As we continue to edge closer to the Gameweek 16 deadline, we’re rolling out our latest trio of differentials, after two of our selections from last weekend – Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Divock Origi – immediately repaid the faith.
This time around we’re turning to a trio of midfielders, who have all shown glimpses of form over the past few weeks, to deliver the goods.
Sofiane Boufal
A first Premier League goal in Southampton’s 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Sunday drives us to back Sofiane Boufal to help fill the void for Saints in the absence of the injured Charlie Austin.
The Moroccan arrived on the south coast with a big reputation, having scored 11 goals and registered four assists in 29 league appearances for Ligue 1 outfit Lille last season.
His progress has been slow, having undergone knee surgery in the summer, but with Austin now ruled out for three or four months with a shoulder injury, he now looks to have a great chance to cement a spot in Claude Puel’s starting XI.
Boufal, who is available at 6.8 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), has managed a reasonable five total goal attempts over the last two Gameweeks, with three of those coming inside the box.
He’s also ranked joint-third among midfielders for chances created over that period with six, and looks to slowly be returning to some of his best form.
Saints travel to the bet365 Stadium tomorrow night, while their schedule looks pretty kind all the way up to Gameweek 25.
Boufal, who is able to play in either wide position in Puel’s favoured 4-3-3, is currently sitting in just 0.1% of FPL squads, so his appeal as a differential for those looking to make up lost ground is obvious.
While it’s been Austin and Nathan Redmond that have been the popular picks from the Southampton attack so far, the value offered by Boufal and his pedigree from time spent in France suggest it could only be a matter of time before he emerges as a popular mid-price option.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Having started Arsenal’s last three league matches, seeing him register a goal and two assists, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is starting to emerge as a viable Fantasy asset.
The England international does remain a rotation risk, though, given the vast array of options available to Arsene Wenger in the wide positions, along with the hectic schedule over the coming period.
But Oxlade-Chamberlain appears to have worked himself in front of Alex Iwobi in the pecking order and has posted some impressive underlying statistics over the last three Gameweeks since claiming a starting berth.
The winger is ranked joint-fourth among midfielders over that period for shots inside the box with six, while he’s joint-third for penalty box touches with 21.
He’s also created six chances over the same spell; team-mate Theo Walcott has failed to create a single chance over the same period.
Arsenal travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton tonight, with the Toffees having looked all at sea defensively against Watford on Saturday, while they’ve conceded in each of their last two home matches.
Wenger’s side also face a hugely favourable run of fixtures between Gameweek 18 and 23, so Oxlade-Chamberlain, who sets us back just 5.8 in FPL, could offer huge upside as a potential fourth midfielder.
He’s currently owned by just 1.9% of FPL bosses, and if your 15-man squad boasts an active bench to absorb rest and rotation, he could present a canny acquisition.
Nolito
After making a significant impact off the bench in Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to Leicester City, we’re taking a gamble on Nolito ahead of Man City’s plum home fixture against Watford.
The Spanish attacker led all City players for shots inside the box at the weekend, despite only playing 27 minutes as a substitute, and registering a late consolation for Pep Guardiola’s men.
That was Nolito’s fourth goal of the season and with the midfielder perhaps unlikely to start in Sunday’s crucial home encounter against Arsenal, we fancy he could get the nod tonight. That would hand him the opportunity to add to his tally against a Watford side that have conceded nine goals in their previous two away matches.
The Hornets have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five, so with City having scored a reasonable seven goals in their last four matches, the omens for a return to form for the Citizens appear bright.
Nolito is currently priced at 8.6 in FPL, and given the level of rotation we’ve seen from Guardiola so far, it’s no surprise to see the Spaniard settled in just 1.3% of FPL squads.
Investment does carry a risk, then, but with Watford so porous on their travels, and with City in need of a big performance, it could be worth turning to Nolito as a short-term gamble.
