Scout Notes – Austin Builds His Case

Another goal confirms a Southampton striker as a potential festive differential, while an Arsenal super-sub stakes another claim for starts in the 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.

Four goals from just three starts – and five for the season from a mere 399 minutes of pitch-time – has elevated the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) stock of Southampton’s Charlie Austin.

The forward opened the scoring against Arsenal today to continue his purple patch, but it is a run of form that has passed most of us by.

Priced at 6.1, he is owned by just 1.8% of FPL managers and only 41,000+ drafted him in for Gameweek 16.

Austin’s less than illustrious history of injuries and the Saints taxing festive schedule have clearly dissuaded more from investing, but over the next six Gameweeks, he has three strong home fixtures (LEI HUD CRY).

They are counterbalanced by a trio of brutal road trips (che tot mun), although coach Mauricio Pellegrino has tended to start away matches with the more mobile Shane Long as the lone striker anyway.

For managers with adaptable squads, Austin could be used as a budget third striker when the fixtures fall in his favour as Pellegrino seems likely to keep his striker in reserve for the key St Mary’s matches.

He is currently the fourth most popular signing ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, already claiming over 21,000 new owners following today’s seven points.

Meanwhile, the coach’s switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation helped Dusan Tadic prosper as well.

The midfielder supplied the assist for Austin’s goal to go joint-top with Son Heung-min for big chances created (three) in Gameweek 16.

The Serbian now has a goal and two assists from his last three starts and, with just 1.8% ownership, is another to track while the Saints enjoy this spell of form.

Giroud pushing for a start

Arsenal’s much-vaunted ‘big three’ of Alexandre Lacazette, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil now have just one goal and an assist between them from the last two Gameweeks.

Sanchez set up today’s equaliser, the fourth time in five matches he’s delivered points, but it was Olivier Giroud who scored it – his third goal in as many Gameweeks, and all of them from the subs bench.

The big Frenchman might not have the mobility of his compatriot Lacazette, but he’s now scored four goals from a mere 253 minutes of action this season.

With rotation inevitable from now until the New Year, Giroud is building a strong case for the starts that have so far been denied him this season.

The Gunners certainly have a good set of fixtures to come, with West Ham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Brom in four of the next five Gameweeks.

Another in fine form is Aaron Ramsey, who was brought in by 203,000+ for Gameweek 16, only to blank for just the second time in eight Gameweeks.

It wasn’t for the lack of trying, however, as he had more shots (four), efforts in the box (three) and attempts on target (three) than any team-mate.

But he is now an injury doubt for Wednesday’s trip to West Ham, as Arsene Wenger confirmed post-match.

“Aaron Ramsey couldn’t play at the end. He had a hamstring problem.”

Defence missing Mustafi

At the back, Arsenal continue to struggle when Shkodran Mustafi is absent from the line-up.

The German missed today’s encounter with a knock and the Gunners promptly failed to keep a clean sheet as a result.

In fact, all seven of the shut-outs they’ve managed this season have come when Mustafi has played the full 90 minutes.  His injury issues have kept him to just nine starts, however.

That’s clearly having a knock-on effect for FPL managers with Arsenal defenders in their squads, with Sead Kolasinac (15.8%) the most popular.

The Bosnian was drafted in by 81,043 this week, but his lack of returns on the road continued – only 18 of his 74 points have come away from home.

His frustrated FPL followers might now need to take note that three of Arsenal’s next five matches are away from the Emirates.