Rotation continues to blight Arsenal’s lone forward slot, whilst Manuel Pellegrini showed signs of tinkering for the first time this term as the schedule starts to pick up pace. Chelsea’s problems at both ends of the pitch are far from over, and the reliable Riyad Mahrez looks increasingly hard to ignore as an armband contender.
Walcott and Giroud are job sharing…
After warming the bench in the first three Gameweeks, Theo Walcott has now started each of the last two league fixtures as Arsene Wenger shuffles his pack in accordance with Arsenal’s opponents. Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, emerged from the bench to mirror Walcott’s output by grabbing a goal in the 2-0 win over Stoke but it’s clear that neither can be trusted to start in any given Gameweek. With Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offering options on the right, Walcott looks finally set to be utilised mainly through the middle this season but guessing when and where he’ll be named in Wenger’s first XI is another matter entirely.
Pellegrini will risk rest and rotation…
With the Champions League set to get underway this week, Saturday’s win over Palace perhaps hinted at what’s to come. Man City were without both David Silva and Raheem Sterling for the Selhurst Park encounter yet Manuel Pellegrini still chose to unleash big-money signing Kevin de Bruyne from the bench, with fit-again Wilfried Bony handed a first start of the season alongside Sergio Aguero. Having seen his side chalk up a fifth straight victory, courtesy of youngster Kelechi Iheanacho’s late winner off the bench, Pellegrini will certainly have the confidence to chop and change more often as he battles for silverware on numerous fronts.
Mahrez has become a genuine captain candidate…
Whilst the big hitters struggle to justify their hefty price tags, the Leicester winger continues to rack up the points under the guidance of Claudio Ranieri. Shifted into a central role against Villa after the break, Mahrez served up a fourth double-figure haul in five league outings as the Foxes climbed to second spot with a stunning 3-2 comeback win. The Algerian has been quick to take on the mantle as this year’s Harry Kane, serving up substantial points hauls for a budget cost; it’s time to forget the price tag, as Mahrez has the form, and talent, to prove far more than just a value option for our midfields.
Mourinho’s task is bigger than we thought…
The champions’ disastrous title defence shows no sign of turning around after a 3-1 loss at Goodison took their tally to four points after five matches. Chelsea’s problems at both ends of the pitch have sparked a major exodus across the Fantasy games. Gone is the resilience of last season which saw them cruise to the tile with just 32 goals against – already, they’ve conceded 12 times this term. With Eden Hazard managing a single assist and Diego Costa blanking in four out of five appearances, the transfers out look set to pick up pace.
Martial is ready…
The youngster needed just 21 minutes to open his account for United, with a second-half strike sealing a 3-1 win over Liverpool. Louis van Gaal has gone on record to suggest that Martial will be eased into contention, though with Wayne Rooney struggling for both form and fitness, it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils boss will be content to utilise Marouane Fellaini as a lone striker in his skipper’s absence. Given his weekend impact, it surely won’t be long before we see Martial handed a first start, with the labouring Rooney possibly shifted to a central support role to accommodate the new boy’s pace up top.
We can’t ignore the Ighalo option…
It’s two goals in the first five Gameweeks for the Watford striker after netting the winner in an unexpected home victory over in-form Swansea. Ighalo has now netted 18 times in 23 league outings over 2015 – that’s more than any player in England’s top four tiers – and he looks assured of starts at a time where Troy Deeney is still searching for his first top-flight strike for the Hornets. At a price of just 5.0, he’s firmly thrown his hat in the ring as a viable third striker.
Norwich need to nurture Hoolahan…
The Canaries playmaker surged up the Fantasy standings on the back of a 13-point haul at home to Bournemouth. Looking at his pitch time, it’s unlikely that we will get 90 minutes out of Hoolahan as Alex Neil attempts to ensure his playmaker remains fully fit and injury-free – he’s managed more than 75 minutes just once in the last four outings. With a goal and four assists to his name so far, though, it’s clear that Neil’s decision to protect the 5.0-priced Hoolahan looks a canny one.
It’s Myhill not Lindegaard…
The former United man is back on bench-warming duties after a late move to West Brom. Whilst his former Old Trafford team-mate Jonny Evans was immediately thrust into Tony Pulis’ starting XI, Lindegaard was named amongst the subs as Boaz Myhill retained the keeper’s jersey. With Ben Foster expected back sometime next month, the Dane’s chances of nailing down a regular role looks very unlikely already.
And probably Bolasie not Sako…
Devoid of the injured Connor Wickham, Alan Pardew solved his attacking midfield dilemma by selecting Yannick Bolasie ahead of Dwight Gayle, Fraizer Campbell and Patrick Bamford in the lone forward role at home to City. Bakary Sako may have garnered the attentions after serving up back-to-back goals against Villa and Chelsea but Bolasie’s versatility could yet see the DR Congo international emerge as the best option from Palace’s flourishing midfield. Pardew utilised Bolasie’s pace and trickery through the middle on a number of occasions in the latter stages of last term, suggesting we cannot write off his Fantasy prospects as the fixtures start to take a turn for the better from Gameweek 7 onwards.
Villa’s 3-5-2 is incoming…
Yesterday’s capitulation at Leicester means Villa have conceded at least twice in each of the last three and with a single point accrued from Gameweek 2 onwards, it may be time for a different approach. Tim Sherwood has hinted that Joleon Lescott’s arrival affords him the chance to switch to a 3-5-2 and, after witnessing his side’s King Power defeat, he may well be set to shake up his starting XI for the visit of West Brom. Jordan Amavi and Leandro Bacuna look poised for wing-back berths in such a scenario and their out-of-position potential could persuade some to reconsider, should Sherwood’s side somehow manage to batten down the hatches.
