The Scout reviews Gameweek 3

With a fortnight’s international break now upon us, The Scout takes stock of the nine fixtures played across the weekend.

Robin Van Persie tops the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for Gameweek 3 after a stunning hat-trick in Manchester United’s thrilling comeback win at Southampton. A goal and pair of assists against Queens Park Rangers earns Carlos Tevez second spot, while Lukas Podolski completes the top three after a goal and assist contribution in Arsenal’s triumph at Liverpool.

Talking points

As usual, The Scout begins by clearing up any queries concerning points awards over the previous round of matches.

We begin with the match at White Hart Lane, where Grant Holt has now been awarded the assist for Robert Snodgrass’ late equaliser for Norwich City. Russell Martin had initially been given the assist but, upon revision, it was decided that Holt nodded Martin’s header into the path of Snodgrass prior to the midfielder firing home.

Elsewhere, James McCarthy has been awarded the assist for Wigan Athletic’s first goal in the 2-2 home draw with Stoke City. McCarthy’s shot was handled in the penalty box by Potters centre-half Robert Huth, leading to a converted penalty by Shaun Maloney – originally, the assist had been granted to the Latics' James McArthur.

Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal

Lukas Podolski picked up the maximum bonus points (BP) as Arsenal registered their first win of the season at Anfield. The summer signing from Cologne produced a goal and assist for the Gunners and impressed defensively, with a couple of successful tackles and 2 clearances amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats. A goal and assist from Santi Cazorla, supplemented with 3 shots on target and 41 completed passes, helped the Spaniard to a couple of BP, while Kieran Gibbs was awarded a single BP. The left-back’s forward forays produced a shot on target and a couple of crosses, while he also made a clearance, a block and a couple of successful tackles as Arsenal picked up their third clean sheet of the campaign.

Manchester City 3-1 Queens Park Rangers

Carlos Tevez earned the maximum bonus points (BP) in Saturday evening’s encounter at the Etihad Stadium. The Argentine had a hand in all three of his side’s goals, finding the net once and providing a pair of assists, and also registered 3 shots on target in the EA SPORTS PPI. Tevez has racked up 6 BP this term and, with a total of 33 points accrued, has risen 0.7 in price already. Yaya Toure picked up a couple of BP for the third Gameweek in a row after a typical all-round display. The midfielder opened the scoring for Roberto Mancini’s side and also fired 4 shots on target and won 3 tackles in the 3-1 win. A goal and 3 shots on target were enough to help Edin Dzeko to a single BP.

Newcastle United 1-1 Aston Villa

Ciaran Clark picked up the maximum bonus points (BP) as Aston Villa earned their first point of the new season. The centre-half stood out at both ends of the pitch – he grabbed his side’s only goal and produced 7 clearances, 10 interceptions and a block in a resilient display at the back. Hatem Ben Arfa was awarded a couple of BP for a typically menacing performance. The winger scored a stunning long-range strike and also registered 3 shots on target, a successful dribble and 6 crosses in the EA SPORTS PPI, while an assist and 4 interceptions also helped Barry Bannan to a couple of BP.

Southampton 2-3 Manchester United

A hat-trick from Robin Van Persie earned the Dutchman maximum bonus points (BP) in Sunday’s match as St Mary’s Stadium. The former Arsenal skipper also registered 5 shots on target and 3 successful tackles as he picked up 3 BP for the second Gameweek in a row. Patrice Evra was awarded a couple of BP after a strong all-round display – the left-back had a shot on target and produced 3 crosses going forward, supplementing this with 2 blocks and a tackle at the back. Rio Ferdinand picked up a single BP, with an assist, a couple of blocks, 3 clearances and an interception amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats.

Swansea City 2-2 Sunderland

Steven Fletcher picked up the maximum bonus points (BP) on his league debut for Sunderland. The forward scored with both his attempts to end Swansea’s run of clean sheets and also made an interception and 9 passes over his 76 minutes, while Swans wide men Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer were also amongst the BP. Routledge grabbed a goal and supplemented this with 2 successful dribbles, a couple of crosses and 2 successful tackles to earn a couple of BP, while an assist, 3 shots on target and 4 successful dribbles was enough to help Dyer to a single BP.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Norwich City

Robert Snodgrass was awarded the maximum bonus points (BP) after grabbing a late equaliser for Norwich at White Hart Lane. The summer signing from Leeds United also produced 3 successful tackles, a couple of shots on target and 5 crosses as Tottenham continued their winless start under Andre Villas-Boas. Moussa Dembele earned a couple of BP on his debut for the London outfit. The Belgian grabbed a goal and also registered a couple of shots on target and a successful tackle, while Anthony Pilkington picked up a single BP for a strong all-round display. The left winger produced a shot on target and 5 crosses from out wide, supplementing this with a couple of clearances and a block to limit the hosts to a single goal.

West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Everton

Gareth McAuley earned the maximum bonus points as West Brom continued their unbeaten start under Steve Clarke. The Baggies defender grabbed his side’s second against Everton and excelled at the back, with an incredible 18 interceptions, a block and a successful tackle helping his side register another home clean sheet. Shane Long was awarded a couple of BP, with a goal and 3 interceptions amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats, while Liam Ridgewell picked up a single BP after producing 8 interceptions, a clearance and a block.

West Ham United 3-0 Fulham

Winston Reid was awarded the maximum bonus points (BP) for his display at both ends of the pitch. The West Ham centre-half grabbed a goal and also made 2 blocks and a successful tackle to help his side record a second home clean sheet of the season. Matt Taylor picked up a couple of BP after providing a goal and assist in the win – the winger also had 3 shots on target and a couple of successful tackles amongst his EA SPORTS PPI stats, while James Collins earned a single BP after registering 3 successful tackles, a clearance and a couple of blocks at the back.

Wigan Athletic 2-2 Stoke City

Peter Crouch earned the maximum bonus points (BP) as Stoke continued their unbeaten start to the campaign at the DW Stadium. The Potters forward returned a goal and assist for his Fantasy owners and supplemented this with 2 shots on target and an interception to pip strike-partner Jon Walters in the EA SPORTS PPI. Walters picked up a couple of BP – he also grabbed a goal and assist, in addition to producing a couple of successful tackles and 5 interceptions, while Franco Di Santo’s goal, in addition to a couple of successful dribbles and 2 interceptions, helped the Latics forward to a single BP.

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