Versus – Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal’s Key Players

The pricing in the 2014/15 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game has presented Fantasy managers with some tough choices, especially those with their eye on Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United’s key players. In all three teams the FPL price experts have given us a choice between an expensive and more kindly priced player who both have the potential to score heavily this season.

Alexis Sánchez (£10.5m) vs Aaron Ramsey (£9.0m)

Last Season

Playing on the right side of a front three for Barcelona, Sánchez scored 19 goals and produced 12 assists in La Liga for the Catalan outfit, but only gained two assists in nine Champions League appearances. He impressed at the World Cup this summer, scoring twice for Chile.

Aaron Ramsey took his performances to a whole new level after a few very average campaigns in North London, becoming an integral part to Arsenal’s early season title charge. Starting the season at a mere £5.5m, the 23-year-old registered 10 goals and nine assists, despite picking up a thigh strain on Boxing day that ruled the Welshman out for just over three months. His price reflected his rich vein of form, rising up to £8.0m at one point, and he begins the 2014/15 season £1m higher, at £9.0m.

The Prospects

Sanchez’s strengths include finishing, with a Yaya Touré-esque shot on target percentage, as well as scoring his fair share of direct free-kicks. The Chilean also likes to come inside, and with winger Theo Walcott out of action until at least late August, his absence is likely to mean Sánchez slots directly into the right hand side of the Gunners midfield for the beginning of the campaign. However, once Walcott returns, Sánchez’s role in the side could change.

During the World Cup in Brazil, Wenger said “He has all the attributes of a modern striker, he can play on the flanks and through the middle, so he gives you many opportunities. He can score goals, he works very hard which is very important from the front [forwards] now in the modern game.”

If Wenger flirts with the idea of Sánchez playing up front at times next season, the only issue for Fantasy managers is, when will he be played up top? When Giroud suffers a loss of form as he did last season? As soon as Walcott is back? Only during the big games/Champions League? These questions remain unanswered, so will pre-season give us any signs? I hope so, but with Sánchez surprisingly classified as a midfielder in FPL, and a potential out-of-position forward in a top four side, at £10.5m he is too good to pass up, right?

Aaron Ramsey is a different matter. Playing as a box-to-box midfielder for Wenger’s side, Ramsey’s penetrative, bursting runs into the box provide a shock for opposition defenders, as he finds himself in the right place at the right time to notch home, á la Frank Lampard for Chelsea in years gone by. Coupled with his increased passing range and vision, as well as excellent dribbling ability, his current Fantasy potential is incredible. But will Ramsey be able to go that extra level and join the rare breed of a 15-to-20-goals-a-season midfielder? At just 23 years old, the potential is certainly there for the Welshman and, with his only limitation being his injury record, the all round midfielder can certainly rival Alexis Sánchez as a Fantasy option as he continues to mature into a fine footballer.

The Verdict

As with any new arrival, many Fantasy managers elect to wait and see how they adapt to life in the Premier League. However, this may not be the case for some. An already proven player like Sánchez in north London has left many willing to spend £10.5m on the potential out-of-position man, despite opening fixtures that include a trip to Goodison Park, as well as welcoming Manchester City and north London rivals Tottenham to the Emirates. Given the fixtures, it may be a viable option to pick Ramsey at £1.5m cheaper, with the Welshman being less risky given the price. Electing to not pick any Arsenal midfielder and waiting to see how they progress may also be an option that some Fantasy managers are willing to take.

Eden Hazard (£10.0m) vs Cesc Fábregas (£9.0m)

Last season

Hazard’s first season under Mourinho was rather impressive, particularly from a Fantasy perspective. The Belgian recorded 14 goals, 10 assists and 23 bonus points in 32 appearances for Chelsea, scoring five more than in his previous campaign under Benitez. However, despite being dubbed as a flat-track bully, Hazard’s FPL scoring is somewhat erratic. Finishing up with a price of £10.4m, he was priced at £10.0m this term, despite many predicting him to come in at £11.0m.

Since leaving Arsenal a few seasons ago, Cesc Fábregas’ role has changed somewhat, with him operating deeper in a midfield trio, or occasionally as a false nine, as he has done with Spain. Criticised by Barca fans for going missing during the big games, Fábregas still managed eight goals and 13 assists in 28 appearances in La Liga, before joining Chelsea this summer for around £30m.

The Prospects

Hazard, sporting his new No.10 jersey next season, is likely to continue in the same manner as last season. Frequently coming inside from the left, as well as being able to play in behind the striker and from the right, the Belgian provides a serious goal threat with his lethal right foot, as well as having the ability to beat a man and put a ball across the box. The arrival of Diego Costa is likely to increase Hazard’s attraction as a Fantasy option. Having a striker in a different class from the likes of Torres and Ba in the Chelsea line-up means Hazard’s previously unanswered crosses are likely to be finished off by the ex-Atletico man, as well as better link-up play with the front man. Frank Lampard’s departure is likely to leave the former Lille man on penalty duty too, and David Luiz’s transfer to PSG also means Hazard will have more opportunities from direct free-kicks. Overall, Hazard still has the ability to increase his goal and assist output from previous seasons, whilst also developing into a world-class talent under Mourinho.

Fábregas’ role at Chelsea remains unclear, however. With Oscar likely to occupy the No.10 role in behind Costa, Mourinho may elect to field the Spaniard in a less advanced role alongside Nemanja Matic, as suggested by his reasoning behind pursuing the former Arsenal man. On the other end of the spectrum, Fábregas may undertake a previous role to that of Frank Lampard during Mourinho’s first stint as Chelsea manager in a 4-3-3 formation. Fábregas is likely to be a viable option, providing he can nail down a spot and become one of Mourinho’s untouchables.

The Verdict

With Chelsea handed a fairly favourable schedule, and facing two of the three promoted sides in their opening six games – a trip to Burnley in Gameweek 1, followed up by Leicester at home a week later – a Chelsea attacker is highly advisable. And with Hazard coming in at £10.0m, and underpriced according to some, it’s no surprise that the left winger is a popular pick, but only just to his Chelsea teammate Fábregas priced at £9.0m. But as Fábregas’ position in the Chelsea team is up in the air, it may be advisable to cough up the extra £1.0m to buy Hazard, or even double up for the opening fixtures, although that comes at a high risk.

Robin van Persie (£12.5m) vs Wayne Rooney (£10.5m)

Last Season

Despite an injury-hit season for Van Persie, the Dutchman still mustered up up 12 goals and three assists in 18 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils, but thrived at the World Cup for the Netherlands under new Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal. Van Persie scored four goals in six appearances in Brazil, including a brace in the opening round against 2010 winners Spain, in a 5-1 rout for the Dutch.

Wayne Rooney was his usual self last season under David Moyes. Scoring 17 and providing 10 assists for United, his fifth Premier League season with double figures for both goals and assists. Rooney was regularly the focal point in the United attack, usually playing in behind either Robin van Persie or Danny Welbeck or up top, with Juan Mata playing wider. Rooney was forced out wide for the opening game of the World Cup against Italy, and despite registering an assist his performance was somewhat underwhelming, much like England’s World Cup campaign.

The Prospects

The arrival of Dutchman Louis van Gaal has lead to much speculation with regards to rejuvenating van Persie as a Fantasy option. With Van Persie, a clinical finisher, likely to lead the line and be the focal point of van Gaal’s team, many suspect he will return to the 25-plus-goals-a-season striker that we saw back in 2011/12 and 2012/13, with the majority of set-pieces on his side to back him up. The only limitation of Van Persie as a Fantasy pick is his fitness issues. Given three weeks off by van Gaal after claiming he’s “exhausted” after the World Cup, it may take time for him to return to full match fitness. However, without Champions League football at Old Trafford this season, van Persie will have a week’s gap between games and won’t be put through his paces in intense fitness training like he was under David Moyes, so injuries are less likely to occur as the season progresses.

Rooney’s future under van Gaal is something which has been widely debated. His usual number 10 spot behind van Persie is likely to be rivalled by Juan Mata and Shinji Kagawa, which may result in the 28-year-old being forced out wide, most likely to the left hand side as he was back in the 2008 Champions League winning side. However, he may not have the discipline, nor pace to be as effective as he once was in a wide berth. But there is no doubting Rooney’s ability in behind the striker, and as an all round forward there is arguably none better in the business. Providing he plays a central role, he has the potential to maintain his consistent scoring and assisting record and thrive in a new era under van Gaal.

The Verdict

Going without a United forward in your Fantasy team for the opening fixtures may be a foolish move, with United Everton at home in Gameweek 7 being their first troublesome fixture. The ideal tactic may be to begin with Van Persie, who, providing any fitness scares, is a reasonable captain choice most weeks, whilst also monitoring how Rooney fits into Van Gaal’s system, before making the downgrade should Rooney become the greater option. But price may be a key factor – with Van Persie coming in at £2.0m more, many stubborn FPL managers will be unwilling to spend one eighth of their budget on the United frontman.