How a tactical change affects Salah’s Wildcard credentials

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Staying clear !!

Some of my thoughts on the matter:

Defensively, it’s not too hard to see why many have suddenly turned their eyes onto the likes of Leno or Kolasinac. At 4.9 and 5.0 respectively, their price is certainly kind in comparison to their counterparts in the other top 6 teams but the concern has always sat in their clean sheet potential. Recently, it was hoped that was changing – just 3 goals against in their last 6 prior to the Everton game and 3 cleans sheets despite facing the likes of Spurs and United. The risk is that 4 of their remaining games are away, which Arsenal have been having some struggles with – following that Everton game they have only won 2 of their last 12 away games in all competitions, ignoring their friendly game. Statistically speaking, their defensive stats for last 6 home games are neither awful nor great, ranking middle of the park for most statistics. However, Arsenal rate joint worst for shots on target in the last 6 away games, which whilst doesn’t bode well for clean sheets, does suggest there’s a good save potential for Leno. The two home games – Palace and Brighton – do come with the potential for clean sheets with neither attack being particularly prolific and Arsenal showing some good defensive form at home.

Leno has racked up 21 saves in his last 4 PL away games, but needs clean sheets to be his bread and butter. Despite a good price, I wouldn’t be comfortable betting on him picking up clean sheets or saves to cover the lack of so will probably be avoiding. Whilst his upcoming games rank fairly kindly on FDR, they all come against teams with good attacking players capable of grabbing a goal or two, bar perhaps that Brighton game in 37. However, will these teams be “on the beach”? On one hand, that could improve his outlook, but could Cech steal a game or two before he retires? I’d worry that he might get the Brighton game.

Kolasinac has some good chances created and big chances created stats leading to him picking up 7 assists so far this season. Rotation shouldn’t be too much of a threat to him as Monreal tends to remain in the back 3 when playing 5 at the back. However, as we saw against Everton, Arsenal can switch to a back 4 which would put his minutes at a big risk, with Monreal seemingly preferred – it should be noted that in the Everton pre-match presser Emery mentioned that “Each match is different and in each match, we might play with 3 or 4 or 5 in defense.”

On a more attacking focus, Ramsey’s minutes continue to look…. dodgy. Fitness issues meant he didn’t start the Everton game, but when he came on seemed to improve the team hugely. He’s looked one of Arsenal’s most important attacking players, which might be a bad thing. The two upcoming Napoli games will be tough and given Ramsey’s fitness, he might require breaks either side of them if he is to be deployed in both EL games. Better options around.

Aubameyang and Lacazette continue to compete for a spot, with Emery saying, “Sometimes they can both play, sometimes with one on the bench”. Aubameyang, the more expensive of the two, has only started 2 of the last 6 PL games and therefore I wouldn’t expect to see him in any wildcard teams. Lacazette, however, has started 11 of the last 12 PL games with 7 goals and 3 assists. Still, concerns will remain – his was pretty anonymous in that Everton game, though he was left looking isolated due to Everton’s careful marking. Furthermore, recent strong start stats in stark comparison to Aubameyang’s low start numbers could be swayed by Lacazette’s recent EL ban. Despite stats suggesting he’s overperforming – no forward has a higher xG delta for this season and no double digit returns since gameweek 12, a 9.4m price tag means he will remain an option in our wildcard teams.

Will I have any Arsenal players in my wildcard team? Probably not, but I’m still considering Kolasinac and Lacazette. I do think the upcoming games might pose a couple struggles, but I’m not wholly convinced that Lacazette’s poor recent away form will continue that much longer, despite only 4 of his 13 goals coming away.

I'm set in laca
Can switch to firmino gw36

None until GW37 perhaps.

Leno works well with Ryan

I'll probably go with Kolasinac, but only due to a complete lack of other options. Maxed out on players from Spurs, Watford, Wolves and Brighton, and can't afford any defender from Liverpool or City so it's eighter Kolasinac or Lindelof. Will only play him in DGW35 and GW37-38. After all, he's got 7 assists and average almost 4p per game.

I originally had Auba or Lacazette and Kola or Leno penciled in - having spent a bit of time in the members area looking at some stats i have totally ruled out any defensive assets, midfield choices look too punty due to rotation so leaves me pondering one of Auba/Laca, however, there are just so many other good forward options that i feel i can go without, the uncertainty of starts and just general crapness of Arsenal away means to me that Kane, Aguero, Jiminez, Deeney, Rashford plus even SGW players like Vardy and Wilson appeal more.

No Arsenal for me.

Aguero & Kane look much better option than Laca for 2-3m more.
Deeney & Jimenez could easily match him for 2-3m less.

Midfielder have been a no go zone since Ozil got his 15 assist 2-3 years ago.

Kolasinac the only one I was considering but not interested in him now as well. Doesnt look nailed to start all games and Arsenal dont do clean sheets.

I have Laca and Kola on my WC, however after the weekend's showing I'm considering going with none of them. The real worry is those away games, I just can't trust them to get decent points in those fixtures. The Europa league has been taking it's toll with rotation, how they fare against Napoli this week will be important.

I am all in. Leno, Kola, Laca. They will be key differentials for me. I didn't really have a choice wildcarding last week than to go with 3 of them. 1 bad game seems to have put people off. At this stage I am happy that they remain somewhat differentials.

Laca and Kola. I'm impressed with Iwobi lately and it might be that he goes in at the final shakedown.
Arsenal have every incentive to pick themselves up and dust themselves down. They have good fixtures and talented players

With Sokratis suspended does that make Kola rotation less of a risk ?

Are Arsenal more of a risk than any other team though ?

Whilst Arsenal have not been keeping clean sheets away from home, they have not been conceding many goals either so is that something that they can change with these comfortable fixtures ? Surely it is something they must be looking at?

Arsenal only really have 2 forwards, Laca is starting more games than Auba so there is a good chance of minutes.

Arsenal still have a lot to play for and if they can put Napoli to bed on Thursday (or the reverse) they may well be worth looking at again ... and I’m not sure an off-day against a strong looking Everton represents how things will turn out for the rest of the season ?

The alternatives ?
- Wolves, Watford & Brighton have a combined 4 clean sheets in the last 18 games, or 1 in the last 9 games.
- City & Utd in the double have 2 tough fixtures and who will start anyway ?
- Liverpool & Chelsea don’t have a double

Would it have been a different narrative if Arsenal had kept out Everton and is FFS ‘doing a casual’ in turning it’s nose up at Arsenal 😉

I may yet be all in. Leno, Kola & Laca ... 🙂

Staying well clear. ARS have four away games left and they haven’t kept an away cs all year. That rules out their defenders.

Milfs are a no go area and there are much better options up front than Laca/Auba.

Avoid is my advice.

i wildcarded for 33, and brought in Laca + Auba, along with Vardy as my forwards, my original plan was to roll a ft and sell Vardy after the Newcastle game for Deeney and upgrade elsewhere, i still might stick to that plan as selling one of the Arsenal duo now has the potential to backfire big time with a dgw on the horizon