Scout Betting

The Fantasy Flutter: Maupay to prosper against under-strength Arsenal defence?

We combine Fantasy football with a flutter in our weekly betting feature, which, like the Premier League itself, returns following a three-month break.

Wednesday’s FPL deadline has been and gone so there’s nothing we can do to influence our teams in Double Gameweek 30+, but we can put our Fantasy nous to some use with a punt on the weekend’s action.

As anyone who invested in David Luiz, John Fleck, Oliver Norwood, Sergio Aguero and/or Pepe Reina will confirm, there is plenty that can happen both on and off the pitch beyond our control.

However, we live in eternal hope that the data in our Members Area can narrow the odds in our favour – both in Fantasy Premier League and beyond.

So we’re turning to the vast array of player and team statistics available to Fantasy Football Scout subscribers to again inspire a bet or two ahead of the upcoming matches.

Those wishing to subscribe to our site to see more of the stats featured in this weekly feature should click here to sign up or upgrade your account.

Rolling monthly subscriptions are now available for £2.99, while annual memberships can be bought for £17.50 – this will not only see you through to the end of 2019/20 but gives you access for the whole of the 2020/21 campaign too. 

And please always remember with gambling: when the fun stops, stop.

FPL 2019/20 In Review Part One - Goalkeepers and Defenders

As anyone who saw Wednesday’s night match at Villa Park will attest, goals might be hard to come by at St James’ Park this weekend.

Sheffield United didn’t manage one ‘big chance’ in that Gameweek 30+ opener but, as they so often do, kept it tight at the other end.

Only Liverpool have shipped fewer goals on the road than Chris Wilder’s side, and in only two of the Blades’ 14 away games have more than two goals flown in.

No club has conceded fewer goals than Newcastle United on home soil in 2019/20, meanwhile, with the Magpies having kept clean sheets in six of their 14 fixtures on Tyneside.

And no team has scored fewer goals on their own turf than Steve Bruce’s troops, either.

A 0-0 draw is 13/2 with SkyBet, should the match go the way of the season-long form book.

If there is to be a goal, might it come from a set play?

Newcastle have conceded more headed opportunities than any other team this season and the second-highest number of attempts from set plays.

Centre-half John Egan, who has had more attempts from free-kicks and corners than any of this teammates, is a 33/1 punt with Ladbrokes and elsewhere to bag the first goal and break his Premier League duck.

Many of us will have flogged our Liverpool assets to fund a splurge on Double Gameweek players, so we all know what will happen next.

No team conceded more goals than Everton in their last six matches before lockdown and the Toffees are without a clean sheet since Gameweek 22.

Add this to the plethora of injuries that Carlo Ancelotti’s side currently have and their Merseyside rivals will fancy their chances of adding to the five goals they scored in the reverse fixture in December.

Andrew Robertson is 7/2 with Grosvenor to provide an assist: only three clubs have allowed more chances from their right flank than Everton since Ancelotti took charge and the Toffees looked very suspect down that wing in their 4-0 defeat to Chelsea in March.

Sadio Mane, whose joint-highest FPL score of the season came against Everton in December, is 7/1 to score two or more goals with BetFred.

Arsenal could well be down at least three or four centre-halves when they visit Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday and look set to be missing defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka too.

Less than 72 hours separate the Gunners’ two Double Gameweek 30+ fixtures, with Mikel Arteta’s troops having had to play much of the second half at the Etihad with ten men.

This could be an ideal time for Graham Potter’s struggling Brighton and Hove Albion to meet the beleaguered north London side, then, with questions being asked of Arsenal on and off the pitch.

Neal Maupay has had more efforts on goal this season than all bar two FPL forwards and, although he can be somewhat wasteful with those chances, his joint-highest score of the season came in the reverse fixture at the Emirates.

One of PaddyPower’s price boost bets this week sees Maupay priced up at 6/1 to be the first goalscorer against the Gunners.

974 Comments Post a Comment
  1. pingissimus
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Haven’t seen anyone mention Alli. Lots piling in on double United attack but isn’t Alli also an option - perhaps even with Son? Fixtures fine and Mou seems a fan and Kane back might even be a plus.

  2. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I feel foolish. Just had to spend another 0.8m to get back the players I removed to create my BB team this week for my new WC team but I guess points is better then team value at this stage.

    1. kamdaraji
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      with 78 points so far with 16 players to go seems like it was worth it

      1. DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Same here pretty much, although I held onto jiminez and de bruyne. Luckily it worked out or I would have been annoyed at somewhat being forced by the situation to rip up my team this week. On 69 currently with 15 to go.

    2. HashAttack
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Should be saving some bench money now to make up for that 0.8m

  3. Me Spurs
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WC to risky without salah or mane?
    De gea button
    Taa doherty Justin lund lascelles
    Kdb son Bruno barnes duda
    Jimi Kane rash

    1. Steinburg FC
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      i'm risking going without to

      Pope
      TAA, Maguire, Saiss, (Lascelles, Robinson)
      KDB, Son, Bruno, Sarr, (Traore)
      Kane, Rashford, Jimenez. 0.2 ITB = FH

    2. FPL Dancer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I've just done a wildcard draft on youtube without Mane or Salah and instead doubling on the Liverpool defence.

      https://youtu.be/FnB8Ca7M3xo

      1. DandyDon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Interesting idea. Not sure I get your reason based on the palace game, I think Liverpool will score loads that game and we’ll want salah or mane. After they have the title there probably is more case for the double defence looking at their fixtures. I’m on Vardy then switching to Tammy After a week(to allow liverpool midfielder) I was going to go without Kane but you have me thinking again on that re guaranteed starts. Let’s see how he plays tonight!

  4. GreennRed
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    https://youtu.be/0HmmWb6rnkw

    It's back! Wait for Dyche 🙂

  5. FPL Dancer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Double up on Liverpool Defence, Arsenal & Spurs attack?!?!

    GW 31+ Wildcard Draft in the link below (Overall Rank 32k)

    https://youtu.be/FnB8Ca7M3xo

  6. Assisting the assister
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Are scout picks allowed to choose 4 strikers in their suggested team?

  7. Krafty Werks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WC31 draft no.2, any thoughts much appreciated, thanks :

    Rui Patricio / Martin
    TAA / Doherty / Lascelles / Holgate / Robinson
    Mane / KDB / Son / B.Fernandes / Guendouzi
    Rashford / Jimenez / Pukki

    0ITB.

    1. DandyDon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      That’s certainly the four midfielders you’d want but I’ve gone a bit heavier up top and downgraded a midfielder to barnes/mount. I prefer Pope in goal but double wolves defence might be an idea.

      1. Krafty Werks
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yes, could go Pope & Saiss over Patricio & Holgate actually? Will see? Defo keeping my 4 main chosen mids i think and quite like Pukki up top who will likely be a placeholder for DCL for last 3 GW's but again will see? GL.

  8. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    No Salah/Mane WC draft:

    Pope Button
    TAA VVD Doherty Williams Robinson
    Bruno Son KdB Grealish Traore
    Rashford Vardy Jimenez

    What do you think?

  9. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    last decision for me on WC

    1.Pope and Mane or 2.Salah and Krul

    currently on 2

    1. St Pauli Walnuts
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1 by some way for me. Salah and Mane is tight and I'd maybe just edge Salah, but Pope is a much better option than Krul so that sways it.