The Stock Check – Gameweek 32 – Monday

Crystal Palace claim an improbable fifth victory in six Gameweeks as they add a forlorn Arsenal to their recent Chelsea scalp. Their wide men inflict the damage, as Wilfried Zaha underlines his potential ahead of the Gameweek 34 double with a pair of assists, ensuring that a lively Andros Townsend remains destined to be a differential. Here’s the Stock Check following Monday’s Gameweek 32 conclusion.

On the Rise

Wilfried Zaha, Andros Townsend
We waited in anticipation of a performance and points from Zaha, and the winger delivered. Two almost identical assists – sliding passes to Andros Townsend and then Yohan Cabaye – provided Zaha with returns and ensured that he grabbed a pair of bonus points.

He has now produced two goals and three assists in his last five Gameweeks, as he begins to mirror the consistency he displayed earlier in the season when we witnessed a run of seven assists and two goals between Gameweeks 9 and 15.

Brought in by 58,000+ ahead of Monday night’s encounter, investment in Zaha will now surely boom ahead of the Gameweek 34 double with Spurs and Liverpool. While those are testing opponents, five goals in the matches with Chelsea and now Arsenal proves that we cannot underestimate a confident Palace outfit.

Townsend is unfortunate not to offer more appeal. Identically priced with Zaha at 4.8, the former Spurs winger seems unlikely to garner attention despite impressing with a goal and an assist in Monday night’s encounter. He’s now produced two goals and two assists in his last five Gameweeks, but will doubtless be overlooked while Zaha grabs the attention.

Luka Milivojevic
Stroking home Palace’s second-half penalty, the Serbian presents a possible budget differential for Gameweek 34 for those unable to stretch to Zaha. Priced at just 5.0, Milivojevic has shown intent from range and Sam Allardyce confirmed post-match that he has even assumed duties from both direct free-kicks and penalties on establishing his starting role as a midfield anchor man.

“It was done a couple of weeks ago based on what he can do with a free-kick, so I’m glad he’s stepped up and took it because we’ve been very suspect on a few of them this season, and he tucked it in the bottom corner brilliantly.”

Wayne Hennessey, Joel Ward
While Mamadou Sakho is undoubtedly the key figure in the hugely improved Palace defence, the Liverpool loanee will miss the first of the Eagles’ double Gameweek fixtures against his parent club. That could have us searching for alternatives in Sam Allardyce’s defence, with keeper Wayne Hennessey and full-back Joel Ward perhaps the most likely contenders.

Palace have now kept four clean sheets from their last six, shutting out an Arsenal team that had scored in their previous 20 matches prior to Monday night. The buccaneering Patrick van Aanholt would ideally be our key target. But he’s still troubled by an ankle injury and his absence, together with doubts surrounding the Eagles’ centre-backs, may have us turning to Hennessey and Ward instead.

In Decline

Alexis Sanchez
Once again a peripheral figure on the left flank, Sanchez was unable to exert any real influence on a hugely disappointing Arsenal.

With Danny Welbeck starting in the central striker role for the last five Gameweeks, Sanchez has mustered just a single goal and assist. He’s now blanked in three successive Gameweeks for the first time this season – just as we look to the heavy-hitter ahead of Arsenal’s incoming double fixtures.

Despite Arsenal having eight matches left to play, Sanchez’s owners will be fidgeting wildly and considering their options.

It would seem almost unfeasible that Arsene Wenger will let the situation with Sanchez and the Arsenal attack continue. Having seen the Chilean excel in the central striker role earlier in the campaign, we could see Wenger revert to that set-up at Middlesbrough in Gameweek 33.

However, given Arsenal’s alarming malaise and chronic lack of confidence, there is still every reason to question the huge funds tied up in Sanchez as part of our squads.

Christian Benteke
Benteke was a major handful for the Arsenal defence and it seems almost remiss to lower his stock following such a performance.

However, Benteke missed out on attacking returns in the 3-0 defeat and, with Milivojevic claiming spot-kick duties, the striker’s prospects took a minor knock – Benteke had also missed penalties in Gameweeks 8 and 18 earlier in the season.

There can be no question that Zaha has now been established as the primary attacking target for Palace but, despite Monday’s setback, Benteke remains firmly in our thinking – his six shots on goal, five from within the box, against the Gunners demonstrates his menace.