Scout Notes

Golden Boot race hots up as Aubameyang and Vardy score again

Arsenal 1-1 Leicester City

Goals: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) | Jamie Vardy (£9.7m)

Assists: Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) | Demarai Gray (£5.0m)

Bonus Points: Vardy x3, Aubameyang x2, Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m)

A late goal from Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) earned Leicester City a point and denied Arsenal a fourth straight league win.

A sluggish return from lockdown meant more Vardy family members had issued writs against Coleen Rooney than scored Premier League goals, until the striker broke a three-match drought with a brace against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 33+.

His patchy form had lost him close to 600,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) owners since Gameweek 28, but three goals in the last four days means he’s now back in the top five for transfers-in heading into the weekend’s fixtures.

Vardy is also two goals clear of the pack in the race for the Golden Boot; a gap that had been reduced to one when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) opened the scoring last night.

The Arsenal forward had been in poor form himself, with four blanks spanning the start and end of lockdown, but three goals and an assist from Gameweek 32+ onwards has now brought in 26 points for his 23.1% ownership.

What it hasn’t done is persuade many to bring him into their Fantasy squads. Aubameyang is not even in the top 30 for Gameweek 35+ purchases as an immediate schedule involving the North London Derby and then a visit from Liverpool seems too rich for most people’s blood.

Fixtures trumping form? Presumably, because the Gunners were unlucky not to make it four league wins on the bounce, and ten victories in their last 13 matches in all competitions, last night.

That they didn’t was down to a superb display by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m), who made five stops during a one-sided first-half, and a red card that reduced the home team to ten men for the final 15 minutes of the match.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m) had only been on the pitch for four minutes when he failed to control a sliding tackle on the rain-slick pitch and he went in high and studs-up on James Justin (£4.7m). He was initially only booked for the challenge, until VAR had other ideas and referee Chris Kavanagh agreed once he’d taken a look on the pitch-side monitor.

A Foxes team that had threatened only intermittently before the sending-off were ruthless after it. 

Manager Brendan Rodgers went from a 3-4-1-2 to a 4-5-1 formation, which hugely improved the supply line to Vardy, as although the forward ostensibly had a strike partner in Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m), the Nigeria international dropped very deep for much of the match, leaving Vardy isolated up front.

The pair did combine well on occasion, with Iheanacho having a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, but once Harvey Barnes (£6.0m) replaced him and Nketiah trudged off a few minutes later, the visitors used patience, and the width of the pitch, to stretch Arsenal.

The tactic finally came good with six minutes to go when Vardy slotted home a cross from the impressive substitute Demarai Gray (£5.0m), although VAR had a long, long look at possible offsides before the goal was finally confirmed.

Rodgers was somewhat one-eyed in his post-match reaction to the result.

“I thought a point was the minimum we deserved. At 11 versus 10 we managed it really well, got the goal and unfortunate not to have got a second.” – Brendan Rodgers

Arsenal would have been extremely unlucky not to get something from a game they ran for lengthy spells.

Schmeichel earned two save points and a bonus for his superb display, denying Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) and Hector Bellerin (£5.3m) with fine stops and Alexandre Lacazette (£9.2m) with a brilliant one.

He could do little about the goal, however, as Aubameyang finished following fine work by Saka.

The 5.4%-owned midfielder, made it two straight Gameweeks with a haul – and three in his last four starts – as Arteta continues to use him as part of a front three.

But what is great news for some is potentially less pleasing for others – Lacazette was handed the central striker role last night, meaning Aubameyang’s owners had to make do with their man cutting in from the left flank.

Arteta, however, believes the move does not harm his attacking threat.

“He is scoring a lot of goals coming from that position, he’s done it all his career. We know he can play as at nine but at the moment the balance of the team is a little bit better like this. He is a team player.” – Mikel Arteta

The stats back the boss up – Aubameyang and Lacazette had exactly the same number of shots (two), all of which were inside the area, and they also had one big chance each. The Gabon international also had four penalty area touches to his teammate’s two.

While the Gunners’ attacking prowess has rarely been in doubt, their defensive improvement has been impressive under Arteta.

A fourth straight clean sheet was beyond them last night, in part thanks to Nketiah’s indiscretion, but the much-maligned Shkodran Mustafi (£5.1m) has been a man transformed in recent weeks, although his major contribution last night involved taking a stray Vardy boot to the face, an (entirely accidental) incident that the Arsenal coach thought should have led to the forward’s dismissal.

“I was agitated for a previous incident that was a red card. The referee has made a decision and we have to learn from that, as well it is our fault because it is the fourth time since I have been here we have played with 10 men and we have to reflect on that.” – Mikel Arteta

That speaks volumes for the, let’s just say, ‘more robust’ Arsenal that is emerging under their new coach, and although few Fantasy managers seem keen to invest right now, their final two fixtures – away at Aston Villa and home to Watford –  should tempt plenty more.

The situation is, essentially, reversed for Leicester.

The Foxes travel to Bournemouth and then host Sheffield United next. Small wonder, then, that Vardy is enjoying purchases.

But they end the season with a trip to Tottenham and a potentially huge home game with Manchester United that could determine which of them earns a Champions League spot for next year.

That will mean a motivated, and mostly rotation-free, side from now until the end of the campaign, but Leicester’s patchy form – a win, a loss and three draws – since Gameweek 30+ is not wholly convincing.

Arsenal (3-4-3): Martínez; Kolasinac, D Luiz, Mustafi; Tierney, Xhaka, Ceballos (Torreira 80), Bellerín; Aubameyang (Maitland-Niles 90+3), Lacazette (Nketiah 71), Saka (Willock 71).

Leicester City (3-4-1-2: Schmeichel; Söyüncü, Evans, Bennett (Gray 76); Justin, Tielemans, Ndidi (Praet 82), Albrighton (Fuchs 59); Pérez; Vardy, Iheanacho (Barnes 59).

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

View full match data in the Members Area

672 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Monster haul please from The Holy See

  2. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Daily reminder not to follow random Twitter accounts with no track record for lineups.

    Another one bites the dust.

    @FPL_Driver: https://twitter.com/FPL_Driver

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      There's being a loser on the Internet

      and then there's people like that..

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I imagine it's a quick way to boost followers.

        Make some obvious predictions (lol), ride the wave of followers. Later delete incorrect predictions and/or change the handle - then act as a normal person again.

        1. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I don't really care because the deadline was passed anyway and I don't listen to anyone but Rockstar but making that stuff up. Do people literally not have anything else to do? Nothing at all?

    2. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      lol, he thought he was being slick choosing 4 guys who never started the previous game. whoops.

  3. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hopefully Sterling gets Bournemouth...

    1. Rains of Castamere
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      This. (c)

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yeah pep and his loooooong bench

  4. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I bought Sterling partly due to him either starting and playing near enough the full 90 or not featuring at all and being able to utilise my first sub.

    > hauled off before 60 vs Southampton
    > doesn't start vs Newcastle and I have Nketiah first sub

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ouch

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Exactly the same here and I got him in as part of a hit lol

      1. Qaiss
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        same

    3. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He may come on. I need him to cause I have no one on the bench lol

  5. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Damn used my BB and have Garcia...

  6. trinzoo
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    What happened to Mendy? 🙁

    1. Magic Hamster
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I feel your pain, I took a - 4 to bring in mendy and bench boost... Fail!

      1. trinzoo
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Did Maguire/Pulisic > Mendy/Bruno for a hit too (had to get Bruno finally) bad punt we got, hopefully they at least concede 😀

  7. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling(c), Jesus (vc)

    Got Peped!

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Oh wow sorry mate. Sterling can easily do damage from the bench

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no kdb in ur team ?

  8. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Why waste a City spot on Sterling? 11.7 and he's below Mahrez in the points table in spite of playing around 600 minutes more. And Foden is great value.

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      We don't all want to pick the same players.

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        And there you have it. That's one of the most best and straightforward answers I've seen on here.

        1. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          So you're picking him purely based on ownership?

      2. bench boost for every gamew…
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        brilliant answer

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Seemed to be in better form recently.

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

      Bigger potential. If he delivers on his stats, he blows Mahrez out of the water, which was exemplified in the Liverpool game.

      1. Cok3y5murf
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        The game Mahrez didn't start in? Some logic there. By that logic, Mahrez blew him out of the water vs Burnley.

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

          Had Mahrez started, I doubt that he'd have scored 16. The stats tables show that if Sterling can improve his goal conversion rate, he'll get absolutely massive scores. We can disagree on whether he'll live up to his stats, but that doesn't make him a waste.

    4. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Price doesn’t really matter now with Greenwood and Foden being capable choices

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

    I think to predict City's league side, we need to figure out their first team for the cup. That will see rest for those players leading up to it. Likely in GW36.

    Ederson
    Walker Garcia Laporte Mendy
    Rodri Gundogan
    KdB
    Mahrez Jesus Sterling

    Something like this looks like what they'll go for. That Liverpool lineup is quite telling.

    By rotation I reckon:

    KdB - 34, 35, 37, 38 - rested vs BOU
    Sterling - 35, 36, 38 - rested today and GW37
    Mahrez - same as KdB except if he plays in the semi he'd be on the bench in 36 starts otherwise.
    Foden - 34, 36, 37, 38 - rested next game.

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      That is why I will likely get Sterling(c) in vs Bournemouth

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        City's first team:

        Ederson
        Walker Garcia Laporte Mendy
        KDB Fernandinho Silva
        Mahrez Jesus Sterling

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Depends on opposition but I don't think Silva is first choice anymore. Could prefer Rodri or Gundo easily.

    2. trinzoo
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mendy not even on the bench today...

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Could be injury related. But yeah he's not set. Cancelo maybe who knows.

    3. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Might sell kdb b4 Bournemouth at home

    4. ElliotJHP
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah, likely to not include KdB in an FH 36 side. Foden an obvious selection, the other two is a bit more of a guessing game.

  10. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ended up getting in Vardy rather than Foden for my ft m, happy with the Vardy returns but Foden may go crazy

  11. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    No Almiron, ASM, Lascelles for Newcastle.

    City hopefully going to run riot.

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes pls

    2. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      As a Newcastle fan, I'm worried about not having Hayden or Longstaff to charge down shots from Man City midfielders. Krahft and Yedlin both starting is a strange one as well

    3. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      That's good news

  12. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    That Newcastle lineup has to be one of the more defensive lineups I’ve ever seen 😆

    1. Hairy Potter
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not enough centre backs for Tony Pulis

    2. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It's the rare 9-1 formation

  13. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    now that i sold Jota watch him score ))

  14. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez to Willian or Antonio next gw

    1. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Willian in better form, Antonio if you want to save a bit of dough

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

      Or Sterling?

  15. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Don’t know if I can watch Kevin and Phil maul my rank. 🙁

    1. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foden is due a hattrick isn’t he

  16. mitro
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez to pulisic on the cards this week

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

      Why, he plays today?

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        So benched next week

      2. mitro
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I don’t think he starts 3 in a row

        1. Camzy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          He started 3 in a row since the restart.

          I think he'll play next week too. Foden benched for Sterling.

  17. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Did anyone not captain KDB ?

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Me. Guy in my mini league TC'd him too so behind the couch it is.

      1. Von Lipwig
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I'm there too

      2. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Ouch I would say good luck but he’s my captain so I hope ur ml rival does well today lol,

    2. GreennRed
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy.

    3. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bruuuuuuuno!

    4. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foden yo

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Brave man - good luck

    5. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      me

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

    Is Sterling gonna play at all?

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Probably get 20 mins to keep him ticking over.

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      2.5 minutes

      1. Cojones of Destiny
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        that d be fabulous

    3. redsallstars
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Fabulous alright. Outscores KDB from bench

  19. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any chance of some help on what to do with this team and 2FTs? 1.0ITB

    DDG
    TAA, Doherty, Fernandez
    Salah, KDB, Fernandes, Foden
    DCL, Jimenez, Rashford

    4.0 | Saiss, Saka, Holgate

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Something involving DCL out mate? I hate him.

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Agreed but how? Can’t see a way to do it in 2 transfer. Maybe I need a -4....

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Maybe needs a hit, possibly use funds from Rashford to Greenwood, Saka to Pulisic, DCL to anyone else in the game and bench Foden next week?

          1. TheDragon
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            For some reason I’m reluctant to go rashford to Greenwood but you are probably right

            1. The Ejiptian King
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Rashford is due a haul but the only other way to do some decent upgrades is to lose Salah.

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I don't even wanna tell you what moves I made this week lol, I went full desperation mode.

      1. TheDragon
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Haha... share it with the group!

        1. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Ok but please keep it between us, I'm a little embarrassed, I did Salah, DCL > Foden(C), Vardy -4. I only got rid of Vardy two weeks ago ffs but I'm just putting in people my ML leader doesn't have now, I don't have KDB or Salah, I'll be lucky to finish in the top million at this rate.

          1. TheDragon
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            It’s certainly a bold move!

            Vardy did well for you yesterday though and Foden has potential 🙂

            A KDB haul and it’s not going to be pretty though.

            I’ve got Foden but captained KDB

            1. The Ejiptian King
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Yeah, if I'm gonna have a terrible finish anyway I thought I may as well go all out and hope for a miracle trying to catch up.

  20. KrisMCFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Please pep please do not sub sterling on unless it’s first half

  21. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pope, Patricio, Doherty, Saiss, Garcia, Kdb, Mahrez & Salah

    C’mon boys let’s go!

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Faith in the Wolves defence then ......

  22. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How many clean sheets expected from today's fixtures? City, Pool

    1. joker14
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pope!!!!

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

    Jesus starts again after 90min and Sterling benched............. ."mkkj@#£&==*//;’’mlllAAAAAARrRrrgggkhhh...........

  24. Threat Level Midnight
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jesus to HAUL today

  25. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Raheem vs VERY tired legs

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      inshallah

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

      I have Jimmy first bench. Don’t know what I want, other than Jesus/Mahrez to blank and Pep to burn in helI

    3. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'd take a late brace tbf

  26. southernpacific
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mendy not in squad? Brilliant

    1. gedda
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Got him, Greenwood & Foden in for a -4. This is great!

      S

      1. gedda
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        ..ad face.

    2. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm confused about that - messed my team right up by getting him in.

      1. gedda
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        +1

  27. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez in starting line up. Let's GO!

  28. Messiah Hazard
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How long is Chillwell out?

    1. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foreverrr.....

  29. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling probably gets subbed in for Jesus at latter stages if City are cruising.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Sterling tends to get full rests.

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Ill never forget benching grealishs 14 points only for him to come on for a minute

      2. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Different times now though, I think he'll come on.

    2. Tinkermania
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He usually never comes on when they are cruising.

  30. Baby Bowen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Everyone happy about Sterling benched then?

    Anyone know why is Lascelles doesn’t feature at all?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Knocks the last few games. Bruce is giving plenty a night off.

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

      Lascelles with a swollen ankle according to Bruce after last game.

      1. Baby Bowen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Thanks both