Frisking the Fixtures – Gameweek 3 – The Strong

Although the international break is just around the corner, we’ve already got our eye on what’s to come during September and October. Everton’s schedule offers cause for optimism, while Arsenal assets should start to appear on our radars as the fixture list eases.

Everton

(STO, sun, MID, bou, CPL, mci)

With the Toffees’ only tough fixture in the next six coming away to Man City in Gameweek 8, Ronald Koeman’s side should provide us with a plethora of strong options.

Both Bournemouth and Stoke rank among the top four sides for big chances conceded, with six and five respectively over the opening two Gameweeks, while Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace feature among the top four for shots against inside the penalty area. Sunderland, meanwhile, have conceded twice in each of their first two matches, so the Everton attack, which has yielded three goals so far this season, should definitely be backed over the next five Gameweeks.

Ross Barkley has a goal and assist to his name already, with his price rising to 7.7 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), while Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Bolasie should be able to flourish over the coming period. Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas will also be pushing to retain their starts and could potentially offer further options in midfield.

It’s the Bournemouth and Stoke fixtures that stand out from a defensive perspective, along with the Gameweek 5 home clash against Middlesbrough, with all three clubs in the bottom five for total goal attempts over the first two Gameweeks. Palace have failed to find the back of the net so far, whilst Sunderland offer a limited attacking threat outside of Jermain Defoe, so the Toffees should be able to bag a clean sheet or two over the next month or so.

At the back, much depends on Koeman’s tactics. Having started with a three-man defence at the Hawthorns last weekend, with Leighton Baines again utilised as a wing-back, the Dutchman shifted to 4-2-3-1. The latter system would perhaps diminish Baines’ appeal and also place question marks over the preferred centre-back pairing, with Phil Jagielka, Ashley Williams and Ramiro Funes Mori battling it out for the two spots.

Crystal Palace

(BOU, mid, STO, sun, eve, WHM)

Alan Pardew’s men have yet to register a first point of the season, but the Eagles should be able to prosper over the coming period, with their next six fixtures rated as the most favourable by our Season Ticker.

As already mentioned, matches against Bournemouth and Stoke are, at the moment, among the kindest match-ups based on the data over the opening two Gameweeks. That pair have offered a limited attacking threat and allowed plenty of chances at the other end.

Away trips to north east teams Middlesbrough and Sunderland are also promising, particularly from a defensive standpoint.

Both Everton and West Ham are fairly stringy at the back, though, so those clashes may not yield many goals for Palace unless the signing of Christian Benteke leads to a dramatic improvement in that area.

Benteke could be the attacker to target over the coming period, should he be able to build up his fitness levels over the international break the back, though Andros Townsend remains a threat in midfield, having produced more shots and key passes than any team-mate so far. In defence, Scott Dann is the premium option, with Pape Souare more budget friendly.

West Brom

(MID, bou, WHM, sto, sun, TOT)

Similar to Everton, it’s only a difficult fixture at the end of the current slate, at home to Tottenham in Gameweek 8, that appears tricky for the Baggies.

Tony Pulis’ side face home clashes against Middlesbrough and West Ham, which should offer up reasonable opportunities to get amongst the goals, but worryingly, the trend of the Baggies being stronger defensively on the road has again been illustrated this season.

That does mean, though, that trips to Bournemouth, Stoke and Sunderland look the type of match-ups that could see West Brom rack up a clean sheet or two, with all three sides yet to impress in front of goal.

Ben Foster and all of the Baggies regular starters at the back should continue to prove sound investments, then, while Salomon Rondon may be worth consideration as a cheap forward.

Arsenal

(wat, SOT, hul, CHE, bur, SWA)

With two tough matches out of the way, Arsenal are a team we should now be paying close attention to. The Gunners’ most difficult fixture in the next six is a home clash against Chelsea in Gameweek 6, while a trio of road trips (wat, hul, bur) stand out as potentially profitable.

All three teams rank in the top eight for shots conceded in the box so far this season, and should provide Arsenal with plenty of opportunities to get amongst the goals. Watford and Burnley are the two sides that have registered the fewest attempts over the opening couple of Gameweeks, suggesting Gunners defenders should also be backed.

The home clash against Swansea appears favourable from both an attacking and defensive point of view, although Southampton may be tougher to break down, having conceded only one big chance in their opening two matches. Saints have failed to create a big chance themselves, though, despite being third for total goal attempts.

While Alexis Sanchez is struggling for form right now, the Chilean is certainly one to watch given the swing in the Gunners fixtures, while Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud are others who could take advantage of a weak schedule. It remains to be seen whether Theo Walcott can retain his start once Wenger’s regulars are back in the first XI.

At the back, Petr Cech looks the safest bet, with Rob Holding only worth considering should Arsene Wenger not sign another defender before the transfer window closes. Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal justified their lofty price tags with a nine-point haul apiece at Leicester, highlighting their bonus point potential.

Also Consider

West Ham
Following Sunday’s trip to Man City, Slaven Bilic’s men face a very kind looking run of fixtures (WAT, wba, SOT, MID, cpl). The Hammers registered a clean sheet in their first match at the Olympic Stadium against Bournemouth, and could be able to repeat that feat in at least one of the next three home matches. With trips to West Brom and Palace also on the agenda, finding a place for a Hammers defender should prove worthwhile over the coming period. James Collins looks their most assured budget asset, though Sam Byram could be an option if he can retain the right-back berth.

As already touched upon, Southampton and Middlesbrough have, on the early evidence, looked fairly solid at the back, but overall it’s expected that West Ham attackers should be able to flourish after the trip to the Etihad.

Dimitri Payet is expected back shortly and will have the platform to flourish once he’s up to full fitness. Michael Antonio would be a very viable alternative should he continue to be picked as a winger, though the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Sofiane Feghouli are also nearing comebacks, bringing competition to Bilic’s attacking midfield.

Enner Valencia and Jonathan Calleri look set to battle it out for the lone striker role but look a gamble too far for now.

Bournemouth
A trip to Man City is the Cherries’ only match against one of last season’s top 10 over the next six Gameweeks (cpl, WBA, EVE, wat, HUL), so the south coast club may well provide us with some decent budget options over the coming weeks.

Adam Smith could be the pick of the defenders at this point due to his attacking threat. Eddie Howe’s men are not the strongest defensive team, although there should be a reasonable chance of picking up a clean sheet over this period.

It’s perhaps more at the top end of the pitch where our attention should be, although there are concerns over whether Howe could ring the changes after offer a limited attacking threat so far this season. Jordon Ibe could prove the best route into the Cherries attack, with Callum Wilson misfiring during the opening two Gameweeks. Joshua King is worth monitoring if he continues to be stationed in a central support berth.

Tottenham
Spurs face two testing home fixtures in the next six (LIV, sto, SUN, mid, MCI, wba), against Liverpool and Man City, though Mauricio Pochettino’s attackers are more than capable of troubling those defences.

Stoke and West Brom in particular have struggled at the back against strong sides at home, so the likes of Harry Kane and Erik Lamela should be in our thoughts, with the home match against Sunderland also looking a plum fixture. Despite an encouraging display on Saturday, it remains to be seen whether Vincent Janssen can emerge as a viable contender for our three-man frontlines just yet.

The Tottenham defence has continued in a similar vein from last season, so while the Liverpool and City match-ups are somewhat off-putting, the other four fixtures are favourable enough to push the claims of Kyle Walker, in particular, who also offers an attacking threat.