Two fixtures in Gameweek 36 mean players from Southampton and Arsenal understandably dominate our thinking as we run through those in the frame for a place in this Friday’s Scout Picks.

This article aims to give a greater insight into the decision-making process behind our selection, as Mark, Paul and I list the 18 players we think have the best chance of success across the four positions, listed in rank order.

The discussions and disagreements that will take place behind the scenes are then showcased as each of us looks to back our players for a place in the Scout Picks, as well as our Spot the Differential articles.

Finally, we will also reveal the Community Champion who has been selected by our lottery to represent the community and be in with a chance of winning a £100 Amazon voucher.

Goalkeepers

Petr Cech’s (5.3) double Gameweek has ensured he wins top spot across all our selections, particularly as he takes on a Southampton side that has failed to score in three of their last four St Mary’s matches.

However, the 11.8%-owned Arsenal stopper may struggle to earn a shut-out at home to Manchester United, given the Red Devils have scored eight times across their last four away days.

If his net is breached at the Emirates, then we still have the security of save points from the Czech, who has earned five FPL points by keeping opposition shots at bay over his last three.

Two fixtures for Southampton’s Fraser Forster (5.0) earns him three second spots. Despite keeping clean sheets in half of his last six, he faces a tough task to reward our faith away to a Liverpool outfit that has scored eight times in their last four at Anfield as they look to cling on to a top four spot.

The Saints’ home tie next Wednesday against Arsenal may offer better prospects for the 4.3%-owned England international, with Arsene Wenger’s troops failing to score in two of their last four road trips.

Should we decide to ignore this double Gameweek duo then Tom Heaton (5.2) could find himself surviving the cut. Backed by Mark and myself, the Burnley custodian hosts a West Brom attack that looks to be dreaming of sunnier destinations over the summer having failed to score in their last five.

Paul has offered up 22.3%-owned Eldin Jakupovic (4.1) as another single Gameweek alternative. Encouraged by his penalty save and 14-point haul against Southampton at the weekend, as well as a favourable home tie against a Sunderland side that has scored just twice in their last six, Paul’s candidate has both the form and fixture to prosper.

Defenders

A similar pattern emerges in our defensive picks, with Arsenal being strongly backed for clean sheet points and Southampton’s rearguard gaining a more tentative nod.

Laurent Koscielny (6.1) has emerged as the frontrunner among the Gunners backline to earn a place, with top billing from Mark and Paul. He should escape rotation over Arsenal’s pair of fixtures and, with two goals and an assist this campaign, also offers the chance of returns at the other end of the pitch. In addition, the 11.3%-owned Frenchman also has exceptional bonus potential, accruing 19 so far – more than any other defender.

Should we need to save money in our 84m budgeted picks, I’ve offered up Nacho Monreal (5.8) as a slightly cheaper alternative Gunners option. The 4.2%-owned Spaniard is another that should start both matches, having made the first XI for the last eight league encounters.

“When investing in a double Gameweek defender, you look for assured starts and the promise of attacking returns. Koscielny’s offers both and, given his record with bonus points this season, has the clear edge over any other Arsenal candidate if you can stretch the budget. I think he warrants the outlay, although Monreal has certainly become a viable Plan B as a result of Arsene Wenger’s recent switch to a three-man defence.” – Mark

With three assists this campaign, he also offers a chance of further returns should Arsenal fail to shut out United and Southampton.

Only Paul is backing a Southampton defender to outscore those from single Gameweek sides this week, handing second spot to their 3.6%-owned left back Ryan Bertrand (5.5).

Not only does he have the chance of a shut-out when Arsenal visit, his two goals, five assists and bonus awards on six occasions ensures he offers another route to returns.

“If you’re looking for no more than a budget Wildcard enabler, then Yoshida and/or Stephens are undoubtedly the better fits. Few are willing to consider Bertrand due to his 5.5 price tag, yet an average of 4.7 points per match this season is bettered only by two defenders – Marcos Alonso and Seamus Coleman. It’s also the equal of Manolo Gabbiadini as the top-scoring Southampton player, suggesting that Bertrand could be worth the extra defensive outlay for those with cash to spare”. – Paul

Mark is less keen, with just a third spot for the England international, while I’ve opted to hand Maya Yoshida (4.5) a fourth spot in my selection, offering us a budget route should Bertrand prove unaffordable.

All three of us feel that Middlesbrough’s visit to Chelsea will prove fruitful for Marcos Alonso (6.8), with Mark and I backing the 16.8%-owned left wing-back to bring in a greater return from one fixture than Bertrand can manage in two.

Boro’s failure to score in three of their last four road trips, and the Blues’ seven Stamford Bridge clean sheets, makes the Spaniard, who has five goals and as many assists this season, a shoo-in for selection.

Of our remaining single Gameweek rearguard options, Charlie Daniels (5.2), with three votes, may well survive Friday’s shakedown.

The Bournemouth left-back hosts Stoke City – another side already on the beach with a mere four goals in their last six. The Potters’ solitary clean sheet over the same period also gives us hope of attacking returns, given Daniels has four goals and three assists this season.

Meanwhile, Mark and myself have nominated Leicester’s Robert Huth (4.9). The centre-back has netted twice in his last seven in the league and is another strong contender when Watford drop by the King Power stadium. The Hornets last scored away back in Gameweek 23.

Harry Maguire also earns a mention, from Paul, and may well gain Scout Picks recognition given his 4.4 price tag, a record of two goals in four and a match-up at the KCOM stadium with that woeful Sunderland attack.

Midfielders

Apart from Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez (11.5), support for double Gameweek assets drops away markedly among our midfield selection

The Chilean tops our listings in spite of a slump in form that has seen him score just once in his last six. Nevertheless, with 16 goal attempts over that period we are aware that he could add to his eight double-digit FPL points hauls at any time.

His 55,000+ transfers-in this week, more than for any other midfielder, suggests that plenty are banking on a return to form.

The only other two-fixture midfielder to earn a mention is Dusan Tadic (6.9), who earns a nomination from Paul. A solitary assist in his last four and a penalty miss against Hull at St Mary’s at the weekend has prompted Mark and myself to stay clear of the misfiring Serbian, who sits in only 2.1% of FPL sides.

“I feel we should be willing to roll the dice on Dusan Tadic. Granted, a single assist in six – and a missed spot-kick at home to Hull last Saturday – is far from convincing. Yet he sits fifth for shots (18) and fourth for key passes (16) among midfielders over that period and having played 90 minutes in each of the last five, still offers some strong underlying numbers”. – Paul

Boro’s visit to Stamford Bridge looks the perfect opportunity for Eden Hazard (10.5) to add to his 11 goals at home – more than any other midfielder. The Belgian gains second billing across the board and looks assured of a starting spot in the Picks, particularly as Steve Agnew’s charges have shipped 10 in their last four away trips.

Josh King (6.2) looks to be another certainty for a Picks berth based on his exceptional form and fixture. The Bournemouth midfielder prepares for a Vitality Stadium clash against a Stoke side that has conceded 10 in their last six away matches.

With nine goals in his last ten, it is no wonder all three of us have sponsored him, while 46,000+ FPL managers have acquired his services this week.

When it comes to Spurs midfield coverage, Mark, and his choice of Christian Eriksen (8.9), will be up against Paul and myself, who favour Dele Alli (9.2).

We will come into that bout armed with the 34.9%-owned England midfielder’s tally of six goals, four assists and two double-digit hauls over his last nine, while Mark’s nomination boasts similarly impressive returns.

Over the same time frame the Dane, who has an 18.6% ownership, has racked up six assists, found the net three times and also has a pair of double-figure returns.

We may even consider a Spurs midfield partnership for their trip to face a porous West Ham backline that has conceded 27 times at the London Stadium – the third-worst home record in the league.

“The Alli vs Eriksen conundrum is not really an argument I want to have. I even ensured I acquired them both in my own line-up to avoid that decision. However, for me, Eriksen’s creativity from both open play and set-pieces just gives him the edge. Alli is arguably the more explosive but rarely will Eriksen leave you empty-handed. He finds a way to contribute points and, as we saw at Palace, also has the spectacular in his locker.” – Mark

Leroy Sane (7.7) looks another strong contender, with backing from Mark and myself, although it seems likelier that team-mate Gabriel Jesus (8.7) will be our Manchester City weapon of choice when Crystal Palace head for the Etihad.

Forwards

While the German winger boasts a goal and an assist in his last four, Jesus has three goals over his last quartet of run-outs. Given that Sam Allardyce’s side have shipped six and failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four, this looks like a lucrative encounter for the City attack.

The transfer market is heavily backing the City forward, with 89,000+ FPL managers drafting him in this week, more than any other player.

West Ham abject statistics in home matches have driven our selection of Harry Kane (11.7), who monopolises top spot in all three selections. He has returned two goals and as many assists since returning from injury in Gameweek 32 and, with the Golden Boot still within reach, we’re not anticipating a decline in Kane’s output until the final ball is kicked.

With Diego Costa (10.4) and Jamie Vardy (9.9) also gaining three votes, we wish we had more striker slots available, with one of these premium picks likely to miss out due to cost.

With Costa claiming a high rank in each of our listings, the Chelsea talisman is the likelier to prevail, particularly when taking into account Boro’s poor recent defensive displays on the road. The 31.6%-owned Spaniard’s two successful strikes and three assists in his last four also proves he has the form to push the Teessiders further into the relegation mire.

But with attacking returns in all but one of his last nine run-outs, the 13.9%-owned Leicester forward offers the Scout Picks a strong potential of points when he hosts a Watford side that has shipped nine without reply in their last four excursions.

Manolo Gabbiadini (6.5) is the sole double Gameweek representative in our list of strikers. He ranks bottom in my nominations and Marks, so may struggle to even make the Scout Picks bench. Poor form and fixtures hardly offer a ringing endorsement for the 7.5%-owned Southampton forward, who travels to Liverpool and hosts Arsenal with just one assist under his belt since returning from an injury lay-off in Gameweek 33.

“I’ve completely fallen out of love with the Gabbiadini option. It’s perhaps less about the striker’s form – although he has clearly struggled to recapture his sparkling output prior to his injury – and more about Southampton’s own struggles. With little to play for, the Saints have simply been lacklustre of late and I’m just not expecting them to fire over their two fixtures” – Mark

However, a vote in second spot from Paul should ensure that the debate over his inclusion rumbles on over Friday’s deliberations.

Community Champion

Representing the Community against the Scout Picks in Gameweek 36 will be Coleymc3, who is in his fourth season, with last season’s finish of 12,599 his best to date.

The community champion who has the best lead over the Scouts during 2016/17 will win a £100 Amazon voucher (currently we can only offer Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com vouchers).

Last Gameweek’s champion, Kings of Lyon, was beaten 29-46 by the Scouts.

The current champion to beat is Boris Bodega, who achieved a 33-point margin of victory over us in Gameweek 15.