Aubameyang, has started his Arsenal career solidly. Though this comes as no great shock given his performances for Borussia Dortmund over the last few seasons, which has seen the likes of a Champions League brace against eventual champions, Real Madrid, in 2016/17. So far Aubameyang has contributed four Fantasy Premier League (FPL) involvements in five games, scoring three times in meetings with Everton, Brighton and Watford. His seven efforts on target across the five gameweeks he has played to date is level with Agüero and Murray and only Kane, with 10, has managed more amongst forwards. Similarly, the Spurs man was the only forward to be involved in more ‘big chances’, eight to Aubameyang’s five, between gameweeks 26 and 30. With Aubameyang ineligible for Arsenal in the Europa League this season his starting place in the Premier League appears fairly secure for the promising home fixtures against Stoke, Southampton and West Ham over the next four. Arsenal will host Stoke in gameweek 32 and will be hoping to capitalise on the fact that the Potters have conceded 18 goals in their last five league games versus “top-six” opponents. Our Fix algorithm predicts that Arsenal will score 2.75 goals when they host Stoke on Sunday, which is the most of any team in Gameweek 32. With a projected score of 5.9 points, could Aubameyang be a viable captaincy choice over Salah? Possibly.
With another transfer window behind us, Leicester fans were the ones who breathed the biggest sigh of relief - keeping hold of their chief playmaker in somewhat surprising circumstances, when Man. City supposedly swooped in with a £65 million 11th hour offer. The Algerian international has directly contributed to 21 league goals this season, delivering 10 goals and 11 assists from his 28 appearances and only De Bruyne, with 23, Sterling, with 26, and Salah, with 39, have provided more FPL involvements amongst midfielders. The Leicester man’s 29 efforts on target this season is on par with Sterling, and during his last three starts he has provided seven shots on target which is on par with Willian, and no midfielder has taken more. Mahrez also provided three FPL involvements in that same period, level with Salah and Mané. Leicester will travel to Brighton on the south-coast for their gameweek 32 tie. Brighton have not kept a clean sheet in their last nine league games which bodes well for free-scoring Leicester. Our Fix algorithm forecasts 1.44 goals for the Foxes, and with Mahrez contributing to nine of Leicester’s last 17 goals when on the pitch, points could be on the cards again.
Some prolific Championship strikers make the cut in the Premier League, but most do not. It is early days, but, Wood looks to be made of the right minerals to be a success in the English top-flight. Unfortunately, the forward has suffered a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury for most of this campaign, but since returning has provided an eye-opening three goals and one assist in less than 75 minutes of football. Wood’s four shots on target across gameweeks 29 and 30 was on par with Aubameyang and Murray. With teammate, Barnes, enjoying a good spell of form himself scoring a goal in each of his last three league games, Dyche could look to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, to accommodate both forwards. Wood’s average of 1.1 shots on target per game is first amongst both budget and mid-priced forwards (8.5 or below), while only Rooney, with 10, and Murray, with 11, have scored more than the Burnley man’s seven league goals this season, within that group of players. Burnley will travel to the Hawthorns for gameweek 32, and will want to take advantage of West Brom’s atrocious current form. The Baggies have conceded a colossal average of two goals per game over their last nine league fixtures. Wood’s current form dictates that a goal or assist under 90 mins of game time is likely. Against the league’s worst, his chances look good.
Kenedy, has been spoken highly of throughout Chelsea’s fan base for years, so, to say it was somewhat of a coup for Newcastle to land him on loan in January would be stating the obvious. The highly-talented midfielder has started each of the last six league games for Newcastle registering an assist and two goals over that period, following a brace against Southampton in gameweek 30. During those six gameweeks Kenedy has produced five attempted assists and his two ‘big chances created’ was on par with Salah. When compared with similar priced midfielders (6.0 or below), only Groß, with 15, and Stanislas, with 22, have attempted more than Kenedy’s 14 shots over the last six. Newcastle are just four points better off than 18th placed Southampton, so they still have plenty to play for in the remaining weeks of the season, as they look to maintain their place in the Premier League. The Magpies face Huddersfield at home in gameweek 32 and will be well aware that the Terriers have conceded two goals a game on average during their last five away league games. Meanwhile, Newcastle are unbeaten in their last five home games, defeating Man. United during that run, and have scored six goals in those games. Kenedy is predicted to score more points than Mahrez via our Fix algorithm to further justify his inclusion.
Lowton, had a torrid time of it during his debut season in the Premier League. Falling victim to a toxic, rapidly deteriorating Aston Villa side who finally succumbed to relegation. But, under Dyche’s steady stewardship the right-back has come on leaps and bounds. Lowton provides FPL managers with the cheapest, most secure route into the Burnley backline and is proving to be a popular choice amongst those electing to use their Wildcard this gameweek. Since returning from a knee injury, Lowton, has provided two assists in just five appearances. In addition he also kept a clean sheet in Burnley’s most recent fixture away to West Ham in gameweek 30. During that period, his total of three ‘big chances created’ was top amongst defenders, beating Robertson, Ben Davies, Walker and Alonso (all with two ‘big chances created’). Burnley will pit themselves against West Brom away in gameweek 32 and the Baggies come into this one having scored only three goals in their last five games. Burnley on the other hand have conceded just six goals in their last seven league games, letting in just two against both Manchester clubs, combined. Lowton has the attacking potential as discussed, but with our Fix algorithm giving Burnley a 52% chance of a clean sheet (just behind the best rating of 59% for Man. City) clean sheet points also look likely.
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