Dugout Discussion – Sunday

A sunny Sunday afternoon provides a perfect backdrop for a day of Premier League football and, hopefully, ample returns in Fantasy.

We start with two lunchtime encounters, with most attention drawn to the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal will host West Ham United.

Arsene Wenger’s announcement that he is to leave the club in the summer has undoubtedly given this encounter a new perspective, with the atmosphere and perhaps even team performance likely to be affected by that revelation today.

Fantasy interest is certainly high, with strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacaszette demanding huge attention prior to Saturday’s deadline.

The big team news is that Wenger delivers on his threat to manage Aubameyang’s minutes as he prepares his side for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final with Atletico.

Aubameyang starts on the bench today, despite having scored four goals in his last three home matches, with six in eight Gameweeek appearances overall. He was brought in by over 201,000 for Gameweek 35 as the third most signed, while he sports over 221,000 armbands in this match.

Wenger’s press conference, hinting at Aubameyang’s rotation, created huge late interest in Lacazette and he starts today.

The Frenchman is undoubtedly a key asset for those managers with the Free Hit chip active, with Ragabolly’s article revealing last night that 63.9% of the top 10,000 managers playing the chip elected to recruit Lacazette. He has two goals from his last three Gameweek appearances, including his strike at Newcastle United last weekend.

Elsewhere for Arsenal, Aaron Ramsey earns a recall to a strong starting XI and could prove a key differential for Gameweek 35. But Mesut Ozil, signed by 24,000 prior to yesterday’s deadline, misses out through illness, along with goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Elsewhere this lunchtime, Stoke City host Gameweek 34 favourites Burnley at the bet365 Stadium for what is a crunch encounter for the Potters.

The Clarets assets go into this contest well supported, particularly by managers without the Free Hit active.

Stoke’s asset remain differentials, though, with Xherdan Shaqiri their most popular target prior to Saturday’s deadline; he commanded a modest 51,000+ transfers in, with goalkeeper Jack Butland – back on 7700 – ranking next.