After announcing the players under consideration in our Scout Squad article earlier in the week, we now reveal our final selection for Gameweek 21.
The weekend fixture list appears to promote a cast of forward-thinking full-backs, which has allowed us to shift formation and preserve funds for some “essential” heavy-hitters in attacking areas.
We’ve opted for a 4-3-3 formation, then, that begins with a familiar name between the sticks.
Burnley’s Tom Heaton (4.9) is treated to a home clash with an erratic Southampton side, offering us the security of having made more saves than any other keeper (83), should Claude Puel’s men muster a goal on their travels.
The Saints have so far scored a modest nine strikes from ten away trips and, perhaps leg-weary following their midweek EFL Cup tie, will be stretched to breach a Burnley rearguard that remains a stubborn barrier at Turf Moor.
Heaton has allowed just nine goals in his ten home appearances this season, keeping three clean sheets.
Spurs Danny Rose (6.0) is the first of our quartet of defenders.
The left-back takes on West Brom at home hoping to add to his tally of two goals and three assists; encouragingly, Rose ranks first for attempts on goal and fifth for chances created among defenders this season.
Patrick van Aanholt (5.0) also carries a significant attacking threat. The left-back earns a berth ahead of Sunderland’s home encounter with a Stoke City outfit that have shipped 19 goals on the road. He boasts an enviable record at the Stadium of Light, serving up three goals, an assist and two clean sheets.
Cesar Azpilicueta (6.6) can score us points from multiple sources, having accrued two assists and earned bonus on nine occasions this term. Clean sheets are his main draw this weekend, though. The Spaniard helped Chelsea earn 11 so far and he travels to a Leicester City side that has scored just once in their last three matches.
We’ve switched allegiances in terms of Middlesbrough representation when the Teessiders travel to Watford.
With two assists to his name, George Friend (4.4) is called up ahead of Watchlist candidate Calum Chambers due to his greater attacking threat. Friend, for now at least, looks guaranteed to start while Antonio Barragan nurses a hamstring injury.
The jewel in our midfield trio is Arsenal away day specialist Alexis Sanchez (11.9).
The runaway leader of our Captain Poll, the Chilean’s ten away goals offer enough evidence and, with Swansea City conceding 23 goals at the Liberty Stadium – more than any home side – the case for his inclusion looks rock solid.
The debate over Tottenham pair Christian Eriksen (8.6) and Dele Alli raged on all week behind the scenes.
The former has stronger assist potential, while the attacking threat of Alli, who has scored three braces in a row, is undeniable.
We finally settled on the Dane’s home comforts for West Brom’s visit to White Hart Lane: Eriksen has earned three double-figure hauls in his last four home matches.
With West Brom’s defence without Jonny Evans due to a calf injury and Allan Nyom uncertain to feature, another strong return looks a very real possibility.
Another team with a depleted backline is Bournemouth, who visit Hull City without the suspended Simon Francis and Nathan Ake, who has been recalled to his parent club Chelsea.
This propels Hull’s Robert Snodgrass (5.8) to our selection on the back of seven goals this season. The Scot has upped his form in recent matches, serving up a goal and maximum bonus in each of the last two Gameweeks.
Jermain Defoe (7.8) earned top billing from myself, Paul and Mark in our Scout Squad article, so it is no surprise that he was among the first names in our final selection.
The Sunderland striker has scored or assisted in five of his last six at home and, against a travel-sick Stoke backline, his 26.3% ownership will be expecting further returns this weekend.
With money saved through the likes of Defoe, we can afford to invest in the prolific premium priced Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11.6). Admittedly, form, rather than fixture, has prompted the United man’s selection as he prepares to host Liverpool on Sunday.
Expected to recover from illness, Zlatan has produced points in eight of his last nine league outings, with three double-figure hauls in five.
We initially selected Diego Costa in this evening’s article but, with growing speculation suggesting that the forward has failed to travel for Chelsea’s trip to Leicester due to a dispute with the club, we’ve had a slight reshuffle.
Olivier Giroud (8.6) comes off the bench, then, having served up three goals and two assists in the last trio of Gameweeks ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Swansea. The Frenchman was unfortunate to miss out on our starting XI in the first place and, with Theo Walcott’s absence confirmed, he looks set to lead the attack once again to face a most obliging Swans rearguard.
With Dimitri Payet left out of West Ham’s squad, Scott Dann’s (5.2) prospects look considerably stronger as Palace pay visit to the London Stadium.
The Eagles centre-half has already netted twice this term and is joint-top for efforts inside the box among defenders, with 14 close-range attempts over 15 appearances.
Dann claims the first bench spot as our reserve defender.
Junior Stanislas (5.2) is unlucky to only make our bench ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to Hull City.
The Cherries midfielder has claimed two assists since he made his return from injury in Gameweek 18 and faces a Tigers side that has shipped 20 goals at the KCOM Stadium. Stanislas has returned six assists and three goals in his last nine Gameweek starts.
Giroud’s late promotion to the XI frees up space for Burnley’s Andre Gray to warm the bench. With four goals and an assist in his last three at Turf Moor, the Clarets frontman is clearly in the mood to punish Southampton tomorrow.
Community Champion
The community member who beats our picks by the biggest margin over the campaign will win a £100 Amazon Voucher and a place in our Contributors and Moderators League for the following season. The current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33 point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.
The Gameweek 21 champion Hakchak has also opted for a 4-3-3 line up of: Heaton; Walker, Rose, Friend, Chambers; Snodgrass, Stanislas, Sanchez; Ibrahimovic, Aguero, Kane.
