Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week | FPL Gameweek 18
On Christmas Day, as festive celebrations unfolded and families gathered, Arsenal found themselves atop the Premier League standings for the second consecutive year. They maintained a slender one-point lead over Liverpool after securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Before the intense stalemate in Merseyside, Aston Villa missed an opportunity to claim the top spot as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sheffield United. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur seized the moment, taking advantage of Manchester City’s absence due to the Club World Cup, and secured a 2-1 victory over Everton to climb to fourth place.
The woes continued for Manchester United, suffering a 2-0 defeat against West Ham United, and Chelsea also faced disappointment with a 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve.
In an emotional match at Kenilworth Road, Luton Town celebrated a significant occasion with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Newcastle United. Brighton & Hove Albion managed to cling onto a top-half position with a 1-1 draw against historic rivals Crystal Palace.
In Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure began with disappointment as the Tricky Trees succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against Bournemouth. Meanwhile, Burnley lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 success away to Fulham.
As the year neared its end, Sports Dunia presents its Fantasy Premier League Team of the Week for the Gameweek 18 fixtures.
Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)
The acquisition of Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for a £17.2 million deal is proving to be a steal for Tottenham, especially considering his standout performance in the nervy victory over Everton. Serving as the team’s number one, Vicario played a crucial role as Everton pressed forward relentlessly.
He showcased his skills with a total of seven saves, including two pivotal last-minute stops. One of these saves, in particular, had an element of luck, but overall, Vicario’s performance thwarted Arnaut Danjuma’s attempts to secure a point against his former team. The goalkeeper’s resilience and decisive saves underscored his growing importance to the Tottenham squad.
Gabriel Osho (Luton Town)
As Tom Lockyer embarks on a lengthy recovery following a distressing cardiac arrest, Gabriel Osho stepped up admirably to fill the void during Luton’s match against Newcastle. In a performance that would undoubtedly make his captain proud, Osho demonstrated his defensive prowess.
With seven clearances, three interceptions, two successful tackles, and two crucial blocks, Osho proved to be an unyielding presence in the Hatters’ backline. Under the management of Rob Edwards, Luton secured their first clean sheet of the Premier League season, and Osho’s resilient display played a significant role in that achievement.
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Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
Another individual named Gabriel, this time Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal, solidifies his place in our defensive lineup this week. In a historic moment against Liverpool, Gabriel scored within three minutes and 27 seconds, earning the distinction of securing Arsenal’s fastest-ever Premier League goal at Anfield.
Beyond this remarkable achievement, his defensive contributions were equally valuable. With seven clearances, Gabriel played a crucial role in ensuring Arsenal’s resilience, ultimately helping the Gunners maintain their position at the top of the league as they headed into the Christmas break.
Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)
While William Saliba’s performance at Anfield was indeed commendable, choosing him might have been excessive given Arsenal’s dominance in this selection. Instead, Jan Paul van Hecke earns a deserved spot for his standout display for Brighton in the charged atmosphere of Selhurst Park.
Despite the Seagulls falling short of securing a clean sheet, the 23-year-old showcased his defensive prowess by winning four out of five aerial duels, completing an impressive 95% of his passes, and making three crucial interceptions. Van Hecke’s resilient performance in the backline highlighted his contribution to Brighton’s determined defensive effort, making him a standout choice for this selection.
Emerson Royal (Tottenham)
Emerson Royal, who typically operates on the right side of the backline, showcased his versatility brilliantly by stepping in on the left during Spurs’ victory over Everton. Acting as a deputy for the suspended Destiny Udogie, the Brazilian delivered a stellar performance with an impressive stat line.
He made a remarkable eight interceptions, executed five successful tackles, and drew six fouls, marking one of his finest displays in a Tottenham jersey. Royal’s adaptability and impactful contributions on the left side of the defense played a crucial role in Spurs’ success against Everton.
Mario Lemina (Wolves)
Basking in the joy of their festive triumph over Chelsea on December 24, Wolves found their guiding light in Mario Lemina. The midfielder not only showcased his prowess in the air by outmuscling Lesley Ugochukwu to head in the opening goal for the hosts but also made significant contributions in other areas.
Lemina’s defensive work was particularly noteworthy, tallying six tackles and four interceptions to fortify Wolves’ cause. His multifaceted performance added an extra dose of Christmas cheer to the Molineux crowd, contributing substantially to their 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)
At Villa Park, holiday happiness was in short supply as the Lions saw their impressive 15-game winning home run in the Premier League unexpectedly come to an end against Sheffield United. However, the efforts of Douglas Luiz were certainly noteworthy. In the dying seconds of the match, Luiz made a decisive contribution by picking out Nicolo Zaniolo’s run, resulting in Villa’s equalizer.
Additionally, Luiz displayed his prowess by winning five out of six aerial battles and maintaining an impressive passing accuracy of 93%, potentially increasing his market value with such a performance. Despite the disappointment of the match outcome, Luiz’s efforts stood out for Aston Villa.
Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United)
In their last match before Christmas, a claret-clad team failed to secure victory as West Ham handed Manchester United their worst start to a season since 1930 at the London Stadium. One standout performer in this encounter was Mohammed Kudus, who continued to impress. Taking advantage of Kobbie Mainoo’s mistake and a well-executed pass from Lucas Paqueta, Kudus showcased his skill with an excellent low drive that found the bottom corner of the net.
Throughout the afternoon, he proved to be a formidable force against the Red Devils, completing six successful dribbles and making five successful challenges in the capital. Kudus’s all-around performance played a pivotal role in West Ham’s success against Manchester United.
Wilson Odobert (Burnley)
Suffering the loss of Luca Koleosho to a devastating knee injury was undoubtedly a cruel setback for Burnley. However, the emergence of another teenage winger, Wilson Odobert, provided a silver lining in their match against Fulham. A mere two minutes into the second half, the Frenchman showcased his skills by finding the top corner with a delightful curler, marking his second goal in three games.
Additionally, Odobert demonstrated his playmaking abilities by registering an assist for Sander Berge’s low drive at Craven Cottage. In the face of adversity, Odobert’s contributions offered a glimmer of hope and promise for Burnley.
Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
The Nottingham Forest faithful will likely remember their loss to Bournemouth for all the wrong reasons, particularly the controversial sending-off of Willy Boly. However, amidst the disappointment, Chris Wood’s exceptional performance at the forefront of the attack deserves recognition. After three outings as a substitute, Wood was reinstated to the first XI and made a significant impact.
He capitalized on a moment of brilliance, robbing Alex Scott of possession and threading a pass to Anthony Elanga, breaking the deadlock. Wood further demonstrated his prowess with a composed header that found the side of the net above several Bournemouth shirts, instilling renewed hope for the hosts. Despite the contentious circumstances, Wood’s contributions stood out as a highlight for Nottingham Forest in the match.
Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)
Despite Chris Wood’s commendable efforts, they were ultimately overshadowed by the aerial prowess of Dominic Solanke, who left the City Ground with the match ball after breaking Nottingham Forest’s hearts. Solanke, the Cherries’ hat-trick hero, showcased exemplary anticipation to prod the ball into the bottom corner.
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His outstanding performance included a pair of remarkable headers, one of which served as the clincher in the fifth minute of second-half injury time. With this impressive hat-trick, Solanke solidified his position as the third-highest scorer in the Golden Boot race, trailing only Mohamed Salah (12) and Erling Haaland (14). His contributions were instrumental in securing a memorable victory for Bournemouth.