We’ve now launched our latest captain poll to canvas your opinion on the likely favourites and differential options for the armband in Gameweek 9.
Saturday’s two goals has seen Theo Walcott (7.8) continue to emerge as a viable captaincy alternative to Alexis Sanchez (11.3) in the Arsenal attack.
Following that brace against Swansea, Walcott welcomes a Middlesbrough side to the Emirates with just a single clean sheet to their name. No player has had more shots on target than the England international, who has also scored five times in the league and is currently the most popular transfer target ahead of Gameweek 9.
Sanchez, who is in 23.7% of FPL teams, has been no slouch either this season with four goals and three assists. The Chilean, who clinched the top spot in the Captain Poll last time out, is expected to once again feature amongst the top candidates for the armband in Gameweek 9. Team-mate Mesut Ozil (9.5) also offered a reminder of his armband potential with a goal against Swansea on Saturday.
Manchester City serve up a variety of choices this week, but with a resolute Southampton side visiting the Etihad, leading captaincy contenders Sergio Aguero (13.1) and Kevin De Bruyne (10.6) may have to toil for points.
City could also be weary after their Champions League exertions against Barcelona and up against a Saints outfit who may well shuffle the pack for their own European tie on Thursday to preserve some legs.
Claude Puel’s side have two clean sheets on the road already, and Aguero’s stock as a captain took a major dent in Gameweek 8 when he finished with negative points after emerging from the bench to miss a penalty.
De Bruyne also fluffed his lines from the spot on Saturday, although with eight goal attempts against Everton, he was City’s most vibrant threat on goal. Following an injury lay off the Belgian differential is only owned by 8.7% of FPL managers, compared to Aguero’s 44.8%.
With West Brom visiting, Liverpool’s midfielders continue to offer strong alternatives.
But, as ever, deciding which of Sadio Mane (9.0), Roberto Firmino (8.5) or Philippe Coutinho (8.3) will rack up the highest points tally may prove too difficult.
West Ham’s home encounter with a Sunderland side without an away clean sheet, presents Dimitri Payet (9.4) as a key captaincy contender. The Black Cats are winless and have shipped 15 goals in their eight Premier League outings – they will surely be stretched to contain Payet’s influence.
For those who favour form over fixture, the Premier League’s Golden Boot leader Diego Costa looks an enticing option for Chelsea’s home clash with Man United.
The Blues striker has seven goals this term and, with maximum FPL bonus points from just one goal over the weekend, looks to have upped his all-round game. It is little wonder Costa has already earned a price hike this week to 10.2 and seen his ownership soar to 32.4%.
Romelu Lukaku’s (9.4) strike at the Etihad took his tally to six goals in five outings, yet he travels to a Burnley side that have yet to ship more than a single goal in any of their five matches at Turf Moor.
Leicester City’s plum home clash with Palace’s porous defence looks promising, yet Claudio Ranieri seems to have stepped up his penchant for rotation and is likely to deter most.
Islam Slimani has netted twice in two top-flight appearances at the King Power Stadium and could be a real differential with under 2% ownership.
With 13 goals conceded in their last three fixtures, Hull City have swiftly switched from surprise package to whipping boys over the first nine Gameweeks.
This could make Stoke’s 1.3% owned midfielder Marko Arnautovic (7.2), who had four goal attempts against Sunderland at the weekend, an intriguing captaincy candidate when he visits the KC Stadium on Saturday.
Joe Allen – second only to Walcott as a current transfer target – could even tempt some as an option having returned four goals in his last four Premier League outings.
We will be back to check in on progress in the poll later this week when we deliver our “Captain Sensible” article offering an analysis of the results and the statistics behind the leading contenders.
