Fantasy Premier League

Two-goal haul adds to Sanchez dilemma

By The Scout 13 Feb 2017
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

Stick or twist? FPL managers ponder game's highest-scoring player, who may have only one fixture in next three Gameweeks

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The Bonus Points

A goal in each half earned Alexis Sanchez (£11.8m) maximum Fantasy Premier League bonus points for the sixth time this season as Arsenal beat Hull City.

Along with his brace, Sanchez completed four dribbles and laid on a "big chance" for Mesut Ozil (£9.5m) to record 41 in the Bonus Points System (BPS).

Laurent Koscielny (£6.3m) earned a BPS tally of 37, with the defender collecting two bonus points as the Gunners earned an eighth clean sheet of the campaign.

The Frenchman contributed 11 clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI), six recoveries and won three tackles, while also completing 92% of his passes. He has now collected eight bonus points in his last five Gameweeks.

Centre-back partner Shkodran Mustafi (£5.8m) picked up the final bonus point on offer, recording 6 CBI, five recoveries and four successful tackles to finish with a BPS score of 34.

Arsenal v Hull City
Laurent Koscielny has collected eight bonus points in his last five Gameweeks

The ICT Index

Sanchez, who again started in the central-striker role, recorded an impressive 25.2 in the ICT Index – the highest tally of Gameweek 25 ahead of Monday night's final match.

A Threat score of 134, generated by six attempts from inside the box, was the biggest factor in his Index haul, although he also ranked second for Creativity in Saturday's match, with 37.

Sanchez completed 22 successful passes in the attacking third and supplied three chances.

Lazar Markovic (£5.4m) earned second place thanks to a score of 8.1.

The Hull winger registered Creativity and Threat totals of 30 and 25 respectively, having supplied three successful crosses and an effort from inside the box. 

The Scout Notes

Sanchez's 15-point return underlined his status as the top-ranked FPL asset.

Having returned a goal or an assist in 11 of 13 Gameweeks, the Chilean now sits on 183 points, more than 30 clear of his nearest challengers.

See: Overall FPL rankings

But with Arsenal's Gameweek 26 fixture postponed due to Southampton's participation in the EFL Cup final - and the possibility of another in Gameweek 28 should the Gunners progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals - his owners now have a selection headache. 

Sanchez has been sold by 22,000+ FPL managers with his next fixture a testing Gameweek 27 visit to Liverpool.

After reclaiming the striker's role and assigned spot-kick duties with Olivier Giroud (£8.4m) out of the side, Sanchez seems certain to be targeted for a return to those squads, and many more, from Gameweek 29 onwards.

While Hull City went unrewarded on Saturday, the performances of Oumar Niasse (£5.6m), Markovic and Kamil Grosicki (£5.5m) gave FPL managers plenty to consider. 

Oumar Niasse, Hull
Oumar Niasse and Lazar Markovic could tempt FPL investment ahead of Hull's assured fixtures

Lively on the counter-attack, the trio impressed as the Tigers registered seven efforts from inside the Arsenal penalty area.

FPL managers should now be on alert to the potential on offer within Marco Silva's side - one of only six Premier League teams with a guaranteed fixture in Gameweek 28. 

The Tigers are also treated to a pair of tempting match-ups in the short-term, entertaining Burnley and travelling to Leicester City over the next two Gameweeks.

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