Picks of the Week - Gameweek 7

For Picks of the Week, I'll look into the gameweek's matches & form a team using £55mil budget. This can be a useful guide for those who are thinking of substituting players, or wondering which player might be a better captain.

Note: This picks are only for a short 1 week term & may not represent good value in the long-run.

Simon Mignolet was chosen between the sticks due to Sunderland's stingy defence. Ever since Martin O'Neill took over the team last December, the team managed to keep 6 clean sheets out of 12 home games, making Mignolet a good candidate for a clean sheet this week.

Another reason to pick Leighton Baines: According to OPTA statistics, he has already created 24 chances for his teammates, leading to 2 assists. Putting that into perspective, Kyle Walker is the next best fullback...with 9 chances created. His partnership with Pienaar on the left midfield will be one of the main threat for Southampton when they arrive at Goodison Park.

Rafael, on the other hand, is becoming a scoring threat down the right. 6 attempts in 4 games, the Man Utd rightback only lose out to Boyce & Glen Johnson in terms of shots attempted for fullbacks. Taking into consideration Tottenham's poor record at Old Trafford, & Vertonghen's attacking penchant, Rafael might be able to find his way through a defence which have yet to keep a clean sheet.

Unlucky not to get points from their gutsy performance against Chelsea last week, Stoke heads back to Britannia Stadium against a sliding Swansea team, whom, despite their nicknames, are weak in the air during set-pieces. Either Ryan Shawcross or Robert Huth can benefit if either can take advantage of their weakness.

Despite his 2 own goals, Villa's Ciaran Clark has been one of the bright spark for the Villians. He already have a goal to his name, and with Villa obtaining an outstanding result against Man City midweek in the Capitol One Cup, the morale boosting victory might just be the tonic to push Aston Villa up the table & Clark might reap the rewards on both ends of the pitch.

With only 2 players from 1 team allowed, I have to go with Marouane Fellaini instead of Steven Pienaar due to his higher positioning in the penalty area. Either player should do fine against a travel-sick Southampton, who have conceded 9 goals in 2 away games.

Hatem Ben Arfa's stock have risen over the few weeks, thanks to his 2 goals & 1 assist, and is likely to rise higher after facing the Royals this week, who are still trying to find their feet in the lofty heights of Premier League. 

Arsenal might be facing a tough London derby against Chelsea, but as Santi Carzorla have shown against Man City, he was able to shine against tough opponents despite his 1pt output. With the added home advantage, the Spaniard might give their fantasy owners better returns this week.

Robin van Persie has managed to score against Spurs in the past 4 season, and I won't be surprised if he makes it 5 in a row at Old Trafford this weekend. On a red-hot form of 5 goals in 3 starts, and with Rooney likely to start from the bench, the Dutchman will be the main attacking focal point in this game.

Doubts over Carlos Tevez playing time & being the only Man City striker rested in the Capitol One Cup meant that Sergio Aguero will be assured of the starting role at Fulham. Looking at the short history meetings, Aguero managed to score 3 goals in 2 Premier League matches against The Cottagers last season.

Reading have yet to register a clean sheet, conceding 9 goals in 4 games...which will be good news yet again for Demba Ba's owners when the Newcastle team travels to the Madejski.