Week 35 Official FPL Player Picks

Arsene Wenger is walking out the door at Arsenal following the end of this season. This in my opinion is about five years too late. He has served the club well in his time, but things have been going in the wrong direction for awhile. I believe he deserves to have a statue in the Arsenal Museum at Emirates Stadium, but it has been the French manager’s time to go for a while now.

Many players in the past ten years have realized that to challenge for silverware, leaving the club is their best option. The image of a forlorn Wenger on the sidelines has become too common. Once known for his brilliant mind and innovative methods, he is now seen as too stubborn and out of touch. The hope for many Arsenal fans is for him to lead the team to Europa League victory, which would provide side-door entry into next season’s Champions league, thus giving Wenger’s Arsenal career a perfect ending .

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.

Delicious Ambiguity.

~Gilda Radner

It’s time for game-week 35 friends, hope everyone made the best of the double week. I love the quote above, it applies to the season so well. We did not know how nerve wracking an experience the double week would be. I saw players such as Lukaku and Christensen on the bench this week and stopped just short of weeping. We have to make the best of things though, so, like the majority of those who voted in this week’s poll, I’m heading into game-week 35 with two chips remaining. With several teams blanking, I’ll employ my free hit this week.

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Keepers

Jordan Pickford (£4.9, Everton vs Newcastle)

Newcastle are in excellent form, having won their last four. It has to balance out at some point right guys?

Jack Butland (£5.0, Stoke vs Burnley)

Also facing a team in amazing form currently, Stoke need to find a way to get the three points. Butland needs to have an impact and help keep a clean sheet.

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Defenders

Vincent Kompany (£5.8, Manchester City vs Swansea)

The captain has been a force recently and comes in cheaper than Walker or Otamendi.

Virgil van Dijk (£5.7, Liverpool at West Brom)

Europe is on the horizon, Juergen Klopp will still want the win against the bottom team in the league.

Patrick van Aanholt (£5.1, Crystal Palace at Watford)

Watford seem to have bags packed for the summer, which is good for a Palace team still in need of more points to secure a Premier League place. PVA has a chance at clean sheet and attacking points.

Shkodran Mustafi (£5.5, Arsenal vs West Ham)

The soon departing Arsene Wenger may possibly have one eye focused towards the Europa League semifinal, but if the other eye is paying attention to Burnley two points back he will play his first choice defender.

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Midfielders

Xherdan Shaqiri (£6.2, Stoke vs Burnley)

If Stoke are to have any chance of survival this is the player that has to be the hub of their creativity.

Raheem Sterling (£8.8, Manchester City vs Swansea)

Having a brilliant season, can possibly get to 20 goals in the League.

Yannick Bolasie (£6.4, Everton vs Newcastle)

Sam Allardyce is giving him a run in the team after a long time out with injury, will trouble the Newcastle defenders.

Mo Salah (£10.6, Liverpool at West Brom)

No words necessary, look back at the last short game-week. Our only concern would be pre-CL rotation.

Wilfried Zaha (£6.9, Crystal Palace at Watford)

Similar to Shaqiri, the player who will be heavily relied upon by his team to maintain Premier League status.

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Strikers

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.7, Arsenal vs West Ham)

The form at Dortmund has returned. This guy will be fun to own next season. Caveat: Wenger has just suggested that he might favor his cup-eligible players ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash, making cup-tied P.E.A. a doubt.

Gabriel Jesus (£10.1, Manchester City vs Swansea)

With the World Cup on the horizon, and Aguero injured, he has the rest of the season to sharpen his tools. Swansea can get punished on the road, so this is a definite captain option.

Ayoze Perez (£5.3, Newcastle at Everton)

Those looking for a cheap third striker should look no further.

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I think we will see some big scores this week, so plan accordingly. Captain choice is going to be especially important. Whom do you believe will be top scorer, Aubameyang, Salah, or maybe deJesus?