Fantasy Premier League

Arsenal pair give chase to big-hitting strikers

By The Scout 9 Nov 2016
Theo Walcott, Arsenal v Swansea City

Sanchez and Walcott lead the midfield charge in FPL's ICT Threat rankings

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Arsenal duo Alexis Sanchez (£11.4m) and Theo Walcott (£7.8m) are the most threatening FPL midfielders so far this season according to the ICT Index, as they track a trio of big price forwards. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (£11.1m) hangs onto first place for ICT Threat over the opening 11 Gameweeks with a score of 819.

The Manchester United forward has produced more attempts on goal (59), shots inside the box (39) and efforts on target (21) than any other player. But he has netted just 10.2% of opportunities.

Ibrahimovic ended a six-match scoring drought by scoring twice against Swansea City on Sunday but is now suspended for the Gameweek 12 home encounter against Arsenal after earning a fifth yellow card of the season.

He has already been transferred out by 70,000+ Fantasy managers since last weekend.

Top performers in ICT Threat rankings

Player Position Cost ICT Threat FPL Points
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Forward £11.1m 819 54
Diego Costa Forward £10.5m 683 73
Sergio Aguero Forward £13.1m 621 61
Alexis Sanchez Midfielder £11.4m 521 72
Theo Walcott Midfielder £7.8m 511 60
Philippe Coutinho Midfielder £8.7m 506 75
Roberto Firmino Midfielder £8.7m 505 67
Christian Benteke Forward £7.6m 485 32
Romelu Lukaku Forward £9.8m 484 69
Michail Antonio Midfielder £6.9m 474 53

Diego Costa (£10.5m) claims the second spot with an ICT Threat tally of 683.

The Chelsea striker has found the net with nine of his 37 attempts. His impressive 24.3% conversion rate is far superior to last term’s 17.6%.

Having scored or assisted in nine of the first 11 Gameweeks, the Spain international is the top scoring forward in FPL on 73 points.

Despite missing two Premier League matches through suspension, Sergio Aguero (£13.1m) is ranked third for ICT Threat thanks to a tally of 621.

The Manchester City frontman betters Costa for total attempts (44 to 37) and efforts on target, by 19 to 18, on his way to scoring eight times.

When compared with last season, Aguero’s average number of attempts (from 4.0 to 4.9) and shots inside the penalty area (from 3.2 to 3.8) have improved.

Currently owned by 46.3% of FPL managers, he is the most popular player in the game.

Diego Costa - 070916
Diego Costa has converted 24.3% of his attempts into goals compared to 17.6% in 2015/16

There is little to separate Arsenal pair Alexis Sanchez (£11.4m) and Theo Walcott (£7.8m).

Fielded in a central striker role, Sanchez has scored six times to his team-mate’s five, though his 24.3% of FPL owners need to monitor his fitness after he picked up a muscle problem in training for Chile.

Owned by 12.5%, Walcott is the top ranked midfielder for both shots inside the box (25) and efforts on target (17).

Considering that Sanchez and Walcott are placed second and third for transfers out heading into Gameweek 12, FPL managers parting company may come to regret their decision.

Having notched five goals apiece, Liverpool pair Philippe Coutinho (£8.7m) and Roberto Firmino (£8.7m) are near-identical with ICT Threat scores of 506 and 505 respectively.

The most popular player in FPL with 46.4% ownership, Coutinho has produced more attempts than any midfielder, though only 20 of his 46 efforts have arrived inside the penalty area.

Firmino has fired more shots inside the box (23) and proved more efficient, netting 16.1% of his efforts to Coutinho’s 10.9%.

Christian Benteke (£7.6m) has produced more headed attempts (18) than any player in the top flight.

But the Crystal Palace striker has managed just 10 of his 31 efforts on target, scoring on four occasions.

Romelu Lukaku (£9.8m) has been far more accurate.

Everton’s seven-goal frontman has fired 16 shots on target from 29 attempts and converted 24.1% of his efforts – up significantly from last year’s 15.3% goal conversion rate.

West Ham United’s Michail Antonio (£6.9m) sits third in midfield for total attempts (34) and efforts inside the box (23).

But he has dropped in price in four successive Gameweeks due to a six-match goal drought.

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