Fantasy Premier League

Koscielny offering value at both ends

By The Scout 4 Oct 2016
Scout: Koscielny 031016

FPL managers to load up on Gunners as they take momentum into a kind run of fixtures

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The Bonus Points

Laurent Koscielny's (£6.1m) dramatic stoppage-time winner against Burnley earned the Frenchman the highest Fantasy Premier League Bonus Point System (BPS) total of Gameweek 7.

Koscielny's goal, his second of the season, was accompanied by an 87% pass completion and 10 recoveries as he accumulated 44 BPS.

His central defensive partner, Shkodran Mustafi (£6.0m), collected two additional points with a BPS score of 40, for four tackles and 16 clearances, blocks and interceptions in his battle with Burnley's Sam Vokes.

Nacho Monreal (£6.0m) completed Arsenal's hat-trick at the top of the BPS, making 11 recoveries and three tackles.

The ICT Index

Alexis Sanchez (£11.2m) provided the drive behind Arsenal's victory, as shown by the ICT Index.

The Chilean recorded 20.6 - the highest for a player in Gameweek 7, topping the Index for both Threat (65) and Creativity (108).

Sanchez's four goal attempts all arrived from inside the Clarets' penalty area and no other player over the weekend could match his eight chances created.

Scout: Sanchez 031016
Alexis Sanchez recorded the highest ICT Index score of Gameweek 7 having created eight chances for team-mates at Turf Moor

That performance left team-mate Mesut Ozil (£9.5m) trailing in second in the Index on 9.6.

The German also registered four efforts on goal and contributed more successful passes in the final third than any other player on show at Turf Moor (40).

The Scout Notes

Arsenal's fortuitous victory should not mask the performance of Sanchez or the fact that Arsene Wenger's back four, including Koscielny, has kept successive clean sheets.

Both should be major factors as we approach the next three Gameweeks, with the Gunners facing Emirates meetings with Swansea City and Middlesbrough next, followed by a trip to struggling Sunderland.

Prioritising investment in Wenger's charges over this spell looks crucial, with Sanchez undoubtedly the leading asset on offer.

Theo Walcott (£7.7m) presents a mid-price alternative, though, having claimed an assist at Turf Moor - he trails Sanchez by only seven FPL points, having returned two goals and as many assists in his last three outings.

Until the dying stages, Burnley had demonstrated the resolve that saw them concede only five goals in 17 home matches before Sunday.

Tom Heaton (£4.6m) was unfortunate to miss out on a third clean sheet of the season but still tops the FPL goalkeeper rankings with 30 points.

Michael Keane (£4.9m) also impressed, worrying the Gunners' defence with two efforts from corners following his first Premier League goal against Watford in Gameweek 6.

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