GW9 was another dreadful week when it comes to Fpl captaincy. The top three most captained players for GW9, all blanked. Other popular players that blanked were Kane, De Bruyne, Mane etc. GW10 is already looming large. We have a Friday deadline this time around and Leicester travel to St.Mary’s to kickstart the weekend.

Pierre Emerick Aubameyang vs CRY(H)

Crystal Palace have been really good away from home this calendar year (only Man city & Liverpool have won more games away from home than Crystal Palace), but they have kept just two clean sheets on their travels in 2019 and are yet to keep an away clean sheet this season. Aubameyang, on the other hand, the 3rd most owned forward in the game (at the time of writing) & most owned arsenal player has scored in all but one home game this season. However, Lacazette is back in the team and could start this weekend. Does this mean that Aubameyang will move to a wider position? Will both the strikers be rotated? Rotation is definitely not a problem and Aubameyang was not involved, as expected, in the midweek Europa league fixture.

Image Courtesy: FourFourtwo.com

Aubameyang started off the season with a bang returning in the first 7 gameweeks. Only one forward had more points than Aubameyang’s 53 in the first 7 gameweeks. But he has blanked in his last two games. Is this an indication of Aubameyang going out of form or just that he has been unlucky? Arsenal have still been pretty decent in the last two gameweeks (6th for mins / chance, 5th for attempts on target), but they just have not been clinical.

The forward also scored both home & away to crystal palace last season, and interestingly one was in GW10 (A).

Arsenal’s away form might be questionable, but at home they look strong, and I expect them to stay unbeaten at home and Aubameyang to have been involved in goals by the end of this gameweek.

Kevin De Bruyne vs AVL (H)

Kevin De Bruyne returned to the starting lineup in GW9 after recovering from his injury during the international break. As mentioned in my gameweek review thread , last week was the first instance this season that De Bruyne played more than 60 minutes & blanked.

The midfielder is involved in 50% of the goals scored by City at the Etihad. De Bruyne also has 11 goal involvements this season, 4 more than any other midfielder.

Image Courtesy: AP Photo / Rui Vieira

The midfielder started in the midweek UCL game against Atalanta but was subbed after 67 minutes, that should be an indication that Kevin De Bruyne is likely to start in the weekend (or No?).

Aston Villa have conceded the most shots away from home(95) and Man city have had more attempts at goal at home than any other team(91).

Kevin De Bruyne was a popular captaincy option last time around, he could have made his owners happy last time around, but he could not (Thanks to Gabriel Jesus !). But this time, a home against Aston Villa? You should seriously consider handing over the arm band to him, if you have him, in your team (Wait, there are some of them who don’t have him?)

Mohammad Salah vs TOT (H)

Mohammad Salah is back from injury and got a goal and an assist against Genk in the midweek Champions league fixture. The midfielder also played 90 minutes in the game.

He blanked in his last home fixture against Leicester City, his first blank at Anfield this season. The Liverpool midfielder has blanked in back to back home games only once since joining Liverpool ( GW 14 & 17–2018/19). He has also scored/assisted in 3/4 games against Tottenham in the past (better record than mane in the same period). Salah has more points at Anfield this season, but he has also played more minutes than Mane.

Image Courtesy: John Powell / Getty Images

Tottenham are yet to keep an away clean sheet this season and have conceded 9 goals away from home (joint 4th worst).

There are debates over who is a better pick of Mane and Salah and it’s really a close call but I think Salah will outperform Mane this week going by opposition, home form, etc.

Deulofeu vs BOU (H)

No forward has created more chances in home games than Watford’s Gerard Deulofeu. He is also joint 3rd among forwards for big chances created at home. (According to FFScout)

Image Courtesy: Getty Images

Watford have had 65 attempts at goal since Quique Sanches Flores took over (8th for that stat). Deulofeu has had the most attempts by a Watford player during this period. Only three other teams have allowed more attempts at goal than Bournemouth, during this period. Bournemouth have also not kept a clean sheet away from home this season.

Watford have drawn their last 2 games. Irrespective of the result, Deulofeu is surely expected to be involved in goals.

Chris Wood vs CHE (H)

Chris Wood has 4 goals in his last 4 games, one of which was a 13-point haul against Norwich at home. He also has the most points(27) for a forward in the last four gameweeks.

Only Dwight McNeil and Ashley Westwood have played more minutes than Chris Wood among Burnley’s midfielders & forwards.

Image Courtesy: Lancashire Telegraph

Chelsea are yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in the premier league this season but have kept back-to-back clean sheets at home and are on a 6 game winning streak in all competitions.

If you are looking for a gutsy, but differential option, Chris Wood is definitely worth it.

Standout captain: Kevin De Bruyne

Differential captain: Chris Wood

GW 9 Top Captain picks

GW 8 Top Captains picks

GW 7 Top Captains picks

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