Having analysed the options in Defence in yesterday’s first instalment, we turn our attentions to the midfield area. A trio of Emirates showdowns brings Arsenal’s two main protagonists into focus, while Chelsea and West Brom’s upcoming fixtures also play a prominent role in recommendations for the next four-to-six Gameweeks:
Three home games in four see Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil occupy the top two spots in this week’s Midfield standings. While the latter has somewhat struggled for form on the road, with one assist in five appearances, it’s been a different matter altogether at the Emirates – Ozil has produced 35 points in three fixtures in front of his own fans. Ramsey has racked up 30 points over the same trio of matches and with Southampton, Hull and Everton paying visit, in addition to a trip to Cardiff, the duo look poised for further Fantasy points. The potential return of Theo Walcott would certainly influence matters but for now, Ramsey and Ozil hold steady until the winger’s comeback is cemented.
Eden Hazard replaces Oscar once again as our chosen Chelsea midfielder. The Belgian is starting to pick up in consistency, with four goals and a pair of assists in his last five appearances compared to a single assist in the first six – he has West Ham, Sunderland, Stoke and Palace in the upcoming five to help continue his climb up the standings. As always with the Blues, uncertainty over the lone forward role elevates their midfielders in our Fantasy thinking.
With a goal and assist in the last two, Stephane Sessegnon is starting to hint at a consistency for West Brom. The 6.6 priced Baggies summer signing has home games against Villa, Norwich and Hull in the next six and also faces a trip to Cardiff –coming in at 5.2, Morgan Amalfitano offers the budget route into Steve Clarke’s midfield but needs to improve upon a record of one assist in five.
Back in the Liverpool starting line-up after recovering from a shoulder injury, Philippe Coutinho was highly unlucky not to pick up the points in the previous Gameweek at home to Fulham. A role on the left of a 4-4-2 lends the Brazilian plenty license to drift centrally and wreak havoc – at 8.5, with a 5% ownership, he has a trip to Hull and home games with Norwich, West Ham and Cardiff to get his Fantasy season up and running.
With David Silva still sidelined due to a calf complaint Yaya Toure is our premium City option in the centre of the park. The Ivorian has already notched five times this term and has back-to-back home games with Spurs and Swansea up next before trips to West Brom and Southampton; at 8.1 to Toure’s 9.6, Samir Nasri, with attacking returns in six of his 11 appearances, is easier on the budget and also has real differential appeal, with just 3% ownership.
While Hatem Ben Arfa has to be content with warming the Newcastle bench, his team-mate and compatriot Yohan Cabaye has been picking up the points. The Frenchman has scored or assisted in four of the last seven for Alan Pardew’s side and welcomes Norwich and West Brom to Tyneside in the next two, with a trip to Swansea also on his short-term agenda – the downside is that he sits on four yellows, just a single caution away from a one-match ban.
Finally picking up the points his underlying statistics have hinted at, Robert Snodgrass has a varied schedule over the next six. Home games against Palace and Swansea look potentially profitable, as does a trip to Sunderland – down to just 5.9 in FPL, he remains firmly under the radar, with an ownership less than 5%.
As many as three Stoke midfielders found the net in the previous Gameweek and while Marko Arnautovic was not amongst them, the summer signing still keeps his spot in this week’s refresh. The Austrian continues to offer plenty of goal threat and with four home games and a trip to Hull in the next six, is relatively kind on the budget at just 5.5.
West Ham’s Ravel Morrison also remains in our thoughts despite his appearance on the Suspension Tightrope – like Cabaye, he’s a yellow card away from a one-match ban. A goal away to Norwich last time around took the 4.8 priced Morrison’s tally to three for the season – he now has home games against Fulham and Sunderland and a trip to Palace in the next five.
Still troubled by a quick return from hernia surgery, Robbie Brady’s owners have been left frustrated as Steve Bruce tries to nurse him back to full fitness. With a fortnight’s international break helping his recuperation, Hull’s top scorer is expected to be fit in time for this weekend’s home clash against Palace – Brady also squares up to Swansea and Stoke in the next five as he looks to rediscover the form which harvested three sets of double figures in the opening six appearances prior to injury.
Southampton’s Adam Lallana has a tough schedule on the horizon. The Saints skipper has been in sensational form – a goal or assist in five of the last seven has helped him up to third in the midfield rankings but with Arsenal, Chelsea, City and Spurs in the next six, he may struggle to maintain his consistency.
