Scout Notes

FPL pre-season: Jesus hits hat-trick – and is Saka on pens?

Saturday’s pre-season friendlies continued at lunchtime with Arsenal’s thumping of Sevilla.

We’ve got the goals, assists, line-ups and Fantasy Premier League (FPL) talking points from this match in our Scout Notes, with more reports on the day’s other games – including the Community Shield – to follow.

We’re also keeping tabs on the minutes played in all of these warm-up fixtures, with Premium Members of Fantasy Football Scout able to access this information at the bottom of this article.

ARSENAL 6-0 SEVILLA

  • Goals: Saka x2 (1 pen), Jesus x3, Nketiah
  • Assists: Martinelli x2, Gabriel

Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m) cemented his place in millions of FPL squads with a hat-trick in Arsenal’s final pre-season friendly.

The treble took his tally to seven for the summer and while pre-season form can sometimes not be worth the word processing software it’s typed on, a striker going into Gameweek 1 brimming with confidence and feeling good about his new surroundings is more often than not a good thing.

The question for those going without him is: how is your nerve? The Brazilian is now owned by more than two-thirds of Fantasy managers and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see that ownership figure pass 70% by the time we get to the Gameweek 1 deadline.

CLINICAL JESUS

Two of Jesus’s efforts were opportunistic rebounds after parries from the wobbly Sevilla goalkeeper Bono (insert joke about U2’s ‘Bad’ here), with his second strike a sliding effort from an inviting Gabriel Martinelli (£6.0m) cross.

Four of Jesus’s pre-season goals have been first-time efforts, while another two have been of the swift control-and-finish variety; some clinical execution from a striker whose conversion rate and xG delta wasn’t actually all that impressive at Manchester City. Perhaps being less pressured to impress in limited game-time will boost the Brazil international’s confidence in front of goal, or perhaps he’ll regress more to the mean when meaningful competitive action gets underway.

A Crystal Palace backline that was among the division’s best from an underlying stats perspective will certainly be a test this week.

“You are hoping that that is going to happen but obviously a player has to adapt to a new city, to a new club, new teammates and he’s done it in a really fast and natural way. You can see the way they look for him on the pitch, on and off the ball, and what he’s able to transmit as well on that pitch so I am really happy.

“What are seeing is that everybody, not just Gabby, plays at that intensity and that willingness to win the ball, to promote mistakes and to play in the opponent’s half as much as possible. You cannot do that if players at the front are walking, they are not tracking, they don’t have that instinct and that intention to provoke things that we want and Gabby is phenomenal at that.

“His versatility is well known. Now we are using him as a nine, he can play as a winger, off the left and the right. You can play with two strikes as we have done in pre-season as well and change the shape a little bit. He gives us a lot of flexibility.” – Mikel Arteta on Gabriel Jesus

STARTING XI CLUES

Arsenal’s win over Sevilla didn’t tell us too much new on the personnel front: this was the same starting XI that Arteta named in the previous friendly against Chelsea and it looks increasingly like the one that will take to the field against Crystal Palace on Friday.

Injury victims Takehiro Tomiyasu (£4.5m), Kieran Tierney (£5.0m), Emile Smith Rowe (£6.0m) and Fabio Vieira (£6.0m) are at least back in training and could be in contention for a place in the matchday squad but Arteta’s comments seem to suggest that quartet will be eased into first-team action in the coming weeks.

“I think that most of them will be [available], they’ll have to go through what they need to this week and then hopefully we’ll have them available. They are lacking minutes but we’ll have to build that up like any other injury that we get during the season.” – Mikel Arteta on whether his injured players will be ready for Friday

SAKA ON PENS?

Bukayo Saka (£8.0m) took and converted Arsenal’s spot-kick in Saturday’s win, seemingly rubber-stamping his position as the Gunners’ first-choice taker given that Jesus and Martinelli were on the pitch at the time.

It might not be that simple, however.

Saka was both the winner and taker of Saturday’s penalty, something that has been the case for the last three league spot-kicks that Arsenal have been awarded (two for Saka, one for Martinelli).

Unless we get explicit confirmation from Arteta, a bit of uncertainty remains about the pecking order.

ADVANCED XHAKA
FPL pre-season: Jesus hat-trick and Saka on pens 1

Above images from Sofascore

We saw plenty of full-backs Oleksandr Zinchenko‘s (£5.0m) and Ben White (£4.5m) ‘inverting’ on Saturday, forming a three-man midfield with anchor Thomas Partey (£5.0m) whenever Arsenal bombed forward in a 2-3-5.

That meant that we were treated to the sight of Granit Xhaka (£5.0m) joining the usual foursome in the attack, the Swiss registering two shots and creating three chances.

We’re not suggesting yellow card magnet Xhaka is any sort of FPL target, of course, more that he is likely going to be a placeholder for whichever ‘number eight’ Arsenal recruit.

The tactics also put Zinchenko’s appeal in some perspective, with his attacking threat limited.

It was only a few days ago that we were highlighting his penalty box occupancy against Chelsea, however, so different approaches for different games or periods of matches will probably be the case – something Arteta implied after full-time.

“He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him.” – Mikel Arteta on Oleksandr Zinchenko

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Saliba, Zinchenko (Soares 79), Xhaka (Lokonga 90), Partey (Elneny 79), Saka (Nketiah 79), Odegaard, Martinelli (Nelson 90), Jesus (Pepe 79)

PRE-SEASON MINUTES TRACKER

Who played the most minutes over the March international break?

2,893 Comments Post a Comment
  1. R.C
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Big at the back and threemium it is then!

  2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    No city?

    4.5
    Trent Perisic Trippier Zinchenko
    Salah Son Martinelli Bailey
    Kane Jesus

    (4.0 Andreas Neco Plange)

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Best team I’ve seen on here. I’d go Gabriel over Zinchenko but that is the only thing. Prefer Sanchez GK.

      I do love Mount/Saka, but can’t have everyone.

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Personally I always prefer an attacking fullback
        Would like to have a 8m mid as well but it's easy to get one with this.
        Cheers!

        1. Athletic Nasherbo
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Not a set piece specialist who Arsenal aim for on corners?

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Think I’d rather have 2 x 8mil MFer than Son + Bailey - especially considering you have Kane

      1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I want both of them! Both on fire in pre season.

  3. Stamford B
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    So then, that Nunez chap, will he start? 😀

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Probably not at first

  4. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Head is scrambled. Had Darwin prior to his benching in the pre-season game. He will score many goals. You don’t score 4 and not have the potential to be explosive. Hogged all the chances when he was on the pitch.

    Surely he starts now…

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Would be surprised if he didn't!

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I know, but if he starts he will score big against Fulham.

        1. Bartowski
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Could score big off the bench so might still work out for you.

          1. Athletic Nasherbo
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Yeah this is very fair.

    2. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Liverpool playing with a proper centre forward is going to be interesting. He'd be on pens too if Salah had left!

  5. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Nunez and Haaland both gonna score loads.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yep, two monsters who will get so many chances in their systems.

      One they're fully fit & clicking, goals will come.

      Haaland vs BOU in GW2 could be a bloodbath!

  6. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Is Robbo essential?

    1. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      No.

  7. Letsgo!
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Who score for wolves?

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Neves penalty (Neto assist)

      1. Letsgo!
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Ahh sad nt neto pen taker

  8. F4L
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    ake outperformed dias today imo, good showing

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      What game did you watch? Ake was poor.

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        any cb will have a tough time with the way city play against liverpool and be exposed, can't remember ake being beaten once

        1. jbatchelor3003
          • 9 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Are didn't even jump for TAA's goal. Wasn't great throughout.

          1. jbatchelor3003
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            *Ake

          2. F4L
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            yes granted was a mistake but it's not an easy header to make , he wasn't beaten in a 1v1 situation that's all

    2. BoleynWin
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Ake was absolutely woeful.

      1. F4L
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        disagree but respect your opinion , plus he plays on the side with a lb who barely defends

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Ake will lose his spot to anti-vax boi on the bench

  9. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Year of the striker. Said this myself when Nunez scored 4.

    1. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I've had Haaland / Jesus / Nunez since my first draft, with no Salah.

      Could be crazy.

      1. Athletic Nasherbo
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Mount/Saka have made me think, otherwise same.

        My aim is Kane, Son, Salah, Jesus, Darwin.

        1. TheBiffas
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          If you can come up with a decent side with those three, shout me for sure

  10. Big boy Bowen
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Salah goal, assist and 3 bonus.

    No Salah teams turning into Mo Salah teams 🙁

    1. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Nunez goal and assist from 30 minutes would do me for 4m less 😉

      1. The Overthinker
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Still Salah scored 10 more points 🙂

        1. Z
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Just let it go.... 🙂

  11. Tango74
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Haaland = Norwegian Lukaku

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      . . . How old are you?

  12. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    How do you guys rate Maddison? Ahead of Diaz (have Salah and Saka)? LEI games were vs poorer teams so unclear.
    Thanks!

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Tapped up by Newcastle … worrying times at Leicester

      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Thanks mate...will give LEI a miss for now.

  13. adstomko
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Anyone like this? BB GW1

    Meslier
    Trent, Robertson, Gabriel, Doherty
    Salah (C), Kulusevski, Maddison
    Jesus, Martial, Wilson
    (Henderson, Botman, Aaronson, Bailey)

    1. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Pretty good I would say. Long term with Ronnie staying would probably not want Martial.

      1. adstomko
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I'd probably WC for GW3

    1. The Mandalorian
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Needy girlfriend \0/

  14. Flynny
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Can see me heading back towards 5 at the back.....

    Something like

    Taa robbo cancelo James perisic

    Robbo at 7m feels better than diaz at 8m

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      What about Nunez at 9m?

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      That was my over riding feeling after watching the game today.
      But gotta be careful not to let 1 game affect our thinking too much

      1. Flynny
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        In fairness always felt robbo at 7m is better than diaz at 8m

        Just that I want to play 442

        And harder to fit robbo into the 442 with the others taa, cancelo, James etc

      2. Wolfman180
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I was tempted with Nunez before this game, looks dangerous everytime he plays

    3. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      You are basing this on one game? :Lol: .

      1. Gold Monster
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        You have to base your thinking on something

  15. The Mighty Hippo
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    What do you reckon?

    Lloris
    TAA | Robertson | Walker | Saliba
    Salah | Saka | Mount | Bailey
    Kane | Jesus
    -----------------------------------------------------
    4.0 | Williams | Andreas | Archer

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Very nice.

    2. adstomko
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Good.
      Have one draft exactly like that except Doherty over Walker

  16. tristanabc
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Would you prefer:
    A) Salah, Mahrez (442)
    B) Nunez, Son (433)

    1. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A. Nunez could still not start games, at least for the time being.

      1. Wolfman180
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        The man doesn't need 90 mins at this rate. Super sub, clean up on points

        1. Bartowski
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          True. But I wouldn't go without Salah on that basis.

          1. Wolfman180
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Oh I agree, need both

          2. tristanabc
            • 13 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Think I'm in agreement, just.

  17. FPL Mentor
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Think I'm settled on this one .. for now lol

    Ramsdale
    TAA Cancelo James Trippier
    Salah Diaz Saka Martinelli Bruno G
    Kane

    Gazza / N.Williams / Greenwood / Taylor

    Roll on GW1!

  18. Z
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    So....is this Totenhem startting XI in GW1 (i guess that Richi will replace Kulu after)?

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      No chance. Kulu is a better player

      1. Z
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        And where will Richi play?

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Rotation will be needed with the schedules, he'll start plenty!

          1. Z
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Ofc he will....Kulu is there for rotations

            1. Haa-lala-land
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              They play on different sides of the pitch

  19. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Good old ‘Astro SuperSport 3’ have got the Spurs v Roma game on.
    That’s me sorted for the next few hours.
    Hopefully Kane is gunna show me why I’m going him over Sloth from Goonies

  20. Athletic Nasherbo
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Need to stop tinkering, becoming obsessed, and it’s actually boring haha.

    Alisson
    Doherty Trippier Dalot Ait-Nouri
    Salah Son Bailey
    Kane Darwin Jesus

    Olsen Andreas Neco Ebiowei

    1. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Dalot could be Saliba. Most likely will be.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      That’s a nice team

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      No TAA, big miss

      1. Haa-lala-land
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Clearly he's taken out TAA to be able to afford the rest

  21. EL_FENOMENO
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    a) Cancelo + Martinelli
    b) Walker + 8m mid

    1. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Hard to answer this fresh from watching Cancelo do sweet ‘FA’ for 90 mins.
      But I feel that despite what we just watched, Cancelo & Mart is a good bet

      1. Haa-lala-land
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Surely you've seen Cancelo play football before

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      A

  22. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Perisic IN ?!

  23. Walter White (WW)
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Are people actually selling Cancelo 😆 hahaha

    1. Emiliano Sala
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      not worth 7.0

      1. Walter White (WW)
        • 2 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        It seems that way to me too

  24. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    How was Mahrez today? Lively or looking like being dropped?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      no worse than any other City player

    2. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Terrible I thought

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Sloppy

    4. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      He & Grealish did themselves no favours to be honest.
      I’m probably gunna have to re-think having a City mid in GW1

      1. The Senate
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Yeah I think I will be going without now. At least it would allow me to do Kane>Haaland without an extra hit if I need to

    5. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I thought he was fine ; missed a couple good chances but was there to get them.

  25. Random Name
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Best players with ponytails in prem:
    1) Nunes
    2) Fabinho
    3) Shelvey

    Haaland not top 10

  26. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    I don't get this salah love
    wasn't dangerous enough imo. lucky to score a penalty

    1. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Liverpool do often get lucky penalties though!

    2. Bartowski
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      I mean there is some further historical data you're not referencing.

  27. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Bailey has to be in everyone's teams at that price surely.

    1. Z
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      He is in my team more then two weeks ago.....he is great player, he just needed some time

    2. adstomko
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Bench boost enabler now imo

    3. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      As a sub or in starting 11?

      1. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Either really. If you don't want him in your starting eleven find the extra .5 to keep him on your bench for when you realise you do.

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Can't fit him in. Would need to downgrade a 8m midfielder... Or Gabriel for that extra 0.5m.

          1. Bartowski
            • 13 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Gabriel to Saliba?

            1. Bobby Digital
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 8 months ago

              What happens when Tomiyasu is back? Will White push Saliba to the bench?

              1. Bartowski
                • 13 Years
                1 year, 8 months ago

                I think Saliba will nail his spot personally but I can understand if you view it as a risk.

    4. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      If he starts

      1. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Started today, scored today. He's starting next week.

    5. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Yes defo

    6. Haa-lala-land
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Pereira will outscore Bailey over the season though. Save yourself that 0.5.

      1. George Sillett
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        Lol really ?

        1. Haa-lala-land
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 8 months ago

          Over the season yes.
          Pereira should get over 100
          Bailey won't reach 100

          1. Haa-lala-land
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 8 months ago

            Mainly because of XMins

      2. Bartowski
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 8 months ago

        I have Pereira, like everyone. I'm sure he might come in for me at some point but I'm playing 442.

  28. Z
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Roma play much better then Tottehnam so far

  29. Hawk
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 8 months ago

    Comes down to Jonny+ Diaz or Robertson+ 5.5mid(Already got Bailey).

    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 8 months ago

      Robertson and 5.5 mid