Alexis Sanchez breaks the rules, a five-star Spurs get drowned out and Sergio Aguero prepares to split the Fantasy Football community. We say goodbye to possibly the most extraordinary Gameweek of the season so far.
The Player
The policy is that no single player can claim this spot in consecutive articles but, such is the impact of Alexis Sanchez’ 23-point haul, there could be no denying the Chilean.
Arriving in the same Gameweek as Sergio Aguero’s dramatic capitulation, Sanchez has perhaps signalled a shift that will influence our entire seasons.
More on that in a moment.
For now, let’s revel in the brilliance of Sanchez, who seems to defy the modern theories of football and produce devastating performances when firmly stalking in “the red zone”.
He’s a player who, physically, appears to operate on a different plane.
He boasts an endurance and robust strength that can carry through match after match, bouncing off challenges and recovering from tweaks and niggles that perhaps would derail lesser talents.
On his current trajectory, it’s difficult to see Sanchez stalling.
Olivier Giroud remains a factor, but Arsene Wenger would be taking a risk turning to his “Plan B” option at this point. It might yet arrive over the busy festive schedule but, as of now, Sanchez looks to be a force of nature that can only punish us further should we attempt to resist.
Park the debate surrounding Eden Hazard – he remains a key figure ahead of Chelsea’s ridiculously obliging fixtures.
We need to find a way to accommodate both – a seemingly impossible task last month, now made all the more obtainable by Aguero’s misdemeanours.
The Team
In any other Gameweek, the performances and output of both Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane would have snatched the headlines.
Added to this, Son Heung-min sneaked back into form with a spectacular goal, backed by an assist.
With Mauricio Pochettino also claiming a sixth clean sheet in the demolition of Swansea City, it’s clear that we are dealing with a team that can provide solutions for our squads across all positions.
Harry Kane’s form is undeniable. Firing five goals in four outings since his return from injury, he has provided an all-too-convenient solution in the light of Aguero’s combustion. It’s no surprise to see his ownership and price ascending at pace.
But Eriksen and Son may just go unnoticed as a result.
Up until Gameweek 13, the Dane had been a frustrating figure who had failed to deliver on his impressive underlying numbers. But three goals and an assist in his past two Gameweek appearances have seen him bubble up.
Son could also enjoy a renaissance.
The South Korean has only this week stated that his recent form has been blighted by injury, a factor that may explain his decline in output leading to him slipping back under the radar.
Reduced to just 7.2 ahead of last weekend, Son has since enjoyed an increase in ownership and, while rotation could be a concern, he may yet present a profitable complimentary asset to Kane as our striker.
At the back, both Danny Rose and Kyle Walker remain mainstays.
Both could see rests in Gameweek 16, which could see us switch sights to a fit-again Toby Alderweireld.
Now down to 6.3, the Belgian is a class act, a likely ever-present and a menacing goal threat at set-pieces.
Alderweireld has big scores to come and, should he prove his fitness tonight or at Old Trafford on Sunday, he surely has to be a new target heading into the White Hart Lane meetings with Hull City and Burnley.
The Talking Point
We surely have to rethink our stance on Sergio Aguero.
Just as Diego Costa is a different beast, so it seems we are left to contend with a new version of Aguero – one that still threatens goals but also comes packaged with a streak that can render him sidelined.
While we were perhaps willing to walk a tightrope for a 9.5 Costa, once again, we have to re-assess Aguero in the light of his price tag.
If Sanchez, Kane, Costa and Hazard can deliver over the festive period while the Argentine sits in the stands, it’s difficult to imagine many rushing back to re-install the City striker.
Typically, the fixture list smiles kindly on Pep Guardiola’s men on Aguero’s return from contention.
Clearly, the temptation will be great and, with winter Wildcards in play, we are likely to see a huge split in the Fantasy Premier League community.
Aguero was designed to be a fire and forget option. A one-stop signing and captaincy candidate, only to be replaced when the hamstrings gave way.
We could not have foreseen the events so far this season or the fact that Aguero would influence our campaigns not with his points, but by serving us uncertainty and dilemmas at regular intervals.
