Festive Line-up Lessons – Part One

Rotation was far less evident in attacking areas. Jack Wilshere kept his spot alongside Granit Xhaka in midfield throughout, while Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette also started the four matches. Meanwhile, a minor knee complaint meant that Mesut Ozil missed out against West Brom.

Wenger handed his fringe players a run-out in the FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest. Ashley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi (two starts each) featured the most frequently over those recent league encounters.

That line-up clearly had one eye on Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

Wilshere dispelled any concerns over his fitness, though Aaron Ramsey’s return will surely give Wenger a selection headache in that area. Meanwhile, despite mounting speculation over the futures of Sanchez and Ozil, both remain assured selections – for now at least.

Lacazette was ever-present over the festive spell and his minutes look more assured with Olivier Giroud sidelined and with Danny Welbeck failing to impress against Forest.

Sunday’s loss may now knock on to Wenger’s approach to both the Carabao Cup and the Europa League, with the Gunners now scratching around for silverware. We could see stronger XI’s deployed in those competitions from here on, starting against Chelsea.

At the back, only two defenders – Steve Cook and Adam Smith – started all four matches. Charlie Daniels returned against Brighton in Gameweek 22 following injury, while Nathan Ake featured as a substitute on the south coast after feeling the effects of the busy festive programme.

Injuries prompted changes in midfield, with Andrew Surman and Harry Arter limited to one start apiece, as Dan Gosling earned three starts in their absence. Jordon Ibe and Ryan Fraser were the clear favoured options on the flank, making four and three starts respectively.

Josh King picked up a hamstring injury during the 2-1 victory over Everton in Gameweek 21, handing an opportunity for Benik Afobe to join Callum Wilson, who started all four matches, in attack.

In the absence of the injured Junior Stanislas (hamstring), Fraser and Ibe look to have established themselves as the first choice wingers. Ibe has played from start to finish in five successive matches now, having previously managed 90 minutes in just one of the opening 17 fixtures.

King and Wilson appear the favoured pair in attack with Jermain Defoe sidelined. Afobe remains the back-up and is likely to come in against Arsenal on Sunday should King fail to overcome a hamstring problem.

In defence, Lewis Dunk was the only player to start all four matches, although Shane Duffy only missed Gameweek 19 through suspension. Bruno and Ezequiel Schelotto made two starts apiece at right-back, while Markus Suttner (three starts) gained favour over Gaetan Bong (one start) at left-back.

There was plenty of rotation in wide areas, though Solly March and Anthony Knockaert (both three starts) were favoured ahead of Jose Izquierdo (two starts), while Pascal Gross (three starts) was preserved for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

In attack, Glenn Murray and Tomer Hemed were both handed two starts each as they job shared the lone striker role.

In midfield, both March and Knockaert currently appear to be Hughton’s favoured wide pairing, with Izquierdo and Izzy Brown the back-up options. The latter is now nursing an injury having been withdrawn early in Monday’s FA Cup tie.

Having scored from the bench in Monday’s FA Cup win over Crystal Palace, Murray looks set to be re-established as the first choice striker and will be expected to start at West Brom in Gameweek 23.

In defence, Kevin Long made three starts before James Tarkowski returned from a three-match suspension for the Liverpool clash in Gameweek 22.

Up top, Chris Wood has missed out having sustained a knee injury in the 3-0 defeat to Spurs in Gameweek 19; Ashley Barnes took up the lone striker role in the three matches that followed.

However, Barnes started wide left in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, allowing Sam Vokes to lead the line.

Barnes will surely continue as Dyche’s lone striker while Wood works his way back to fitness, while new loan signing Georges-Kevin Nkoudou is now a factor on the left flank, putting Scott Arfield’s starting role under threat.

At the back, only Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses started all four matches, with Davide Zappacosta surprisingly only featuring as a substitute three times.

N’Golo Kante was the only midfielder to start all four matches, with Tiemoue Bakayoko (three), Cesc Fabregas (two) and Danny Drinkwater (one) sharing spot in the XI.

Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata each made three starts, with Hazard rested for the Gameweek 21 meeting with Stoke City, while Morata missed the Gameweek 19 trip to Everton due to suspension. That allowed Pedro and Willian to make two starts apiece.

Conte rested much of his first choice XI against Norwich City in the FA Cup ahead of tomorrow night’s EFL Cup clash against Arsenal, although David Luiz returned following an injury lay-off.

Of those who started at Carrow Road, Gary Cahill, Antonio Rudiger (three starts each) and Bakayoko featured the most frequently over the festive period.

Moses confirmed his status as the first choice right wing-back, though rotation alongside Kante in midfield looks set to continue following the arrival of Ross Barkley.

Hazard is fit to return in the EFL Cup and will be expected to start up with Morata in that encounter and in Saturday’s meeting with Leicester in a 3-5-1-1. Starts for Pedro and Willian look likely to remain scarce, then.

After conceding three times against Arsenal in Gameweek 20, the Palace manager decided to hand a recall to Wayne Hennessey in place of Julian Speroni in goal. He has now made three consecutive starts in all competitions.

Injuries hit hard at the back, with James Tomkins the only defender to start all four matches. Timothy Fosu-Mensah benefited from two starts at right-back having made just two of the previous nine Gameweeks.

There was consistency in midfield, with Luka Milivojevic and Yohan Cabaye, along with Andros Townsend, all making four starts. A knock for Ruben Loftus-Cheek (two starts) opened the door for James McArthur (two starts) to come into the side.

After missing the Gameweek 19 trip to Swansea through suspension, Christian Benteke started every match, while Wilfried Zaha (four starts) was also a regular.

Hodgson handed opportunities to fringe players in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup, though Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend started and picked up injuries making them major doubts for Gameweek 23.

Hodgson’s formation changes, along with Loftus-Cheek’s absence, makes it trickier to predict the make-up of the midfield and attack. Milivojevic and Cabaye should start, while the injury to Townsend makes McArthur another likely starter. Jairo Riedewald has played in a defensive midfield role in two of the last three matches and could be an option depending on injuries and formation.

Zaha and Benteke are certain starteres, with Bakary Sako’s goal at Brighton helping him push for a role out wide in either a 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2.

At the back, only Michael Keane and Cuco Martina started all four matches. Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka and Mason Holgate all made two starts apiece, with Holgate used at right-back against Man United, handing Jonjoe Kenny (three starts) a rest.

Wayne Rooney was limited to one start after falling foul of a virus. That was countered by Yannick Bolasie’s return from injury which lead to two starts, impacting on Aaron Lennon’s (two starts) pitch-time.

Up front, Dominic Calvert-Lewin (three starts) was preferred to Oumar Niasse (one start), with the former handed a rest in the final match against Man United.

Both he and Kenny returned for the FA Cup tie against Liverpool in a strong starting XI.

Rooney’s is set to continue in midfield with Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye shielding the defence behind him. Gylfi Sigurdsson could be used in a No 10 role after he impressed after moving into that position against Liverpool. Yet the Iceland international may continue to be used on the left depending on the formation, with Bolasie having the edge over Lennon on the opposite flank.

New signing Cenk Tosun is likely to make his debut up front at Wembley, though Calvert-Lewin could be preferred as the lone striker if the Turk is short of match fitness.

Centre-backs Christopher Schindler and Mathias Jorgensen both started all four matches, with rotation continuing in the full-back positions – Tommy Smith, Florent Hadergjonaj, Chris Lowe and Scott Malone all made two starts apiece.

In midfield, Aaron Mooy, Tom Ince and Rajiv van La Parra all made four starts, while Collin Quaner (three starts) was also a regular. Jonathan Hogg and Danny Williams shared pitch-time alongside Mooy in the double-pivot.

Frontmen Laurent Depoitre and Steve Mounie were handed two starts apiece, as the lone striker position was shared.

January loan signing Terence Kongolo was handed his first start for the Terriers at centre-half in the FA Cup tie with Bolton Wanderers.

Further forward, Quaner picked up a hamstring problem and is a minor doubt for Gameweek 23. Joe Lolley will be on standby to come in, while Depoitre and Mounie both look set to continue sharing starts up front. The latter could get the nod for the visit of West Ham having been an unused substitute in Saturday’s cup tie.

At the back, only two defenders – Harry Maguire and Wes Morgan – started all four matches. A hamstring injury for Danny Simpson saw Daniel Amartey take over at right-back, while Christian Fuchs (three starts) benefitted from Ben Chilwell’s festive illness at left-back.

In midfield, Wilfred Ndidi, Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton all made four starts, with Vicente Iborra (two starts) being rested twice, handing opportunities to Andy King and Matty James.

Jamie Vardy made three starts before missing the Terriers clash with a groin injury. He was replaced by Islam Slimani in Gameweek 22. Demarai Gray and Shinji Okazaki shared pitch time in the support striker role, making two starts apiece.

Gray and Amartey were the only two players who made two or more starts over the festive period to feature in the starting XI for the FA Cup tie away to Fleetwood Town. Chilwell recovered from illness to figure, while new arrival Adrien Silva was handed his first start.

Chilwell’s illness over Christmas was an inconvenience for Fantasy managers. He had started six of the previous seven outings so could usurp Fuchs at left-back.

Silva is still finding his feet, so Iborra will likely continue to partner Ndidi in central midfield for now. Gray and Okazaki are seemingly battling for the support striker role, with Vardy expected to recover in time to replace Slimani for Gameweek 23.

No defender started all four matches, but Joe Gomez, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Andrew Robertson (all three starts) were the favoured back four.

Emre Can was the only Liverpool player to start all four matches, with rotation much more of a factor in midfield. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made two starts and, along with the returning Adam Lallana, could be the beneficiary of Philippe Coutinho’s departure to Barcelona.

In attack, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane all made three starts each.

Virgil van Dijk was handed his debut in the 2-1 win over Everton in the FA Cup alongside Joel Matip in central defence.

Can was one of five players who made three or more starts between Gameweeks 19 and 22 to start in a strong Klopp line-up.

Van Dijk and Matip will surely form Klopp’s first choice central defensive pairing, with Lovren and Klavan now back-up options.

Gomez continues to be the favoured option at right-back ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, but with Alberto Moreno closing in on a first-team return, rotation between the Spaniard and Robertson is now on the cards.

The speculation surrounding Can’s future at Anfield looks to have had no impact on his minutes. If Jordan Henderson (hamstring) remains sidelined for the meeting with Man City, it could be Georginio Wijnaldum and perhaps Oxlade-Chamberlain who join Can in central midfield. Lallana is another option, though he still appears to be building his sharpness following long-term injury.

Salah is on course to join Firmino and Mane in attack on Sunday according to local press reports. However, Firmino’s start is dependent on the FA’s verdict following an investigation into his exchange with Mason Holgate in last Friday’s FA Cup tie. Dominic Solanke will be on standby, with Daniel Sturridge missing the festive period with a muscle problem.