Arsenal and Manchester United delivered an outstanding advert for Premier League football, as David de Gea underlined his formidable Fantasy standing while Paul Pogba shattered his.
The French midfielder had previously sparked a surge in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) market having returned to action with 12-point haul in Gameweek 12. His two assists in United’s 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday underlined his importance to their cause and his effectiveness as a Fantasy asset.
However, just three Gameweeks on from his return, Pogba has again forced FPL managers to market, as his owners race to sell him on ahead of a three-match suspension.
The midfielder was dismissed in Saturday’s clash for leaving his boot implanted in the back of Hector Bellerin’s leg on a follow through for a challenge for the ball. The straight red administered by Andre Marriner will ensure that Pogba misses the derby clash with Manchester City, along with additional Gameweek encounters with Bournemouth and West Brom.
Pogba has already suffered over 81,000 sales with his owners moving to Aaron Ramsey, Eden Hazard and Philippe Coutinho following their Gameweek 15 returns.
The impact on United could be considerable. Much was made of the effect of his return on their attacking potential and that was certainly evident while on the pitch against Arsenal.
His absence could prove a further blow to Romelu Lukaku who, following his blank against the Gunners, has now produced a single goal and three assists from his previous eight Gameweeks.
Interest in Jesse Lingard as a differential could also be parked.
The 5.8 midfield option has produced three goals and an assist from his back-to-back starts in the No 10 role. However, it remains to be seen how Jose Mourinho tweaks his line-up in the absence of Pogba and whether Lingard can continue to enjoy such attacking freedom.
De Gea defies all theories
De Gea put on a superhuman display for Mourinho’s side, making 14 saves in total – equalling the Premier League record.
That also earned him four additional save points in FPL, along two bonus for an eight-point return.
The Spaniard is now 19 points clear at the top of the goalkeeper standings and has produced 13 points from saves, trailing only Swansea City’s Lukasz Fabianski (15) for that metric. He has also earned more bonus points than the Swans option (7 vs 5)
That’s significant since it was presumed that a premium-priced keeper would not be able to keep pace for saves and bonus points when compared with low-cost rivals.
However, De Gea has ripped up this theory and with his nine clean sheets, arguably, justifies his 41.6% ownership and 5.8 price tag. No other player has offered stronger points per million value so far this season.
However, the United defence has now produced just a single shut-out in five Gameweeks ahead of a collision with the potent City attack.
Consistent Ramsey shines again
Arsenal’s role in a superb encounter can easily be forgotten given De Gea’s performance and Pogba’s dismissal.
But Aaron Ramsey should not escape the attention of Fantasy managers. His ice-cool assist for Alexandre Lacazette‘s strike took him to six from his last seven Gameweeks, with two goals also in that spell.
Ramsey is currently ranked fourth for transfers in and, as mentioned, is picking up traffic from Pogba in particular.
Lacazette also demands to be monitored.
He made a shock appearance in the starting XI having been ruled out by Arsene Wenger following his withdrawal against Huddersfield in midweek. The French striker has lost ownership in each of his last five Gameweeks but has quietly moved to eight goals for the season from 13 starts.
Significantly, Lacazette completed a match for just a second time on Saturday. It’s been the doubts surrounding his minutes that has dented his appeal to this point.
However, with Lukaku and Harry Kane faltering and the Man City strikers seemingly locked in rotation, Lacazette has the opportunity to make a play for a premium-price slot in our forward lines.
Elsewhere for Arsenal, Shkodran Mustafi suffered an injury which forced his withdrawal on 15 minutes. Arsenal had kept seven clean sheets from Mustafi’s eight starts before Saturday’s defeat and, should the German be sidelined, he could be a major loss.
Over 51,000 managers acquired Mustafi ahead of Gameweek 15 and must now wait on the prognosis from the injury. Per Mertesacker (4.9) could benefit from starts should his compatriot face a spell on the sidelines.
Finally, Arsenal have their first player on the suspension tightrope, and it’s something of a surprise. Alexis Sanchez picked up his fourth caution of the season against United and is now just one yellow card from a one-match ban. Interest in the Chilean remains tepid: he lost over 10,000 owners heading into Gameweek 15 and remains part of just 2.7% of squads.
