Spot the Differential – Gameweek 10

Midfield has been the key area of the pitch in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) this season and we’ve turned to a trio of options in the centre of the park for this weekend’s differentials.

Mesut Ozil, Christian Eriksen and Juan Mata have all been popular picks in recent years and all three will be hoping to take advantage of kind fixtures to stake a claim for consideration.

Mesut Ozil

With Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla both doubts for today’s early kick-off between Sunderland and Arsenal, the onus may be on Mesut Ozil to inspire the Gunners to victory at the Stadium of Light.

The German international has been in splendid form of late, scoring five goals and registering one assist in his last six matches in all competitions.

Facing off against a Sunderland side that has yet to keep a clean sheet this season, and that ranks third for the most shots conceded inside the box over the last four Gameweeks with 47, Ozil looks primed to produce further attacking points.

The Gunners schemer is currently available at 9.6 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), and sits in just 8.8% of FPL squads.

His underlying statistics are reasonably promising over the last four Gameweeks, with 10 chances created and eight total goal attempts, with five of those coming from inside the box.

He’s also registered 24 penalty box touches over the same period, just two fewer than the more expensive Alexis Sanchez, and with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recently praising Ozil’s desire to add goals to his game, the former Real Madrid man presents a strong case for those seeking a difference maker.

Christian Eriksen

While his Tottenham Hotspur team-mates Son Heung-min and Dele Alli have hogged the limelight from a Fantasy perspective so far this season, Christian Eriksen is a player who could warrant a gamble.

The Dane may have only managed three assists in terms of attacking returns so far this season, but the 8.2-priced playmaker, along with Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho, lead all midfielders for total goal attempts over the last four Gameweeks with 18.

Six of those have hit the target, while the Spurs man also offers solid assist potential, having created eight chances, more than any other Tottenham midfielder, over the last four Gameweeks.

Eriksen is currently owned by just 5.4% of FPL bosses, and looks an intriguing option this afternoon, up against a Leicester City side that has conceded more goals (13) than any other side on the road this season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men also face further promising home matches against West Ham and Swansea City in the next five, so while Eriksen is perhaps not a name on everyone’s lips right now, he is certainly a viable option for those who’ve endured a tough start to the season and need to make up lost ground.

Juan Mata

Scorer of the only goal in Manchester United’s 1-0 win over Man City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, Juan Mata could be set to profit once again in this afternoon’s plum home fixture against Burnley.

The Clarets have conceded the second highest number of shots from inside the box over the last four Gameweeks, with 51, while they’ve let in exactly three goals in each of their trio of away matches.

Bearing in mind there are also fitness doubts surrounding Anthony Martial (foot), Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney (both thigh), it seems more than likely that Jose Mourinho will find a place for the Spaniard against the travel-sick Clarets.

Given he’s been in and out of the starting XI, it’s little surprise Mata is currently owned by just 2.3% of FPL bosses. But priced at 7.4, he does offer strong value when he gets a run in the side, and is actually the highest scoring United midfielder in FPL this season with 31 points.

Mata has a reasonable goalscoring record since his move to Old Trafford, notching 32 strikes in 120 matches in all competitions, and with further favourable fixtures against Swansea City and West Ham United to come in the next four, he could be warrant consideration in the short-term.