheral figure in recent weeks. With a double Gameweek 37 now up next for Martinez’ men, Tom Cleverley could be the main beneficiary in the Toffees’ midfield ahead of trips to Leicester and Sunderland and a home encounter against Norwich on the final day of the season. Handed a first start since Gameweek 33, the 5.1-priced midfielder bagged a goal and assist against the Cherries to leap onto our radars at a time when Romelu Lukaku was benched for the first time this term by Martinez.
Meanwhile, Brendan Galloway stepped up his recovery from injury earlier today with a run out for the Toffees’ reserves against Chelsea. At 3.9, he may could into consideration if he proves his fitness in time for the double.
Liverpool
After leaving a number of regulars back in Merseyside for the trip to Swansea, Jurgen Klopp was only able to name six subs in the 3-1 loss after Connor Randall was ruled out due to illness.
Elsewhere, Klopp has also conceded that Jon Flanagan still needs to work on his “physical resistance” after months on the sidelines through injury.
Newcastle United
Rafa Benitez revealed he took a chance on the fitness of makeshift right-back Vurnon Anita for the 1-0 win over Palace. The former Ajax man deputised for the stricken Daryl Janmaat once again before being replaced with three minutes left on the clock:
“It was very important because Anita was a little bit tired with stiff legs but we needed to take the risk and he did really well for the team. These are the things maybe people don’t notice but it was a massive effort and one we really appreciate.”
Norwich City
The Canaries’ casualties in defence continue to cause Alex Neil concern after Ryan Bennett missed Saturday evening’s defeat at the Emirates due to illness:
“We were hoping he was going to be involved. He did a bit of training on Friday, the first he’d done in a week, but he took a bad reaction when we were trying to get him ready, and he wasn’t ready.”
Having started seven of the previous eight league outings, the 3.9-priced Bennett looked to have nailed down a regular role ahead of Norwich’s pair of double Gameweek home matches against United and Watford. With fellow centre-half Timm Klose ruled out for the season, though, Neil may well be heading into Saturday’s visit from the Red Devils without his two first-choice central defenders. That would likely see Russell Martin continue alongside Seb Bassong, with Ivo Pinto deployed at right-back once again.
Southampton
Graziano Pelle was dropped from Southampton’s squad due to his lacklustre efforts in training over the last week rather than through injury. After seeing his side conquer City at St Mary’s, Ronald Koeman went on to say:
“First we have really competition with the strikers and I wasn’t happy about the intensity of Graziano this week in the training sessions. Then I like to be straight to everybody and other players deserve more to be part of the 18 players of today. I will see what happens next week.”
Despite serving up four goals and three assists in his last five outings, Pelle’s demotion has allowed Shane Long to spearhead a resurgent attack that has scored four times in each of the subsequent two fixtures. With Long and Sadio Mane both playing a part in four of those strikes and Dusan Tadic scoring or assisting five, Koeman’s decision has been more than vindicated and is likely to see the Italian back on the bench at best for Sunday’s trip to White Hart Lane.
Stoke City
Marko Arnautovic is an early concern for Stoke’s trip to Palace next week after being forced off with a leg problem against Sunderland on Saturday. Mark Hughes is optimistic that the Austrian – who notched the opener in a 1-1 draw with Big Sam’s side – will be ready for Selhurst Park:
“I thought he was excellent today and he took his goal well, but couldn’t continue. He’s got a problem with his thigh and when he starts to tire it starts to restrict him. But we hope he will be ok for next week.”
After recovering from the knock that saw him withdrawn in the previous Gameweek, Arnautovic went on to bag his eleventh strike of the season against the Black Cats as he moved up to sixth in the FPL midfield standings. With concerns over his availability, though, the Austrian’s owners are likely to be weighing up their options ahead of double Gameweek 37 at a time where eight other teams are set to feature twice.
West Ham United
According to reports amongst several West Ham fan websites, Manuel Lanzini was withdrawn with three minutes left of the win over West Brom due to a knee knock, although he appears to remain on target to feature against Swansea in the first of the Hammers two Gameweek 37 fixtures. A source is quoted as saying:
“We were all holding our breath and Manu was iced up in the dressing room afterwards but he is absolutely fine and will be ok for the next match. He took a knock on his knee but all is well. It’s very good news because he was showing some of his best form at times during the game against Albion.”
The recent renaissance of both Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate has seen Lanzini and Michail Antonio tumble down the pecking order in many Fantasy managers’ plans ahead of double Gameweek 37. Back-to-back braces against Watford and the Baggies has persuaded over 26,000 FPL managers to acquire Noble – more than any other Hammers player – whilst Kouyate’s goal and two assists over the last couple of outings offers another option in the centre of the park. Despite the fact that Lanzini and Antonio have failed to produce a single shot on target between them in the previous four, then, there’s still plenty of alternatives on offer as Slaven Bilic’s side prepare for their final two matches at Upton Park before moving ground in the summer, as Swansea and United pay visit over the upcoming round of fixtures.
