Football
Fantasy Football Scout 8y

Chelsea and Arsenal could pick up points, Dmitri Payet a must-have

With the international break done and dusted, ESPN FC Premier Fantasy now officially enters the home stretch.

It won't be a straightforward run-in -- one reduced and three double Gameweeks will see to that -- but we'll kick off this weekend with a good old-fashioned programme of 10 fixtures across two days. Here's a selection of the ties catching our eye.

TEAM EFFORTS

We'll start, as ever, with the team lucky enough to be playing Aston Villa, which this week is Chelsea.

The Blues will face a managerless side and one in turmoil. Even the fact it's an away trip won't bother the Londoners -- Villa's 11 home goals scored is the league's worst record; the 25 they've conceded the second-worst.

The midfield duo of Cesc Fabregas (£7.4m), with three goals from his last three starts, and Willian (£7.0m), a goal and two assists from his last four full matches, will fancy their chances. And Oscar (£6.1m) looks tempting for those on a budget.

At the back, Branislav Ivanovic (£7.6m) will hope to secure his first clean sheet since early February.

A double GW34 make Arsenal players attractive assets for ESPN FC Premier Fantasy managers.

Alexis Sanchez (£9.0m) is finally finding some form again, with 21 points from his last three starts, and the visit of a Watford side that's not kept an away clean sheet for 15 Gameweeks offers the prospect of more of the same.

Danny Welbeck (£7.0m) has three goals and an assist from three starts and two cameo roles since returning from injury and looks likely to start up front, while Hector Bellerin (£7.0m) remains the pick of the Gunners' defenders, helped by the three assists he's provided from his last two starts.

West Ham's increasingly credible bid for a Champions League spot shouldn't be disrupted by the visit of Crystal Palace.

Alan Pardew's men are without a win since Dec. 19, have lost nine of their last 13 matches and haven't kept a clean sheet in 2016. Throw in the fact that the Hammers are another with double duties in GW34 and east London investment looks wise.

Michail Antonio (£6.7m) has three goals from his last four matches, and fit-again Manuel Lanzini (£6.0m) scored his first since November in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea last time out.

Only three keepers have made more saves than the 91 that Adrian (£6.4m) has to his name this season, and he will hope to record his third clean sheet in five matches against a Palace attack that has managed just nine goals in 11 fixtures in 2016. Top 10 defender Aaron Cresswell (£6.4m) is another worth considering.

MUST-HAVE MEN

Dmitri Payet (£7.9m) is at the centre of all that is good about West Ham at the moment. He's created 17 chances over the past four Gameweeks (only David Silva has more), provided three assists and scored a goal as well. Palace look unlikely to stem the Payet tide.

Over that same time frame, Mesut Ozil (£9.9m) served up 11 chances and produced a goal and an assist. He also fired off four shots in the box to underline an increased attacking threat. Watford's porous away defence looks ripe for the plucking.

Stoke have been strong in recent weeks, with seven points from their last four matches, and Marko Arnautovic (£7.2m) has made some telling contributions, with a goal, 11 attempts and three big chances created. The visit of a Swansea team that haven't kept an away clean sheet in 2016 should hold no fears.

A PUNT OR TWO

Norwich City hasn't been a go-to club for ESPN FC Premier Fantasy managers many times this season, but their next three fixtures offer the potential for some solid points returns. The Canaries entertain Newcastle and Sunderland either side of a trip to Palace -- three fixtures that could secure their Premier League survival.

The GW32 visit of a Newcastle side that's managed a league-worst seven away goals could provide Norwich with their third consecutive clean sheet.

Centre half Timm Klose (£5.0m) was superb last time out at West Brom, with a team-leading 17 clearances and three tackles. He looks competitively-priced, as does Robbie Brady (£5.8m).

The midfielder had three shots, eight crosses and hit the winner at The Hawthorns.

Newcastle (a second-worst 33 goals conceded) and Sunderland (a league-worst 39) have such poor defensive records on the road that he looks good to add to his three-goal and three-assist tally for the season.

Factor in Palace's aforementioned troubles and Brady could offer high returns for a low outlay over the next three Gameweeks.

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