Southampton and Newcastle could be the other teams that might produce goals this weekend.
Liverpool and Swansea will be the only two teams not in action when Premier League action resumes this weekend for the 27th match-day of the season. This is because the two sides have already played last week on account of the Welsh team’s Carling Cup final this Sunday.
For fantasy owners looking to boost their strike-power, look no further than the Arsenal v Aston Villa match at the Emirates. The reason is twin-fold.
One, Aston Villa’s record as a defensive unit is anything but excellent – they have conceded 50 goals in 26 games. Arsenal have shown earlier this season that for every surprisingly underwhelming performance against a top team, they have come out pumping goals against a lower-ranked side in the season.
The second reason is also why I will pick up Theo Walcott or Lukas Podolski as one of those to look out for this week. Arsenal went down to Bolton in the FA Cup and were crushed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League game.
They also squeezed in only a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in their previous game with Olivier Giroud playing as their central striker. The goal-scoring drought could see an end this weekend with chances of either Walcott or Podolski starting up front and Giroud starting on the bench.
The other game that could see some goal-scoring action is when Newcastle United host Southampton at St. James’ Park on Sunday. With their new-found French line-up, the Toons have found some form while Southampton’s new manager Mauricio Pochettino seems to have injected a lot of belief in the Saints – as was evidenced by their 3-1 thrashing of the champions Manchester City.
Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko has acquainted himself well with the Premier League in his short stay so far while Rickie Lambert of Southampton is never away from getting himself a goal or two. Football fantasy managers can also look at the Saints skipper Adam Lallana who has slowly and steadily got himself to full fitness and might make it to the starting line-up for this game.
Both Reading and Wigan find themselves in the drop zone and face each other this weekend. A win for either side could take them out of the relegation issue for now and that is exactly what they will gun for.
With poor defences at both ends – the have conceded a total of 99 goals this season – it could be one hell of a tall-scorer. Adam le Fondre has been starting and scoring from the bench but it may not be a bad idea to plug him in as one of the strikers.
Wigan on the other hand, will be buoyed by their 4-1 thrashing of Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup tie last week and Arouna Kone’s brace should make fantasy owners consider him as one of their options.
The backline can be propped by a defender from Manchester United or Arsenal, both of who could look to play solidly defensively. Rafael’s recent form makes him a hot pick while Arsenal will depend on Nacho Monreal now that Kieran Gibbs is injured, Andre Santos is loaned out and there is uncertainty about Carl Jenkinson and Laurent Koscielny’s presence in the starting 11.
Ben Foster will look to continue the good form he exhibited against Liverpool in West Brom’s last game when he takes field for their Sunderland match. Liverpool stuck 25 times but failed to score even once thanks mainly to Foster’s excellent saves to go with a penalty block.
For fantasy owners looking to boost their strike-power, look no further than the Arsenal v Aston Villa match at the Emirates. The reason is twin-fold.
One, Aston Villa’s record as a defensive unit is anything but excellent – they have conceded 50 goals in 26 games. Arsenal have shown earlier this season that for every surprisingly underwhelming performance against a top team, they have come out pumping goals against a lower-ranked side in the season.
The second reason is also why I will pick up Theo Walcott or Lukas Podolski as one of those to look out for this week. Arsenal went down to Bolton in the FA Cup and were crushed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League game.
They also squeezed in only a 1-0 victory over Sunderland in their previous game with Olivier Giroud playing as their central striker. The goal-scoring drought could see an end this weekend with chances of either Walcott or Podolski starting up front and Giroud starting on the bench.
The other game that could see some goal-scoring action is when Newcastle United host Southampton at St. James’ Park on Sunday. With their new-found French line-up, the Toons have found some form while Southampton’s new manager Mauricio Pochettino seems to have injected a lot of belief in the Saints – as was evidenced by their 3-1 thrashing of the champions Manchester City.
Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko has acquainted himself well with the Premier League in his short stay so far while Rickie Lambert of Southampton is never away from getting himself a goal or two. Football fantasy managers can also look at the Saints skipper Adam Lallana who has slowly and steadily got himself to full fitness and might make it to the starting line-up for this game.
Both Reading and Wigan find themselves in the drop zone and face each other this weekend. A win for either side could take them out of the relegation issue for now and that is exactly what they will gun for.
With poor defences at both ends – the have conceded a total of 99 goals this season – it could be one hell of a tall-scorer. Adam le Fondre has been starting and scoring from the bench but it may not be a bad idea to plug him in as one of the strikers.
Wigan on the other hand, will be buoyed by their 4-1 thrashing of Huddersfield Town in their FA Cup tie last week and Arouna Kone’s brace should make fantasy owners consider him as one of their options.
The backline can be propped by a defender from Manchester United or Arsenal, both of who could look to play solidly defensively. Rafael’s recent form makes him a hot pick while Arsenal will depend on Nacho Monreal now that Kieran Gibbs is injured, Andre Santos is loaned out and there is uncertainty about Carl Jenkinson and Laurent Koscielny’s presence in the starting 11.
Ben Foster will look to continue the good form he exhibited against Liverpool in West Brom’s last game when he takes field for their Sunderland match. Liverpool stuck 25 times but failed to score even once thanks mainly to Foster’s excellent saves to go with a penalty block.
