Scout Notes

Aubameyang bounces back but misses out on bonus

Arsenal bounced back immediately from their humiliating defeat at Liverpool on New Year’s Day.

The Gunners recorded a big 4-1 win over Fulham with attacking returns from several Fantasy Premier League usuals.

That game is the subject of our latest Scout Notes article.

Arsenal 4-1 Fulham

Goals: Granit Xhaka (£5.3m), Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m), Aaron Ramsey (£7.2m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m) | Aboubakar Kamara (£4.4m)

Assists: Alex Iwobi (£5.4m), Sead Kolasinac (£4.9m), Aubameyang, Sokratis Papastathopoulos (£5.1m) | Ryan Sessegnon (£6.0m)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m) bounced back to form as Arsenal were deserved 4-1 winners over Fulham on New Year’s Day. It took some time for the forward to get his returns but as the game’s top shooter in the penalty box, and the player with the most touches there, it was fitting that he ended up on the scoresheet. It was the type of performance that his owners would have wanted after his blank at Anfield and with West Ham his next opponents. His goal and assist gave Aubameyang a nine-point haul, which most of those who captained him would probably be happy with. However, it was another match where the former Borussia Dortmund man missed close-range chances that he really should have buried, just two of his six shots were on target in the end. These spurned opportunities appear to have cost Aubameyang a shot at any bonus points.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) got his first goal since the Gameweek 14 win over Tottenham, but once again was unable to complete the outing. The Frenchman also deserved to get attacking returns as Aubameyang was the only player at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday afternoon who had more touches in the box or more shots there than Lacazette. However, his struggles to live up to his price-tag continued as he went a 13th consecutive Gameweek without double-digit returns. While he has been relatively consistent in that time, averaging 3.8 points per appearance, it’s just not quite good enough to be forking out over £9m for, especially if he is not completing games he starts. That is something some Arsenal fans are a little frustrated by, as they booed his substitution against Fulham on Tuesday.

“I understand the supporters, but I need to do my work. Tactically we are thinking we need to change for more balance. We know Seri well, we need a player close to him, not let him play with the ball too easily. But for me today Lacazette helped us.” – Unai Emery

Perhaps offering a value route into Arsenal’s attack is midfielder Alex Iwobi (£5.4m). His assist for Granit Xhaka‘s (£5.3m) opening goal was his third attacking return in four Gameweeks. He is another of Emery’s charges who rarely completes full 90-minute spells in the Premier League (his full outing in Gameweek 20 the first since Gameweek 10), but at the cheaper price that is slightly more bearable. The Nigerian has started 10 of Arsenal’s last 15 Premier League matches and his recent form may help him add to that stability in 2019.

The only Arsenal player to create more chances than Iwobi against Fulham was Sead Kolasinac (£4.9m), who also chalked up his fourth assist of the campaign in Gameweek 21. However, his appeal continues to be dented by Arsenal’s inability to keep clean sheets, even in favourable home matches. They have just one at the Emirates Stadium since Gameweek 8, with Aboubakar Kamara (£4.4m) pouncing on the back-post to convert Ryan Sessegnon‘s (£6.0m) second-half cross. The English midfielder was actually unfortunate not to have two goals to his name already by that point as he missed golden opportunities early in the game. It says a lot about Arsenal’s ability to control and defend that their opening goal arguably came against the run of play. The protection of the benched Lucas Torreira (£5.1m) was a big miss in the first half, but Fulham still scored their goal after the Uruguayan came on at the interval.

Obviously, Emery has also not been helped by the swathe of injuries in defensive areas this season. It meant that today was the first time that Sokratis Papastathopoulos (£5.1m), Laurent Koscielny (£5.4m) and Shkodran Mustafi (£5.4m) played together, with the latter being forced off with injury at half-time to make matters worse.

“Our challenge now is to improve defensively. Today is the first time we could play with Sokratis, Koscielny and Mustafi. The injury to Mustafi meant we changed for the second half. We are happy with the attacking players and scoring goals, but we need more balance defensively to improve. We need to work, we need to do better in the second half of the season.” – Unai Emery

“(On Mustafi) It’s a small injury. It’s a small problem but he didn’t feel well after the first half. He wanted to play.” – Unai Emery

Aaron Ramsey (£7.2m) showed a glimmer of what he has often offered as he scored in a substitute’s appearance in the second half. Emery went as far as to pay him compliments in his post-match press conference, also indicating that he might not leave in January either.

“He worked well in Liverpool, today he played minutes and he scored. I want this focus. I would expect (he will still be here in January), yes.” – Unai Emery

As for Fulham, their defensive woes dragged on, taking their goals conceded column for the campaign to 47. They were not helped by the absence of Calum Chambers (£4.2m) in midfield, who was ineligible against his parent club. Claudio Ranieri handed a first league start since September 2017 to Ibrahima Cissé (£4.3m), who lasted 60 minutes before being replaced by Jean Michael Seri (£5.0m).

Fulham lined up in a 3-4-3 with Tim Ream (£4.2m), Maxime Le Marchand (£4.2m) and Denis Odoi (£4.4m) were at the back, with Joe Bryan (£4.8m) and Cyrus Christie (£4.2m) pushing on. That more forward-thinking approach was tempered by the introduction of Timothy Fosu-Mensah (£4.5m) for Christie in the 56th minute.

The aforementioned Sessegnon looked dangerous in fits and bursts. No Fulham player was treated to more big chances than him at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal XI (3-4-2-1): Leno; Koscielny, Sokratis, Mustafi (Torreira 45′); Kolasinac, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles; Aubameyang, Iwobi (Saka 83′); Lacazette (Ramsey 75′).

Fulham XI (3-4-3): Rico; Ream, Le Marchand, Odoi; Bryan, Cissé (Seri 61′), Cairney, Christie (Fosu-Mensah 56′); Schürrle (Kamara 61′), Sessegnon; Mitrovic.

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1,475 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DantheManinaPan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Pick 2 for WC team:

    Jimenez, Arnie, Ings

    1. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Throw Rashford in there as well

      1. Goonsquad245
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Change to jimmy and rash then

    2. Goonsquad245
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jimmy and Arnie

    3. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jim and Arnie.

    4. TheSteel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Arnie and Ings. Tammy could spoil Jimenez. Wait n see

      1. BobB
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He must be shagging the manager's wife. He is better than Austin and much better than Long

    5. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jimenez

      1. Astronautovic
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ings is their best forward. There is no risk. Just a rest in a busy week that he doesn't get injured

        1. Deulofail
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Jimenez

        2. Astronautovic
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Reply fail to limbo

    6. Limbo
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Ings didn’t play last week. Sub the week before. Too much of a risk.

    7. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheers for the responses. Looks quite clear which are most popular then!

    8. SkeletONv01
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jimenez and Rashford

  2. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    If Pogba and Rashford miss out, I could get a Bissaka 9-point special and Kamara jam launched into my XI 🙂

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Have Jim coming in for Moura so It won;t be happening I'm afraid.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I hate you

        1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          😆

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Where did you get this news about Pogba buddy ??
      I got him this gw. 😮

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        It's not news 🙂 It's just been suggested here. No idea about the source, and there's not much point worrying about it

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Ha ha.

          1. Deulofail
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/19637196 This and the comment above it. Seems like a cold or something. No idea, personally

            1. Amey
              • 5 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Got beast awb coming for him.
              0-0 wolves-palace incoming 😛

              1. Deulofail
                • 8 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                I bought him this week, so would be an excellent gift from the bench. Come on you Wan

                1. Amey
                  • 5 Years
                  5 years, 2 months ago

                  Great.
                  I bought Pogba this week.
                  Past 4 weeks:
                  Bought Martial>>I'll
                  Bought Kiko >>rested
                  This week Pogba >> ??
                  I'm setting a trend 😀

                  1. Deulofail
                    • 8 Years
                    5 years, 2 months ago

                    Why would you do this to me?

                    1. Amey
                      • 5 Years
                      5 years, 2 months ago

                      Jose Mou mode on !!
                      Self destruction 😀

  3. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    £3.9m ITB.

    Schmeichel
    AWB Lovren Digne Alonso
    Martial Richarlison Pogba Hazard Pereyra
    Kane

    Stekelenburg Kolasinac Jimenez Kamara

    A Martial > Sterling
    B Pereyra > KDB
    C Pereyra > Sanchez

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wish I had a whole Bednarek in the bank

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        😀

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lovren maybe replaced soon by Gomez?

    3. Goonsquad245
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What are your reasons for wanting to do each of A, B, and C?

      1. Scotty B
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I'm glad you asked...

        A as have no City players and they could smash it next 3-4 weeks.
        B same as above
        C see how Sanchez goes but he could be lethal but triple up with Martial and Pogba is probs overkill

  4. Fantasy Gold
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Three changes for West Ham tonight according to ExWHU Employee:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/ExWHUemployee/status/1080505753180520449

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Does that include Belbuena

    2. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Anderest?

    3. CAPTAIN CRESPO
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Could do with Snoddy rested. Gives me a chance of getting Pereira off bench as 2nd sub

    4. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hope Fanderson starts.

    5. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Three of them out with Pogflu?

  5. Man Getting Hit By Football
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Has anyone else owned a player this season that has done the business when out of your team, and when you get them in does next to nothing?

    I've owned Wilson on two occasions for eight gameweeks so far, in which time he's scored me a grand total of 14 points (1.4 per game).

    1. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Happens every month of every last 5 seasons for me!

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You've just described Hazard, for everyone, since beginning of time.

      1. Pierce34
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Speak for yourself, I always had him at the right times 😛

        1. Pierce34
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Lacazette and Aubameyang, on the other hand...

        2. potatoace
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          You must be a weirdo then 🙂

        3. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          This

    3. Pocky
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hazard every season.

    4. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Auba
      Sane
      Sterling
      Arnie
      Richa

    5. grumpyman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I benched 21 Pereyra points this season and only owned him 3 weeks.

  6. JohnBlack
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    G2G next week? 1FT, 0.2ITB

    Fab
    Robbo Laporte Digne
    Salah (C) Sane Pogba Martial Rich
    Auba Jimenez

    Pat WanB Kamara Doherty

  7. EgyptianKing
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Just seen here the Pogba rumors...

    Any reliable source? Is he really out?

    1. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Nothing we can do about it now, will find out in just over an hour.

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It’s not even a rumour, just a joke going around here

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hopefully not.

  8. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Who do you have playing today?

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      With everyone out injured?

    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Got 9 starters tonight

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Martial,fabs,Pogba,ings, Doherty & Hazard (c)

    4. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hazard Rashford Holebas Hazard Patricio AWB Anderson

      1. Dannyb
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Haha I wish I had 2 Hazards playing, Pogba

        1. Trane84
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          You would have two if you put the armband on him

    5. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Fabianski, Lindelöf, Doherty, Felipe, Pogba, Hazard (c)

    6. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lots of points coming in in A couple of hours, get ready!

  9. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Is there actually any truth or credible source to all these Pogba rumours?

    1. Eze Really?
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      First thing you do on this site is ignore all the crxp.

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        So you basically ignore the site

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Not at all but you are more than aware how the comments down the army line works. Being able to tell the good from the bad becomes a skill.

    2. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      what rumours

  10. Eze Really?
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I fin it amazing the top 6 most sold players per hour:
    Richa Chica Fraser Wilson Sterling and Sane were all my best players 2 weeks ago.
    Weird don't you think?

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      It is just the way FPL rolls these days and it is nothing new especially when Utd hit a bit of short term form which should come to an end tonight as their run of easy games is now over.

      1. Robson-Canoe
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ooof. Salty City supporter.

        1. Eze Really?
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          No easy games for Citeh.(smile)

      2. Eze Really?
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I keep an eye on tfrs in and out a little too much. First time I have experienced so many template players in complete reversal

      3. Dannyb
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Do you really think United will struggle tonight then? I can't see anything but a United win tonight tbh.

      4. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Keep dreaming

      5. Rusty71
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, Newcastle will be real tough!