Fantasy Focus: Gameweek 35 – Tough Decisions!

by Rich Murphy on April 20, 2012

It’s all go for a full weekend of fixtures which is some relief after the head ache of team selections last week. Here is a quick rundown on 3 games and the stats and facts you should keep in mind when setting up yours teams this gameweek.

Arsenal (3rd) Vs Chelsea (6th)
Wenger’s side will be looking to bounce back after Monday night’s shock defeat by in form Wigan. This Saturday’s early kick off see’s them welcome a triumphant Chelsea who managed to beat Barca on Wednesday night despite only touching the ball twice!

Will the game suffer from the lack of pace and guile we so often see from this lunch time fixture as the blues will no doubt be tired out still after chasing Messi and co round for 90 minutes in their Champions league clash? Neither side can take the foot off the gas as games are running out and next season’s spots in Europe’s premier completion are still up for grabs.

Form wise the Gunners have been playing well with 8 wins out the last 10 played, they have lost 2 of the last 4 though against teams fighting for their Prem lives in Wigan and QPR.

Arsenal have played 17 games at home and have won 12 with only 2 drawn.

There only home losses where against Liverpool, United and of course Wigan. Chelsea’s form is somewhat patchy from the last 10 played with them winning 4 and drawing 3 with 3 losses. Out of 17 played away this season they have won or drawn 6 with 5 lost.

There have been lots of goals in this fixture previously so strikers and attacking midfielders have to be worth a look. Last time out Arsenal won 3-5 at the Bridge with goals from, Lampard, Terry, Mata, RVP 3, Santos, Walcott.

In last season’s game at the Emirates Arsenal won 3-1 with Song, Fabregas and Walcott scoring with Ivanovic hitting Chelsea’s only goal.
Fantasy Player Watch (last 3 week points)
Arsenal – RVP 14, Vermaelen 20
Chelsea –Mata 17, Torres 19

Fulham (10th) Vs Wigan (16th)
This should be an interesting fixture and somewhere to look at a potential differential’s in your team selection. As we know Fulham are a different beast at home but with the Pog only a 50% chance of playing all the threat is likely to come from Dempsey.

The Latics though are on the march up the table and as in previous campaigns seem to keep that little bit in the tank this time of year when other sides start to fall. The recent results show they are not scared to go get in the faces of the big teams and play free flowing good football which has to be commended.

With only 5 points between them and the relegation sides though and Bolton having 2 games in hand, Wigan can’t afford not to give it their all in this fixture.

Form wise the Cottagers last 10 see them winning 5 with 1 drawn and 4 lost. At Home out of 17 played they have won 8 and drawn 5 with 4 losses. As safety has been achieved this year and Europe looking unlikely will they give up and start preparing for next season?

As for Wigan the form has been outstanding with the only loss from 7 coming against Chelsea where they quite frankly robbed. Out of last 10 they have won 5 with 3 draws and only 2 losses, form like that it’s hard to see why are in the position in the first place. Away from the DW this season out of 17 played it’s not been as good with only 5 won and 4 drawn with 9 lost. Having taken apart Arsenal and United recently Fulham will be up against it though. This season’s first encounter saw Fulham win away surprisingly by 2 goals with Dempsey and Dembele scoring.

Fantasy Footy Fact: Last season at the Cottage it was 2-0 with Dempsey scoring both for Fulham to beat Wigan 2-0!

Fantasy Player Watch (last 3 week points)
Fulham – Dempsey 36, Duff 23
Wigan – Di Santo 11, Gomez 13

Man Utd (1st) V Everton (7th)
Destination Old Trafford for Sunday’s early kick which sees Fergie’s side face a Moye’s team who lost out to their bitter rivals at Wembley last week in a disappointing semi final. With City on the tails and a loss at Wigan being the only blot since January it has to be United’s to lose here.

Factor in Rooney ‘once a blue always a blue’ who will no question give it his all against his boyhood club and it’s difficult to see any other result.

With this factor in last time Everton won here in the league was 92 and the picture is clearer to see. Speaking of the Toffee’s will this season’s work be undone after impressive signings in January which looked like they would kick on and give Moyes that all important first taste of silverware.

No doubt Jelavic has given them the all important front man that was missing in the first part of the season and Pienaar who has been resurgent since his return a freak result might not be out of the blue here if it were to come off.

United’s form from the last 10 played finds them with 9 wins and only one loss. At home from 17 played its no less than you would expect with 14 wins and only 1 drawn with 2 losses. The only teams to walk away with 3 points so far have been Blackburn and of course City. As for Everton from the last 10 it sees them with 5 wins and 3 drawn with 2 lost.

Away from Goodison from all 16 played it sees them with 5 won or drawn and 6 lost. In last season’s game and the previous one it has been exactly the same score and scorer, go figure.