Santi Cazorla is amongst the goals as Theo Walcott is stretchered off in Arsenal’s win over Spurs. Alvaro Negredo notches for City, who are held to a draw by Blackburn. Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez help Southampton edge past Burnley, Nikica Jelavic bags a brace for Everton, whilst Cardiff clinch a win at Newcastle in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first match at the helm.
Walcott Stretchered Off as Gunners Win North London Derby
With Olivier Giroud missing out through sickness, Theo Walcott was handed the lone forward role for the visit of Tottenham. The midfielder’s Fantasy owners face an anxious wait on his availability for next Monday’s trip to Villa after he was forced off on a stretcher with a knee problem towards the end of the 2-0 win – after the game, Arsene Wenger admitted he was uncertain whether the problem is “a stretched ligament or just a kick”.
Given that the Gunners have some very favourable fixtures up next, though, Fantasy managers will be making alternative plans should Walcott be sidelined. Santi Cazorla grabbed the opener that his recent displays have merited, whilst Mesut Ozil is back in the fold after appearing as a late substitute following a brief stint on the sidelines with a knee problem. Wenger was also optimistic on Giroud’s return for the Gameweek 21 trip to Villa on Monday week.
“We still have Podolski and Ozil on the bench. Giroud was sick, he was not injured, so for the next game he should be available. Of course if we lose Theo for a longer period, it is a problem.”
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Adebayor’s potential suitors will be delighted to see the Togo international fully recovered from the cramp that forced him off in the midweek win at United. With the injuries hitting hard, Tim Sherwood could afford to make just one change from the side that clinched victory at Old Trafford. The main point of note from the visitors’ perspective was change in formation just after the hour mark – Sherwood began the game with his preferred 4-4-2 set-up but decided to switch to a 4-3-3 and subbed off Roberto Soldado, allowing Adebayor to lead the line on his own. There are reports that post-match, Sherwood claimed that Soldado had picked up a minor injury before being replaced.
Negredo Notches as Replay Adds to City’s Schedule
Manuel Pellegrini retained Edin Dzeko alongside Alvaro Negredo up front in a 4-4-2 for City’s trip to Blackburn. Fernandinho and Matija Nastasic also kept their starting roles as the Chilean made seven changes to the side that defeated Swansea on New Year’s Day, with David Silva lasting 88 minutes upon his return from suspension. Dzeko supplied the assist for his strike partner’s opener but the hosts’ leveller means City are set for a replay at the Etihad on January 15. With upcoming Capital One Semi-Final matches on their agenda, City still have six fixtures remaining in January – after the game, Pellegrini admitted he will continue to rotate in order to deal with an unrelenting schedule.
“We were going to be travelling to Abu Dhabi and having a friendly match there, now we are going to play against Blackburn Rovers at home. What is better? It is impossible to know. It (the replay) is not an extra problem. We have to play another match and have the squad to do it but we will continue making the rotation, that is better for the squad.”
Pellegrini will doubtless rotate again for Wednesday’s first leg Capital One Cup tie with West Ham, although Dedryck Boyata’s red card in yesterday’s tie will rule him out, perhaps forcing the City boss to field Pablo Zabaleta in a match that he would otherwise have been rested from.
Another Clean Sheet for Palace as Chamakh Helps Sink Baggies
Tony Pulis made just one alteration to his back-four for Palace’s trip to West Brom. Joel Ward was replaced by Jonathan Parr at left-back, with Adrian Mariappa getting the nod at right-back for the sixth game in succession as the Eagles racked up a fourth clean sheet in nine matches. The likes of Jason Puncheon and Marouane Chamakh climbed off the bench late on as the latter added a second following Dwight Gayle’s first-half opener – Chamakh has now notched four of Palace’s eight goals scored in all competitions since Pulis’ arrival.
Adam in the Goals Again as Home Comforts Help Potters Through
Mark Hughes named a strong line-up for the visit of Leicester. The Stoke boss made just three changes from the draw against Everton, with Jack Butland, Marko Arnautovic and Kenwyne Jones coming in for the injured Thomas Sorensen, Jon Walters and Peter Crouch respectively. Given that Stoke have been beaten once at the Britannia all season, a 2-1 home win was perhaps no real surprise – Jones’s strike suggested he may yet offer Crouch competition for the lone forward role, while Adam’s attacking output continues to look crucial for the Potters. The Scot is club’s top scorer in the league, with four goals from 12 starts, and his 55th minute strike ultimately proved decisive as the hosts held off a late Leicester rally to edge into the Fourth Round.
Lallana and Rodriguez Maintain Form as Saints Squeeze Past Burnley
Southampton’s two main Fantasy assets were amongst the goals again in a narrow 4-3 win at St Mary’s. Both Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez climbed off the bench to notch a goal apiece to further their claims for our attention ahead of a schedule which hands them five kind-looking fixtures (WBA, sun, ful, STO, hul) in the next six Gameweeks. Indeed, with Pablo Osvaldo suspended for the next two league games and Rickie Lambert forced off on 22 minutes with a dead leg, Rodriguez’ prospects of playing through the middle merely heighten his appeal – as does a price tag of just 6.2 for a player who has eight goals and a pair of assists in the last 14 Gameweeks.
Solskjaer Off to Winning Start Against Under-Strength Magpies
Alan Pardew was without Fabricio Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye and Tim Krul through injury, whilst Mathieu Debuchy served the first of a three-match suspension. Papiss Cisse made the most of a rare start by firing the hosts’ opener at St James’ Park but, in his debut as Bluebirds’ boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not to be denied. Intriguingly, the Norwegian immediately installed Andreas Cornelius to the starting XI but it was a couple of substitutes who hogged the headlines, as Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell climbed off the bench to secure a 2-1 victory.
Cottagers Set for Replay as Dempsey Makes Debut Bow
On-loan Clint Dempsey lasted the full 90 minutes upon his return to the Fulham starting XI. The US international was somewhat overshadowed by another Fantasy favourite from yesteryear as Darren Bent – starting up top for the rested Dimitar Berbatov – opened the scoring for the Cottagers on 40 minutes. Chris Hughton had Robert Snodgrass to thank for saving his blushes, though, as the Scot grabbed an equaliser on half-time to snatch a 1-1 draw. The Canaries boss rested the likes of Gary Hooper and John Ruddy was also devoid of the suspended Leroy Fer. Both Seb Bassong and Bradley Johnson missed out with minor knocks but are expected to return for the Gameweek 21 trip to Everton, as is Wes Hoolahan. Hughton quickly quashed the transfer speculation surrounding the midfield playmaker, with rumours of a imminent bid from Aston Villa. Hoolahan missed yesterday’s tie due to a minor injury according to Hughton.
Benteke Drought Continues as Villa Crash Out
Paul Lambert’s dismissal of the FA Cup in Thursday’s press conference came back to haunt the Villa boss as his side were sent packing by Sheffield United at the first hurdle. Despite claiming the cup was a “distraction”, Lambert made only four changes from the XI that edged past Sunderland on New Year’s Day, with Brad Guzan, Ron Vlaar, Nathan Baker and Gabby Agbonlahor omitted from the XI – Baker picked up a muscle problem in the warm-up, whilst Agbonlahor was nursing a slight hamstring problem. Lambert handed Christian Benteke the full 90 minutes but the Belgian’s inability to find the net shows little sign of abating – he’s now blanked in 12 games across all competitions for the midlands club who had sub Nicklas Helenius to thank for their solitary strike.
Jelavic at the Double as Toffees Hammer ‘Arry’s QPR
Roberto Martinez made five changes to the side that drew at Stoke on Wednesday. Nikica Jelavic got the nod ahead of Romelu Lukaku as the lone striker and bagged a brace in the 4-0 win as the Belgian warmed the bench for the afternoon. Seamus Coleman’s sensational season continued as the right-back found the net yet again, whilst Ross Barkley’s eye for goal came to the fore as the Merseysiders racked up yet another impressive display. At the back, Martinez continued with John Stones and Antolin Alcaraz in central defence, Tim Howard was an unused sub and Leighton Baines was handed the day off entirely.
Fringe Players Help Tigers to ‘Boro Win
Steve Bruce made nine changes for Hull’s trip to Middlesbrough – a clear indication of his priorities. David Meyler and Maynor Figueroa were the men to retain their starting berths as the Tigers boss utilised the depth of his squad following the hectic festive period. Aaron McLean, who has just returned from a loan spell at Birmingham, grabbed the opener before Nick Proschwitz added the second.
