Premier League clubs were back in European action this week and as always that provides fantasy managers with that oh so very real threat of rotation. We’ll throw in the caveat that this does not include Tottenham, who have a number of their first team out injured.A summer decision not to buy anyone at all is exacerbating that and, while the Spurs first XI can be a match for anyone on their day, their squad needs strengthening.Elsewhere this week there was a League Cup match that nobody remembered about and Danny Welbeck made the England squad again – however he’s not one of the picks here. Benjamin Mendy will undoubtedly return to this column when we see hard evidence that he is alive, well and not sleeping in an oxygen tent for his metatarsal injury, in the style of a 2002 David Beckham.Buy! Rob Holding, Arsenal (DF, £4.4m)Owned by: 0.5%This pick would typically end up in the differential section given the ownership but there’s something to be said for a low-priced, starting defender who has potential returns. Crystal Palace youngster Aaron Wan-Bissaka was singled out before the start of the season as a bargain defender and has seen his ownership skyrocket to 30.3% – the third most owned defender in the game.When it comes to Arsenal, who are now on eight consecutive wins in all competitions, Rob Holding offers easily the cheapest route into a Gunners team that is getting results.Arsenal have two clean sheets in the Premier League this season and Holding has played a role in both of them. There seems to be an added composure to his game at the minute and a partnership of Holding/Sokratis actually seems to be the more solid pairing at the minute.Given Callum Chambers was farmed out on loan this summer while Holding was kept, it’s clear that Arsenal boss Unai Emery sees something in the 23-year-old Englishman. It would be a surprise if Emery dropped him ahead of the upcoming GW8 match up against Fulham, while Holdingagainst the physical Aleksandar Mitrovic will be an interesting match-up.Sell! Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham (DF, £6.0m)Owned by: 8%Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is actually the most transferred out player this week with more than 270,000 managers losing faith and plenty of talk this week about what to do with him.The bar was set incredibly high last season for Salah. However, following the GW8 matchup against Manchester City, Liverpool have a great run of league fixtures including Huddersfield, Cardiff, Fulham and Watford in their next six, meaning that you can be excused for holding on.The sell spot this week goes to Spurs Jan Vertonghen, given his hamstring injury could potentially keep him out until the end of November. At £6m, it’s simply wasted money on the bench and his team-mate Kieron Trippier provides a much better option in defence, although admittedly comes in at £0.2m more expensive. Almost 80,000 managers have dropped Vertonghen already but expect that number to rise.Hold! Lucas Moura, Tottenham (MF, £7.4M)Owned by: 22%As mentioned, Spurs have had it tough this season in terms of first-team injuries. Sympathy levels are somewhat low given they seemed to give any staff involved in player recruitment the summer off. Notable absentees ahead of Gameweek 8 include creative midfielders Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, meaning Spurs could line up with Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela behind Harry Kane.Moura in particular has divided opinion this week with more than 70,000 fantasy managers shipping him in, while another 70,000 fantasy managers get rid. Having started the season well with three goals and an assist in his opening four games, he’s now gone three games with no attacking returns.Given he is up against Cardiff and Harry Kane is looking like he’s starting to shake off the effects of the World Cup, Moura gets the hold spot this week.Buy! Erik Lamela, Spurs (MF, £6.4M)Owned by: 0.6%Admittedly, 69 minutes played this season for Lamela from seven possible games does not go in his favour. However, he did post attacking returns in each of his three bit-part appearances and given the injury absentees for Spurs – and his performance against Barcelona in midweek – Lamela deserves the start.At 0.6% owned, he can be a huge differential buy for GW8 if he continues his current form. If you already have Moura, doubling up is typically not advised – but if not, Lamela can certainly offer a very low-owned candidate for Tottenham’s match against Cardiff.FantasyYIRMAstarted in 2012, focused on FPL news and previews. After coverage across 234gameweeks, theyare confident they could have been well on their way to becoming a qualified astronaut had the time been spent more productivelyNew features you'd love on FourFourTwo.com
