Here’s the first part of the fantasy premier league analysis of Saturdays matches for game week 18 including Wigan v Arsenal, Man City v Reading and West Ham v Everton
Wigan 0 Arsenal 1
A good performance from Wigan which didn’t get the rewards it deserved. In the end Walcott got the assist for the Arteta pen to win a game they barely deserved. However a clean sheet and a victory when youre not at your best will be particularly pleasing for Arsene Wenger as continue to defy the critics.
defensive stats
Reasonably good defensive stats from both sides
player shooting stats
Only Kone and Walcott deserve any mention
Pen Box touches were the Ox McArthur and Maloney
Chances created
Beaujesour and McCarthy
Most forward midfielders
Maloney and Walcott
performances by players owned by more than 10% of fantasy premier league teams
Mertesacker – another performance from the Arsenal defence which defies all the nonsense you hear of its fragility. Yes they were lucky but its another clean sheet. if you have nt got an Arsenal defender its still not too late after the blank in GW19. Gibbs is still my pick of choice
Cazorla -A continuation of the anonymous performances which were interrupted by the inexplicable 23 points of last week. Has 2 games in GW23 otherwise I wouldn’t even need to think about dumping him.
other players worth mentioning
Walcott – with the striking position is a real option and certainly a better pick than Cazorla. If you don’t have him in the side plan for GW23 when they have 2 games in the game week.
Kone – 7th in the last 6 shooting stats and 9th in the overall. how he didnt score is a mystery to me but continued his run of good shooting stats. now ranked 14th in the next 6 fixtures so hard to see him getting in mant fantasy premier league teams
Man City 1 Reading 1
many fantasy premier league managers having made the decision to captain either Tevez or Aguero would have been pumping their fists when the team sheet came out. However reading parked the bus effectively as they have done in the past this season and only a pretty dubious goal in stoppage time got them a winner. In the end those who went for the security of game time of Silva got the reward as he provided the assist for the winner.
defensive stats
Great defensive stats from City but from rEading it was stats that made you wonder it wasnt 10-0.
player shooting stats
Tevez followed by barry would you believe then Aguero if youre really being generous.
Pen Box touches were Tevez then Aguero with Silva a distance behind.
Chances created
Tevez then Silva and Zabaleta
Most forward midfielders
Silva and McAnuff
performances by players owned by more than 10% of fantasy premier league teams
Hart – another nailed on clean sheet and great defensive stats from the only certain player in the defensive line up. Nastasic is the closest other player to a certainty.
YYT – 32% really? I don’t understand it and from a fantasy premier league stats point of view he didn’t exist.
Tevez – all round stats leader for the game but just couldn’t score. Some reasonable fixtures ahead and although 2nd game without return the stats and the fixtures mean I would keep the faith.
other players worth mentioning
Silva – Got the assist and had an OK stat performance but was lucky compared to Tevez especially when you consider the dubious winner. I still maintain he doesn’t shoot enough to be considered a viable fantasy premier league asset
West ham 1 Everton 2
A gae Everton totally deserved to win even if you ignore the surreal sending off and the bizarre disallowed goal. Anichebe returned to the team surprisingly and scored and then Pienaar got the winner to add to his assist for the first although the last touch seemed to come off Jaas. Cole got the opening goal from a Taylor assist.
defensive stats
Great defensive stats from Everton which again weren’t rewarded with a CS. Not too bad stats from West Ham
player shooting stats
Jelavic followed by Anicehbe with Nolan next.
Pen Box touches were Anicehbe, Jelavic, Cole and Nolan
Chances created
No one stood out.
Most forward midfielders
Jarvis and Pienaar
performances by players owned by more than 10% of fantasy premier league teams
Jaas and Reid – not surprising there wasn’t a clean sheet in some ways against the leagues best attack even if it didn’t have Fellaini due to suspension. I personally dont think either player is worth the money but O’Brien, as the far cheaper alternative, if he holds his place, definitely is, as they do have the ability to keep clean sheets
Nolan – Its now 7 without return and a blank in GW19. However when they return the fixtures really get good including the GW23 2 games in 1 game week. hwever the underlying stats are still holding up and although these stats weren’t great they weren’t the pits either. GW20 is away to Reading and then in my mind, despite the lack of returns, he’s got to be a serious option
Baines – Everton have good underlying defensive stats and this continued with them its just that they have no clean sheets. How Baines is around 21% with such a background and a price tag of £7.5m is totally beyond me but its fact. Jagielka is probably the safest bet, although at £0.7m cheaper Distin must be an option.
Performances by other players worth mentioning
Pienaar – A goal and an assist is some return and it will probably be topped with a bonus but the underlying stats dont reflec the performance and I would go as far as saying it was undeserved
Osman – In the season and last 6 shooting stats and although looked good on TV the stats arent anything to write home about