This article is part of our FPL Best XI series.
In wake of a tumultuous, horrific international break, the Premier League returns for Gameweek 13 this weekend. By bringing players, teams and the fans back together, this weekend's action should provide a collective respite from the attacks in Paris that marred the recent break.
From this weekend on, the Premiership reunites for consistent play until the next international break, which doesn't come until March.
Knowing that, teams will be primed to sharpen their form ahead of the hectic upcoming holiday period, which always proves pivotal to the final standings.
With a sustained run of matches set to begin, fantasy owners also embark on the thick of the season. In hoping to start this stretch with success, let's turn our attention to the Best XI for Gameweek 13.
Goalkeeper:
Petr Cech
Just three points shy of leading all goalkeepers in the Premier League's fantasy game, Cech has led Arsenal's defense to six clean sheets through the season's first 12 matches. At the moment, only Manchester City has allowed fewer goals than the Gunners, making Cech a fine selection most weeks. That proves especially true this weekend, as Arsenal travels to play West Brom, whose 10 goals scored currently tie for dead last. Additionally, the Baggies have managed just one goal from their past three meetings with the Gunners.
Defenders:
Seamus Coleman
Riding the high of his native Ireland booking a place in Euro 2016 over the international break, Coleman should take further confidence from the fact that this weekend Everton hosts Aston Villa, who are still stuck in last-place. No team has scored fewer goals over the Premiership's past six rounds than Villa, perpetuating a five-match losing streak before new manager Remy Garde's appointment prior to Gameweek 12. While Everton will still be without captain Phil Jagielka, Coleman's goal and clean sheet from last season's corresponding fixture make him an apt selection for this weekend's installment.
Virgil van Dijk
Since making his Southampton debut in Gameweek 5, van Dijk has tallied two goals and three clean sheets in eight starts. In doing so, the former Celtic man has accumulated 5.5 points per match in the Premier League's fantasy game, leaving only four defenders with a better mark. This weekend, the towering center-half has a great opportunity to build on his consecutive clean sheets heading into the international break. That's because Stoke City, who are tied with West Brom for the league's fewest goals scored, visit St. Mary's Stadium.
Kyle Naughton
The leading average scorer among Swansea City defenders, Naughton's stock is buoyed by two assists, which compensate for the Swans' disappointing mere two clean sheets so far. While that figure pales in comparison to Swansea's 13 such performances last season, Naughton and company could very well get things back on track this weekend. Garry Monk's men return home for a match against Bournemouth, who have lost their past four away games, including scoreless offensive efforts in their two away encounters preceding Saturday's game in Wales.
Midfielders:
Mesut Ozil
The Premiership's best passer, Ozil brought his league-leading total to 10 assists by setting up Arsenal's lone goal in the North London derby prior to the international break. That continued the German's six-game streak with at least one assist, which he'll aim to prolong after having been rested by his country over the recent layoff. Ozil and Arsenal's next opponent is West Brom, who conceded four goals against the Gunners in last season's final gameweek. While Tony Pulis sides always test Arsenal physically, Ozil's flying form makes him far from containable.
Kevin De Bruyne
Like Ozil, De Bruyne has been known to hand out favors, as he led Europe's top five leagues in assists last season. That ability inspired his move to Manchester City, which has resulted in four assists and three goals in eight appearances. The attacking midfielder also scored for his country over the break, maintaining his magnificent form ahead of this Saturday's game against Liverpool. Despite the Reds' reputation, City have scored seven goals from their last three home dates with the nearby opponents, and De Bruyne is expected to have top striker Sergio Aguero to target this time around.
Riyad Mahez
Nearly one-third through the Premier League season, Mahrez leads all players in fantasy points. That unexpected, remarkable standing comes thanks to seven goals and five assists, netting Mahrez about eight points per game for fantasy owners. This Saturday, the ascending Algerian can take his totals further with a road game at Newcastle, who have allowed the fifth-most goals in the Premiership this season. Meanwhile, only leaders Manchester City have scored more than third-place Leicester, who put three past the Magpies in their most recent meeting.
Dusan Tadic
Understated in his second season at Southampton, Tadic leads the Saints in fantasy points per game after coming up with two goals and two assists from his past six matches. In doing so, the Serbian has sparked Southampton's unbeaten streak over that same span, vaulting them into seventh in goals scored along the way. On the whole, Tadic has scored four times and sent three assists this season, making him a considerable threat going into Saturday's match against Stoke City, which comes at St. Mary's Stadium, where Southampton have scored at least twice in nine of their past 10 Premiership appearances.
Forwards:
Jamie Vardy (C)
With a goal from the penalty spot last time out, Vardy brought his mesmerizing scoring streak to nine consecutive Premier League contests. That leaves Leicester's lead man one match away from tying Ruud van Nistelrooy's record, putting the spotlight on Saturday's game at Newcastle. Although Vardy is battling a hip ailment, he's expected to fight for his chance at history by playing through any pain this weekend. Considering only one team has conceded more goals over their past six matches than Newcastle, Vardy appears poised to put his name in the record books, and earns another Best XI captain selection.
Olivier Giroud
Despite losing his starting center forward position prior to Theo Walcott's calf injury, Giroud has still struck for six goals in the league, putting him behind only four players in the all-important fantasy category. What's more, Giroud has found the back of the net in eight of his last 10 appearances for club and country, including a goal in France's heavy-hearted victory over Germany last week. With emotions understandably running high, Giroud is still likely to lead the line for Arsenal this Saturday at West Brom, who are winless in six straight against the Gunners.
Romelu Lukaku
By scoring in Gameweek 12, Lukaku not only netted for the second straight game but also secured his seventh goal of the season. That moved Lukaku into a three-way tie for the Premiership's second-leading scorer, with only Vardy's 12 goals ranking higher than his tally. However, Lukaku has also doled out four assists, including two in his most recent match at Goodison Park. That's where Everton will host last-place Aston Villa coming out of the break Saturday, giving Lukaku a ripe opportunity to frustrate a foe he's scored in three of his past four games against.
BENCH
GK: Hugo Lloris
Guarding a Spurs defense tied for the second-best record, Lloris enters this weekend's London derby against West Ham knowing countryman Dimitri Payet's ankle injury absence could leave the Hammers' attack out of sorts.
DEF: Scott Dann
Quietly the Premier League's sixth-ranked defender at the moment, Dann and Crystal Palace welcome Sunderland, the league's worst road team, this weekend.
DEF: Cesar Azpilicueta
Almost the leading point-scorer on Chelsea's fantasy-failing team thus far, Azpilicueta's consistent involvement makes him a decent selection this weekend against a Norwich City outfit with three goals from their last six games versus Chelsea.
MID: Andre Ayew
Swansea City's leading goal-scorer, Ayew will look to do the business once again this weekend against Bournemouth, whose 25 goals conceded trail only Sunderland.
MID: Eden Hazard
The reigning Player of the Year has incredibly scored just once through the first 12 weeks of the current campaign. Can unlucky Gameweek 13 actually prove fruitful for Hazard? Well, he's scored in two of Chelsea's past four matches versus Saturday's opponent, Norwich City.
FWD: Harry Kane
Like Hazard, Kane got off to a slow start, but unlike Hazard, he's really turned it around lately, scoring five goals in Tottenham's last three league games. That includes last time out against Arsenal, and he'll have the chance to haunt another London opponent, West Ham, this round.
FWD: Sergio Aguero
Arguably the Premier League's best player, Aguero has passed fit ahead of Saturday's match versus Liverpool. The last time we saw Aguero, he fantastically scored five goals against Newcastle in Gameweek 8.
