Feature

Fantasy Football - Tonight's Matches

Due to FA Cup fixtures at the weekend, the table hasn't changed. So we look ahead to tonight's matches, Aston Villa vs Arsenal, and Manchester City vs the mighty Chelsea, to see if there's some easy points to be had.
Aston Villa
Villa are undefeated at home in 2007: 2 wins, 1 draw, 3 clean sheets and 6 bonus points have made defender Olof Mellberg Villa's form defender. However they have conceded 8 goals in their last 3 away games. The fact that the team haven't played a Premier League game since February 10 may have given them a chance to regroup.

Player Team £ #
Carew Aston Villa 7.6 4.3
Mellberg Aston Villa 5.2 3.0
Sorensen Aston Villa 4.4 3.0
Young Aston Villa 6.6 2.8
Barry Aston Villa 7.2 2.5
Bardsley Aston Villa 4.8 2.3
 

Midfielder Ashley Young is Villa's form player: a goal, an assist and 4 bonus points in the last 3 games, taking his season total to 4 goals and 5 assists. At 6.6, he is slightly more affordable than Gareth Barry (7.2), but Barry scores more goals as he takes Villa's penalty kicks. Villa play away at Fulham then at home to Arsenal.

Arsenal
Arsenal's defense haven't kept a clean sheet in the league since Gameweek 23, and with top defender Kolo Toure suspended until 15 March, Fantasy Managers may want to look at the Arsenal midfield or forward line for transfer targets. The most obvious targets are Cesc Fabregas (8.7) who has 11 assists, and Thierry Henry (14.2) with 10 goals and 5 assists.

Player Team £ #
Gilberto Arsenal 7.4 3.5
Baptista Arsenal 8.3 3.3
Henry Arsenal 14.1 2.3
Adebayor Arsenal 8.4 2.3
Clichy Arsenal 6.0 2.3
Rosicky Arsenal 8.6 2.0
 

Midfielder Gilberto may not be known for his goalscoring potential, but he has 7 goals and an assist so far this year, and costs just 7.4. Arsenal play Reading at home then away at Aston Villa.

Manchester City
City have also not played in the league since 10 February, but their last 3 games all ended in defeat, so none of their players have particularly high form scores. Their most consistent players this year have been defenders Richard Dunne, Sylvain Distin and Micah Richards, who play every game, have clean sheet potential, especially at home, and have all scored a goal. The difference is Dunne's bonus tally of 23 points, the highest amount awarded to a defender, compared to the 8 and 7 from Distin and Richards.

Player Team £ #
Corradi Man. City 7.0 1.8
Vassell Man. City 7.0 1.8
Ireland Man. City 4.6 1.5
Beasley Man. City 6.5 1.3
Barton Man. City 7.3 1.3
Samaras Man. City 6.5 1.0
 

Midfielder Joey Barton is way ahead of any other City attacking player when it comes to points. He has scored 5 goals, has 2 assists but again the difference is bonus points - he has 19, which is 8th highest overall for a midfielder. City are at home to Wigan, and also at home to Chelsea.

Chelsea
Chelsea have kept 5 clean sheets in the last 6 Premier League games, so any players who earn clean sheet points are worth a look. Wayne Bridge (4.2), who is Chelsea's form defender, may lose his place in the side with Ashley Cole (6.7) set to return from injury, so Ricardo Carvalho (7.1) may be a better choice.

Midfielder Michael Essien (8.1) may not score and make as many goals as Frank Lampard (11.6), but he tops the overall bonus tables with 37 points and is over 3 million cheaper. He and Lampard are the only Chelsea players to not miss one minute of play in the League so far this season.

Player Team £ #
Drogba Chelsea 12.1 5.3
Lampard Chelsea 11.8 5.0
Cech Chelsea 6.3 5.0
Essien Chelsea 8.2 3.5
Bridge Chelsea 4.3 3.3
Carvalho Chelsea 7.2 3.0
 

Striker Didier Drogba is in the form of his life - 17 goals and 3 assists in the league - and 28 goals overall, including 2 in the Carling Cup final win over Arsenal. At 11.8, he is 2.4 cheaper than Henry and well worth a place in your team.