Scout Notes – Arnautovic Back With A Bang

Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini promote their stock as West Ham humble Huddersfield, while another clean sheet can’t paper over the cracks in Chelsea’s under-performing frontline.

Fickle Fantasy managers were made to pay for their lack of patience in Marko Arnautovic as the West Ham midfielder delivered his biggest points haul of the season in the 4-1 win at Huddersfield.

The Austrian international’s ownership grew by 358,000+ for the double Gameweek 22, but he was then dropped by 114,000 – some, presumably, influenced by a hamstring issue that kept him out of the match against Spurs – for this weekend.

Arnautovic punished that decision with a goal, two assists and maximum bonus for 16 points, continuing a superb run since manager David Moyes has used him in a central striker role.

Six goals and a trio of assists in seven starts has been the result, with Arnautovic flourishing today as the spearhead in a 3-5-1-1 formation that made short work of the Terriers.

He now has 62 points from those last seven matches – red-hot form that will make it very difficult for the likes of Andy Carroll to oust him from the forward line.

Moyes was certainly glowing in his praise post-match.

“I’m really pleased with Marko. Everybody told me he hadn’t performed before I came. Giving him a freer role up front has given him a chance to show other sides to his game as well, with the effort and the way he has worked.”

Still owned by just 8.1% and the subject of a price drop back down to 6.9 because of those sales, the popularity pendulum has now swung back in Arnautovic’s favour yet again, with early adopters making him the most purchased pick for Gameweek 24.

He was at the heart of everything positive the Hammers did at Huddersfield, harrying Terriers scorer Joe Lolley into the mistake that led to Mark Noble’s opener and also setting up both Manuel Lanzini’s goals.

The Argentine was another to suffer net sales after a double Gameweek surge in ownership, but he’s now produced back-to-back returns and West Ham’s schedule (BOU CPL bri WAT) could even persuade some to double up on him and Arnautovic.

The only downside on the day was the Hammers’ defence, which conceded for the fourth match running after keeping clean sheets in the previous three fixtures.

Moyes’ men allowed Huddersfield five shots on target, and the backline has now conceded 27 on target efforts since Gameweek 19 – only Stoke City have been more generous.

Chelsea frustrations grow

Chelsea recorded a fourth 0-0 draw in their last seven matches in all competitions, piling on the pain for managers hoping that their Blues attacking assets would deliver.

That angst was at least partially alleviated by the Chelsea backline keeping yet another clean sheet – that’s five in the last six matches now and six in seven at Stamford Bridge.

But the fact that Antonio Conte’s side had 17 shots and yet created not a single big chance against a well-organised Leicester City speaks volumes for the current malaise at the other end of the pitch.

Both Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata disappointed once again.

The Belgian was unceremoniously hooked after 57 minutes for a one-point return from a match in which he created three chances but managed just one shot on goal.

He now has one goal and an assist from his last seven starts and is shedding owners at pace as a result.

More than 419,000 have jumped ship over the past five Gameweeks, and the early indications are that there’s more to come heading into Gameweek 24.

Morata is currently being offloaded by more than Hazard – he’s the most sold player thus far – and it’s not hard to see why.

Three straight blanks and just two goals since Gameweek 14 speak of a player shorn of confidence in a side struggling to find the right attacking balance.

Speaking post-match, Conte’s message to Morata was a rather mixed affair.

“I think the problem is for the team, not only for Morata. Compared to last season we are conceding less and showing more solidity, but we haven’t had great quality in our finishing.”

The Spaniard failed to muster a single shot on goal and had just three touches in the box as the Foxes defended stoutly, particularly after Ben Chilwell was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Morata was also booked to match Hazard’s one-point display as his ownership continues to dip below the one million mark – at its peak, it was twice that.

Back pain for some

Chelsea moved to a league-high 12 clean sheets for the season, level with Man United, although they were given a few frights by Leicester, and the impressive Riyad Mahrez in particular.

The Foxes were still limited to just one shot on target, but that didn’t mean it was joy unconfined for those managers with Blues defenders in their sides.

Andreas Christensen was benched to disappoint his 252,000 owners. That’s one start in four Gameweeks for the young Dane now, with Conte perhaps preferring the pace of Antonio Rudiger to combat Leicester’s fast break.

But having looked a steal at 5.6 for a regular starter in such a parsimonious defence, the threat of rotation means that Christensen owners could now be pondering exit plans.

Gary Cahill missed out on a potential clean sheet when he was withdrawn on 32 minutes, with Conte later confirming the centre-half had a muscular issue, ‘but not a serious problem’.

Christensen replaced him and fell agonisingly short of the 60 minutes required for shut-out points.

Marcos Alonso furthered his stock with two bonus points, mainly due to the two chances he created, to take him to a superb 42 points from his last four home matches.

Maximum bonus on the day went to Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel, who pulled off seven saves to ramp up the Stamford Bridge frustrations.