Zlatan holds back the clock but time's up for Rooney

FPL SCOUT EXTRA: Alex iwobi rising star

Iwobi's budget price tag and exceptional form since being installed in the Arsenal first XI, allied with back-to-back home matches with Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion in Gameweek 34, make him a stand-out investment.

While his star is on the rise, the Nigerian is still mainly overlooked, sitting in only 2.8% of FPL squads.
Iwobi has started Arsenal's last three matches, scoring 26 points from two goals, a pair of assists and a couple of bonus points.
During that spell, he has fired in more efforts on goal (seven) than any other Arsenal player, while his six attempts inside the box is also better than Alexis Sanchez (£10.9m) and Mesut Ozil (£9.6m).

Arsenal stats Gameweeks 31-33

	Shots	Shots in box	Shots on target	Touches in box	Chances created
Iwobi	7	6	5	12	6
Sanchez	6	3	6	14	10
Ozil	5	5	2	12	7

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Since Iwobi's first start in Gameweek 31, it seems Arsenal are carving out better opportunities to hurt opponents. Their average goal attempts on target per match has increased from 5.2 to 6.7 and their minutes per "big chance", or gilt-edged opportunities, have improved from 34 minutes to 28.3.

 


Gameweek 34 promises more of the same. Palace arrive at Emirates Stadium off the back of consecutive clean sheets but are without a shutout away from home since Boxing Day and are winless in seven matches on the road.
Meanwhile, West Brom, who travel to London on Thursday, have conceded two or more goals in recent away trips to Manchester City, Leicester City, Southampton and Chelsea.

Arsenal's remaining fixtures

Gameweek 34 CRY (H), WBA (H)
Gameweek 35 SUN (A)
Gameweek 36 NOR (H)
Gameweek 37 MCI (A)
Gameweek 38 AVL (H)

Crucially, Arsenal follow these two Emirates encounters with a trip to Sunderland in Gameweek 35, when six teams are without a fixture. Indeed, only four other sides, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and West Brom, enjoy two GW34 matches, followed by a GW35 match-up. Although Arsenal are not one of the eight sides with two fixtures in Gameweek 37, they still offer favourable home encounters with Norwich City and Aston Villa before the season ends.

While his side's title hopes have slipped from view, Arsene Wenger has every incentive to encourage a new-found attacking freedom.
Iwobi's arrival on the scene has been the catalyst for that revival and the Arsenal manager seems set to go on handing the 19-year-old an opportunity to impress.

That can only be good news for FPL managers, who have been afforded an in-form, high-value option playing a pivotal role in a side brimming with goals and facing enviable match-ups.
That is a heady combination and, regardless of his growing popularity, it seems that, like Wenger, FPL managers just cannot afford to overlook the potential on offer from Iwobi.