There’s now little debate required – we need to get Eden Hazard in our squads.
Watching him bewitch the Everton defence, weaving patterns with Diego Costa and a revitalised Pedro was evidence enough. Dive into the numbers, and it’s confirmed.
Seven goals in his last eight matches for club and country. Underneath, Hazard’s vital statistics – particularly his goal threat – are outperforming even his Player of the Year season.
Throw in the fact that he’s the only top bracket midfielder that boasts penalties, plus Chelsea’s irresistible form and an array of Christmas fixtures that scream goals and points and the evidence is overwhelming.
I’m struggling to see any argument against Hazard.
The real debate surrounds how we slice our squads up to make way.
Just days ago I raised the possibility of shedding Alexis Sanchez – the leading FPL points scorer before today – and now, in my squad at least, it rears it’s head once again.
I can retain Sanchez if I lose Walcott but, in doing so, I’m putting faith in Ilkay Gundogan and, also, restricting myself to forever scrimping across my back five.
Walcott is an unreliable Fantasy asset, playing as part of an Arsenal squad rich in attacking options.
Inevitably, he will find himself rotated. By choosing him over Sanchez, I will forever be clenched as the teamsheet is announced, or as the clock hits 70 minutes.
But there is a 3.6 gap between Walcott and Sanchez. Meanwhile, the underlying stats show that, in terms of average goal threat, the former is even outperforming the Chilean.
I look ahead to the fixtures and wonder if I can continue to get by with a restricted budget. If Gundogan can deliver on his promise and if Jose Holebas and Gareth McAuley are enough.
Sacrificing Sanchez will dissolve such concerns. If he frustrates, I will have the funds to replace Walcott, perhaps with a second Liverpool midfielder, while still having the means to upgrade the defence to seize upon Chelsea’s obvious and unparalleled resilience.
Sanchez could very easily end the season as the top scoring FPL asset – although Hazard will likely have a say in that.
But retaining Sanchez restricts the flexibility to react to form and fixtures and, if I keep him now, he’s locked in – unlikely to leave my squad unless stricken by injury.
While he’ll doubtless gain me handsome returns in the meantime, will those points outweigh what can be won with Walcott and the extra 3.6?
It’s an agonising scenario – particularly with Arsenal yet to take the field.
Urged along by a volatile market, like a lot of folk this evening, I’m driven to make changes in the next few hours.
But I know that tomorrow’s evidence will likely provide answers – Walcott’s absence, an ineffectual 60-minute appearance or a steller display would make the decision far easier.
I’m likely to watch prices rise and fall tonight, waiting for more evidence before making what seems a crunch decision.
But one choice is already made – Hazard will be in my lineup for Gameweek 12.
