Sergio Aguero finds the net again in a four-goal stalemate at the Emirates Stadium. Shkodran Mustafi and Theo Walcott stake a claim for consideration, while Middlesbrough’s defence nullifies Gylfi Sigurdsson ahead of their double Gameweek 34.
On the Rise
Sergio Aguero
The fourth most-captained player for the Gameweek, City’s frontman scored for the third time in four appearances as he hints at a return to the consistent form of old.
Sitting in over 21% of FPL squads, Aguero was arguably earmarked as a placeholder for Zlatan Ibrahimovic by many, given that United will play ten times in the final eight Gameweeks.
Although the Swede is now free from suspension for the midweek clash against Everton, Aguero’s improved recent showings gives us food for thought, with many perhaps persuaded to retain his services in spite of that lofty 12.7 price tag.
Leroy Sane
The German’s influence in the final third continues to blossom after he bagged the opener at the Emirates.
Sane has now started each of City’s last eight league matches, with today’s strike meaning he has produced an goal or assist on five of those occasions.
Priced at 7.5, he’s the cheapest of Guardiola’s attacking regulars and boasts a mere 3% ahead of nine fixtures in the remaining eight Gameweeks.
Granted, a midweek trip to Chelsea may deter us for now, yet City’s remaining schedule certainly looks ripe for investment, with home encounters against Hull, Palace, Leicester City and West Brom, allied with trips to the likes of Middlesbrough and Watford.
Shkodran Mustafi
The Arsenal centre-half proved an unlikely source of points, returning a goal and assist in this afternoon’s home draw with Man City.
Having produced just a goal and assist in the opening 29 fixtures, Mustafi has dropped to 5.8 in price ahead of the Gunners’ run of ten matches in the remaining eight Gameweeks.
Sitting in just 1% of FPL squads, he could prove a viable alternative to Laurent Koscielny after the Frenchman was forced off at the break, though a run of one clean sheet in seven – conceding two or more in five of the last six – is indicative of their lack of resilience right now.
Theo Walcott
Sitting in just 4% of FPL squads, the Arsenal winger has now scored in three successive home matches across all competitions ahead of a midweek clash with West Ham at the Emirates.
While there’s no doubt that Alexis Sanchez – in spite of today’s rare blank – remains the likeliest source of points among Arsene Wenger’s regulars, Walcott could yet emerge as a potential double-up option in light of those ten remaining matches.
With clashes against Palace, Middlesbrough and Leicester following on from that Hammers encounter, a price of 7.3 may start to turn heads if he can steer clear of rotation.
Ben Gibson, Victor Valdes
With a double Gameweek 34 against Bournemouth and Sunderland just around the corner, the Middlesbrough backline made a timely return to form by recording a second away clean sheet in ten attempts.
That poor run of defensive displays persuaded over 169,000 FPL managers to name Gibson on the bench this weekend, while Valdes was handed a sub role by almost 168,000.
Priced at 4.9, Gibson has played every minute of the season so far and is more than 30 points ahead of any defensive team-mate as Steve Agnew’s side prepare for a decent run that also includes clashes with Hull City and Burnley in the next two.
For those planning an early Wildcard, Valdes – at 4.6 – could also play a factor in our plans, with the Spaniard earning an additional save point in six of his last seven league outings.
In Decline
Gylfi Sigurdsson
It’s fair to say that expectations were high for the Swansea City man ahead of Gameweek 30 – Sigurdsson was the most-captained player amongst the top 100, with 20 handing him the armband.
While there’s no questioning his consistency – today’s blank was only a third in 11 matches under Paul Clement – the Icelandic international’s goal touch has deserted him of late. Ahead of a testing midweek home encounter with Spurs, Sigurdsson has now failed to score in six successive league outings.
The sixth most popular FPL midfielder, residing in 19.1% of squads, Sigurdsson then faces West Ham, Watford and Stoke City between Gameweek 32-34 – a run that’s likely to persuade most to retain for the short-term, at least.
Yet Swansea’s lack of a double Gameweek further down the line means that many will feel that the playmaker is surplus to requirement once our Wildcards come into play for the run-in.
Fernando Llorente
The sixth most transferred in player for Gameweek 30, Llorente was acquired by over 84,000 FPL managers ahead of a favourable home encounter with ‘Boro.
Yet his 14% owners were left disappointed after he was ruled out with an ankle injury this afternoon.
With Paul Clement still uncertain over his availability for Wednesday’s clash with Spurs, the Spaniard has already been sold by over 12,000 owners as the fixtures come thick and fast.
At a time when double Gameweeks are set to occupy our planning, the Llorente exodus now looks likely to escalate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Laurent Koscielny
Boasting a 13% ownership, Arsenal’s top scoring defender was forced off at the break after suffering a recurrence of a long-term achilles complaint.
Given his history with the same injury, there has to be concerns over Koscielny’s availability for the midweek match against West Ham, while Wenger may well decide to be somewhat cautious with his compatriot’s fitness in light of that busy run-in.
While Mustafi clearly took the chance to impress, any length of absence for Koscielny would promote the cheaper Gabriel – at just 4.8 – as a budget-friendly route into the Gunners’ rearguard, though that aforementioned defensive record is hardly enticing.
Raheem Sterling
Hauled off at the break for tactical reasons, the City winger has produced back-to-back blanks for the first time since Gameweek 14.
In his most consistent Fantasy season to date, Sterling had served up a goal or assist in nine of 11 outings prior to being rested for the second match of double Gameweek 27.
Today’s substitution means he’s played just one-and-a-half of his side’s last three league fixtures. At a time when Sane is going from strength to strength on the opposite flank, Sterling’s 12% owners may be reconsidering their options.
