The goals and points flowed at the Emirates Stadium, as Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino underlined his Fantasy credentials as a much-needed striker solution with a consecutive double-digit return.
Once again in this fixture, defences capitulated as Arsenal and Liverpool produced a glut of goals. And inevitably, Mohamed Salah was again on the scoresheet.
He rewarded the 715881 (12.8%) who handed him the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) captaincy with another double-figure return via a goal and assist, replicating his contribution in the reverse match-up with Arsenal at Anfield.
Salah began the evening by earning an assist for Philippe Coutinho’s opener, his pass intended for the Brazilian ballooning up off a defender before a smart improvised header diverted it past Petr Cech.
It means that Salah has now produced attacking returns in 10 of 11 Gameweeks. Meanwhile, Coutinho has supplied three goals and four assists from his last four starts.
Owned by just 11.5%, Coutinho was signed by another 73,000 managers ahead of Gameweek 18. But given the wealth of options in midfield, the emerging form of his compatriot Firmino may prove even more significant.
Having struggled to stand out as a viable option to this point, Firmino produced another goal and assist tally – mirroring his display at Bournemouth in Gameweek 18.
Once again, that contribution was also rewarded with bonus points, though only the two, as Emre Can’s assist and all-round contribution (13 recoveries, four net tackles and 80% pass completion) picked up the maximum.
Firmino had produced just three goals and a single assist from the previous 13 appearances prior to last weekend, but has seemingly burst into life. He now has three double-figure scores from his last five Gameweeks which includes just four starts.
Owned by 25.3%, he was recruited by 179,000+ ahead of Friday’s deadline and will surely now boom. He is already the top transfer target ahead of Gameweek 20.
Jurgen Klopp’s rotation policy appears to be the only barrier to immediate investment in both Firmino and Coutinho.
Liverpool face basement dwellers Swansea City at Anfield on Boxing Day, with encounters with Leicester and Burnley to come in the six days that follow.
Given Klopp’s recent penchant for tinkering, we can expect members of his fab four – particularly Firmino and Coutinho – to make way in one of those three matches.
We also know that both Salah and Sadio Mane will be allowed to attend an awards ceremony in Ghana 24-hours before the FA Cup tie with Everton. That would suggest that Klopp will rest that pair for that derby meeting, increasing the chances that Firmino and Coutinho will play some part. That, in turn, would make them more of a risk for Gameweek 22 four days prior
Ozil impresses again
While strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Granit Xhaka allowed Arsenal a route back into the game, in Fantasy terms, they will barely register.
The Sanchez goal was his first in four Gameweeks, and he needs to do far more to convince Fantasy managers to take a risk on a player who could be more focused on the January transfer window.
But Mesut Ozil may yet become a factor in our season.
The German’s beautifully taken goal from Alexandre Lacazette’s flick means that he has been involved in seven in his last six home matches with three goals and four assists.
Owned by just 2.6% of Fantasy managers, Ozil’s continued progress at least warrants monitoring.
Monreal blow could revive Kolasinac
Arsene Wenger again opted for a back four which meant no starting role for Sead Kolasinac for a third successive match. Ainsley Maitland-Niles again started at left-back, with Nacho Monreal kept alongside Laurent Koscielny in central defence.
But an ankle injury for Monreal forced Wenger into changes at half-time as the fit-again Shkodran Mustafi was introduced.
While Kolasinac is unlikely to earn an immediate recall, a spell on the sidelines for Monreal would mean that Bosnian would be the only rotation option available for Maitland-Niles.
Still owned by 13.2%, Kolisinac was sold by 134,000+ ahead of today’s deadline. He is currently the second most sold asset ahead of Gameweek 20.
It means that Monreal is currently Arsenal’s most popular player, with his 810,000+ ownership now awaiting an update on his prognosis ahead of the trip to Crystal Palace.
