Man City inspire, Arsenal perspire and the Ilkay Gundogan (5.6) bandwagon goes into overdrive on a night of high entertainment in the Champions League.
Manchester City 3 Barcelona 1
If attack is the best form of defence, then this was one of the finest rearguard actions of the season.
A high tempo, relentlessly open encounter went the way of City thanks to their relentless industry and threat from midfield, with a brace from Gundogan and superb Kevin De Bruyne (10.7) free-kick earning the home side a deserved three points.
Gundogan’s fourth goal in as many days has added 0.1 to his price and close to 200,000 new Fantasy Premier League new owners.
The German could earn starts against Middlesbrough at home and then Crystal Palace and Burnley away either side of the international break. That should see his 6.1% ownership rise further, providing he makes the first XI against ‘Boro.
De Bruyne has played just 68 minutes of the last two domestic matches following injury but was back to his dynamic best against Barca, while Raheem Sterling (8.3) provided an assist in a lively display.
David Silva (8.7) and Sergio Aguero (13.1), who was brought back into the Euro fold after a benching in Barcelona, also recorded assists.
City coach Pep Guardiola made three changes from the side that swept past West Brom at the weekend, with Willy Caballero (4.9) replacing the suspended Claudio Bravo (5.5) in goal, Pablo Zabaleta (4.7) returning at right back after injury and De Bruyne in for Nolito (8.7).
Zabaleta added experience to a defence in which Aleksandar Kolarov (5.8) was outstanding, while Fernandinho’s (5.4) discipline freed up Gundogan to drift forward to devastating effect. The Brazilian later limped off with a knock and is now a doubt for the Middlesbrough match on Saturday.
Saturday’s team-sheet is now the main concern for Fantasy managers.
Given that there is a break to follow, Guardiola is likely to prioritise fielding a full-strength side, although he does have a wealth of options to mix things up – one or two changes do look likely.
Nolito, Jesus Navas and Leroy Sane are all options in the attacking positions that will threaten the likes of Sterling and Gundogan.
Sterling was preserved with 20 minutes remaining, indicating that he would seem in line to start once again. Despite his form, Gundogan’s starting role is less assured, with Nolito perhaps introduced on the flank, shifting De Bruyne back to a central role.
Man City XI: Caballero, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Kolarov, Fernandinho (Fernando 60), Sterling (Navas 71), De Bruyne (Nolito 89), Gundogan, Silva, Aguero.
Subs not used: Gunn, Kompany, Clichy, Iheanacho.
Ludogorets Razgrad 2 Arsenal 3
Arsenal booked their place in the last 16, but had to go the long way round to do it.
Goals from Granit Xhaka (5.2), Olivier Giroud (8.8) – his third in two matches – and Mesut Ozil’s (9.6) fine individual effort wiped out a two-goal deficit to give the Gunners a fighting chance of actually winning their Champions League group for a change.
Ozil, Aaron Ramsey (7.6) and Mohamed Elneny (4.6) provided the assists.
Boss Arsene Wenger was again without the injured trio of Theo Walcott (8.0), Santi Cazorla (7.2) and Nacho Monreal (6.0) and chose not to risk Hector Bellerin (6.6), who picked up a knock in the weekend win at Sunderland.
Xhaka, Giroud, Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson (5.0) came in, with David Ospina (4.8) retaining his Euro place in goal.
The form of the returning Giroud is of particular concern to the 25.3% who own Alexis Sanchez (11.4).
The Chilean went back to the left flank to accommodate the striker, and with Spurs at home and then Man United away up next for the Gunners, the attacking threat of the six-goal Sanchez suddenly looks compromised.
Ramsey’s first start since Gameweek 1 also thickens the plot, with competition in midfield a boost for Wenger but an added complication for FPL managers with Walcott and Cazorla in their squads.
Wenger stated post-match against Sunderland that Giroud’s future as a starter could be limited to a 4-4-2 set-up, alongside Sanchez. Last night’s tactical shift immediately compromised that statement and illustrated the options available to the Gunners boss.
Nonetheless, we should expect Sanchez to lead the attack again on Sunday, with Walcott likely to return having been pictured back in training just 48 hours ago.
Ramsey is now clearly a factor, although he much prefers a central role and cannot match the in-form Walcott’s thrust and goal threat. Wenger has talked up Walcott in tandem with Sanchez the striker as a “good working unit” and, for now, that surely remains his first choice option.
There’s little doubt that the pair will have to maintain their output to hold those current roles, however. Perhaps no bad thing for owners of Sanchez and Walcott.
Arsenal XI: Ospina, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Xhaka (Elneny 87), Ramsey (Oxlade-Chamberlain 75), Özil, Sánchez (Iwobi 90), Giroud.
Subs not used: Cech, Gabriel, Holding, Maitland-Niles.
