Thank goodness for Didier Drogba, that is what The Fantasist was thinking
as it reflected upon an otherwise dismal week.

The Drog racked up 17.50 points with a goal and an assist to haul the
Fantasy XI out of the proverbial mire with a sparkling display against West
Brom.

There was very little else to celebrate this week as Roque Santa Cruz
proved to be the worst acquisition since Afonso Alves and left his team-mates
in the lurch with a quite appalling -0.50.

Santa Cruz looked a snip at just £1.26 million, but that is because he
has failed to fire all season and he was utterly useless against

Keen eyed observers notice that Wenger's team sheets don't follow the usual positional groupings.  Rather he tips his hand and names a starting XI in his announcements.  This week he's hinted to the press that he might need to give K2 a rest and that's reflected in the team sheet:

Gunners (from): Almunia, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott,
Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, van Persie, Bendtner, Lehmann, Adebayor,
Diaby, Senderos, Hoyte, Gilberto, Denilson.

So Eboue drops into defence, Walcott comes in on the right, and Benchedtner starts up top.  For 3.68 it's hard to ignore the Dane.  It sure

If my math is right, 2.6% of my season's points have come from Adebayor's six goals (and nine shots on target) against Derby.

Arsenal have been handed a major boost with the news that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczensy and defender Johan Djourou have returned to training.

Szczesny has been out since dislocating his finger in the Champions League last-16 clash at Barcelona a month ago, but could return for Sunday's clash against Liverpool, meaning Jens Lehmann would drop to the bench unless Manuel Almunia recovers from his knee injury.

Djourou had been out with a dislocated shoulder, but he too returned to training this week and could feature.

Manchester City's hopes of reaching the FA Cup final and reaching the Champions

After just sneaking into The Fantasist's team ahead of the previous gameweek's deadline, Antonio Valencia again delivered the goods last weekend.

The Ecuadorean's goal and string of successful crosses against Fulham led him to a highly commendable 18 points, more than double his price at the time.

However, Valencia and his United team-mate Patrice Evra (12) were the only ones to do the business for yours truly, as the absence of Wayne Rooney hit hard - front duo Asamoah Gyan and Darren Bent scored 3.5 points between them.

Charlie Adam managed to outscore both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas with

It's Friday, so as always it was time for The Fantasist's Friday Fantasy Football webchat!

With European fixtures cropping up again next week will Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham rest players for their respective domestic meetings with  Fulham, Wigan and Stoke?

Can Blackpool all but do for Arsenal's title bid at Bloomfield Road?

Who will come out on top in Monday's clash between Manchester City and Liverpool?

And will Joey Barton prove that he really is the best English midfielder in the Premier League?

If you missed the live chat, read back the full transcript below for some

Welcome to our weekly Fantasy chat!

It's a curious old week, alright. In addition to the weekend's fixtures, there are an additional four matches over the course of a 10-day stretch, meaning there are eight double-game teams.

Use the chat tool below to read the transcript of this week's chat.

The Fantasist played it fast and loose with the noon
Saturday deadline to sneak in a couple of last-minute transfers at the weekend.

Confirmation of the West Ham v Manchester United teams came
at about five to, giving The Fantasist just enough time to bring in Fabio and
Antonio Valencia, bringing its United quotient up to four.

Although the reshuffle meant the last-minute removal of
David Silva (a goalscorer for City on Sunday), the cheaper Valencia matched
Silva's 11.5-point haul. Fabio, meanwhile, scored a disappointing three.

Thank goodness for Wayne Rooney, who rewarded those who
snapped