Scout Notes

Clues to Arsenal and Chelsea line-ups following Europa League wins for both

As per usual, there were clues to upcoming Premier League line-ups in the latest Europa League action.

Arsenal and Chelsea both recorded positive results in the first legs of their quarter-finals, increasing their chances of remaining in the competition.

The longer the two clubs stay in the Europa League, the more they will be forced to rotate players between their continental and domestic commitments.

That said, it does make it slightly easier to predict their starting line-ups for Double Gameweek 34 on this occasion.

Arsenal 2-0 Napoli

Goals: Aaron Ramsey (£7.1m)

Own Goals: Kalidou Koulibaly

Assists: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.4m), Lucas Torreira (£4.7m)

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) looks the most likely Arsenal striker to start against Watford on Monday night after Thursday night’s Europa League action. After featuring from the beginning of the Gunners’ last four Premier League matches, he was substituted after 67 minutes against Napoli, with Unai Emery’s men 2-0 the good.

Meanwhile, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) played the entire 90 minutes and looks set to be named on the bench once again. The Gabonese forward has been used as a substitute in three of the last four Premier League matches. Obviously, Arsenal don’t play in Double Gameweek 34 until Monday night, when they travel to Watford, so he could still be used but Emery is likely to want to preserve him for the second leg. That takes place next Thursday, just three days after Arsenal’s involvement in Monday night football.

What shape Arsenal opt to use at Vicarage Road remains to be seen after Emery tinkered with his 3-4-2-1 formation at Everton in Blank Gameweek 33. That had an impact on Sead Kolasinac (£5.0m) as he was taken off to facilitate a switch to a back-four, but he managed to play the whole game against Napoli. Emery went for a similar system, keeping a three-man defence and four-man midfield with wing-backs on the flanks.

Where he tweaked things from the defeat to Everton was playing two strikers and one central attacking midfield, rather than a solitary forward supported by two number 10s. That saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£6.8m) benched for Aubameyang to come in, although he did feature as a second-half substitute for Mesut Özil (£7.9m) who had kept his place.

Aaron Ramsey (£7.1m) came into the side and was one of the standout performers, scoring the opening goal. However, his inclusion is just further proof that Arsenal’s attack is a rotating minefield for Fantasy managers. The Welshman is consistently one of the Gunners’ best performers when he is on the pitch but has started just five of the last 10 in the Premier League.

“(Ramsey was) Awesome. Awesome. His performance in this moment for us, he wants to do something important with us, to help us. He feels a lot for Arsenal. When he is with our supporters he gives us more than all he can to do the best performance, not individually, but in the collective.” – Unai Emery

The victory for Arsenal saw them make it eight wins in a row at home in all competitions. It is their longest run in that respect since October 2017 and proves just what they can offer Fantasy managers when playing at the Emirates Stadium. However, between now and the end of the season the Gunners have just two more fixtures there, the Double Gameweek 34 meeting with Crystal Palace and Brighton’s visit to north London in Gameweek 37.

By contrast, four of Arsenal’s remaining fixtures are away from home, against Watford, Wolves, Leicester and Burnley. The Gunners have lost seven of their last 11 on the road in all competitions, winning just two. Even Emery admitted after beating Napoli that a trip to Vicarage Road would prove difficult on account of Arsenal being away from the Emirates.

“Watford, Monday, will be a very difficult match away to a good team who will feel stronger at home with their supporters. The same against Napoli next week. We need to be competitive and strong to try to do the same situations we are doing at home. Sometimes away we lose the spirit we have at home. This is our challenge to find success, we need to be consistent like we are at home.” – Unai Emery

Arsenal XI (3-4-1-2): Cech; Monreal, Koscielny, Sokratis; Kolasinac, Ramsey, Torreira (Elneny 77′), Maitland-Niles; Özil (Mkhitaryan 67′); Aubameyang, Lacazette (Iwobi 67′).

Slavia Prague 0-1 Chelsea

Goals: Marcos Alonso (£6.3m)

Assists: Willian (£7.1m)

Eden Hazard (£11.1m) continues to be used only sparingly for Chelsea in the Europa League as they toiled to a 1-0 win in Prague. The Belgian did not start the match but was introduced for Pedro (£6.3m) on the hour mark. Maurizio Sarri admitted that he did not actually want to use Hazard and wouldn’t have done if his side were winning at half-time.

“No, at the beginning of the match I wanted him on the bench because I thought that, probably, the match was really very difficult. Probably I’d need to use him. Of course, if at the end of the first half we were 1-0, I wouldn’t have used him.” – Maurizio Sarri

It will be interesting to see when the Chelsea manager will start to put more first-team players into his continental line-ups as the seven changes he made from Blank Gameweek 33 caused Chelsea to look sloppy in possession from the get-go.

“We knew very well that, to play here, is really very difficult. The opponents are really very physical, very aggressive. And so we knew very well that we had to face difficulties during the match.” – Maurizio Sarri

Once again, Willian (£7.1m) showed promise in the Europa League, although he continues to disappoint in the Premier League. He hit the cross-bar against Prague and provided the assist for Marcos Alonso‘s (£6.3m) late winner.

The left-back has been showing some attacking promise once again in recent weeks but has not started in the Premier League since the first match of Double Gameweek 32. With Emerson Palmieri (£5.2m) not involved against Prague, it is possible that Alonso could be on the bench against Liverpool.

Callum Hudson-Odoi (£4.2m) was not in the match squad for Chelsea on Thursday night, causing some to believe that he will get another Premier League start at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. However, Sarri insisted that he does not yet know if he will play, explaining that the youngster needed rest.

“Oh, I don’t know. But in my opinion, he needed to rest. And so, in this match, he was out. Emerson was also out. But of course he is in my mind for the next match, but I have to see the last two training (sessions).” – Maurizio Sarri

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Alonso, Christensen, Rüdiger, Azpilicueta; Barkley (Loftus-Cheek 75′), Jorginho, Kovacic (Kanté 59′); Willian, Giroud, Pedro (Hazard 59′).

2,428 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jonny HOW SON?
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which one from:

    A) Aguero and Deulofeu
    B) Deeney and Sterling

    1. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B for me.

    2. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I went A) but with Aguero+Doucouré.

    3. KINGS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    This WC doing my head in

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Preach!

    2. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Same

    3. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I need to revise for my A levels...

    4. HamezMace
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes.
      Will be glad when the deadline passes to be honest.

      Can't decide on my defence...at all....and last midfield spot are the hardest calls still to make.

  3. Gordon Cole
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    a) Lloris, Foster, TAA, Doherty, Duffy, Dunk, Valery
    b) Ryan, Foster, Laporte, Trippier, Bennett, Duffy, Valery

    1. Jonny HOW SON?
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      a

    2. bhh
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

    3. Bucket Man
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    4. Gordon Cole
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A it is then, thanks!

      Final team:
      Lloris (Foster)
      Duffy (V), Dunk, Doherty (Alexander-Arnold) (Valery)
      Sterling, Son, Mané, Camarasa (C), Eriksen
      Jiménez, Agüero (Deeney)

      I'm chasing, slim/no chance of winning my money league, hence the Camarasa captain pick!

  4. bhh
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Who is the best option in Spurs defence

    1. ㅤRising
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Lloris safest cheapest, Trippier best but rotation risk

    2. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Lloris

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Tripps if Aurier stays sidelined.
      Vertonghen I reckon is the most nailed in the "Defenders" bracket.
      Lloris if you're REALLY going cheap.

    4. Luke2000
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I had the same issue, Vert or lloris is probably safer
      I've gone with tripper because my bench is decent so risking it a little

  5. ㅤRising
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Captain Son or Eriksen ??

    1. jomikijiq
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Son

    2. Peteski29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Son

    3. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Erik

  6. n-doggg
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A. Laca, jwp, Jota
    B. Deeney, mane, hojbjerg

  7. #FPLBhuna
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    a) pogba, martial, rashford
    b) sterling, deeney, jota

    already own aguero if it helps

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      clearly B

    2. bhh
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B because I think United are a bit cold at the moment. Unlikely they'll lose against WHU but if it was 5 weeks ago I'd expect it to be 5-0, now, probably only 2-0 max

    3. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      So either triple up on Manu or nothing?

      Weird

  8. Weeb Kakashi
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Foster Ryan
    Taa Doherty Duffy Dunk ****
    Sterling Eriksen Son **** Deulofue
    Kun Jimenez Deeney

    Pick one
    A Kdb Valery(Triple City attack)
    B Jota Laporte(Double wolves attack)

    1. Sargasso C
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

  9. JWilson3
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Tough call A or B:
    A) Aguero & KDB
    B) Vardy & Sterling 1.1 ITB
    Leaning towards B

  10. konrad.sygula95
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Hi guys
    Who would you rather have on WC ?
    A) Robbo & Jota
    B) TAA & B.Silva

    Whole squad:

    Foster/ Ryan
    Laporte/ Robbo*/ Duffy/ Bednarek/ Jonny
    Son/ Mane/ Eriksen/ Jota*/ Camarasa
    Aguero/ Vardy/ Jimenez

    1. Mesh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  11. Mesh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which Watford defender will start the most games?

    1. bhh
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cafffffffcart

  12. KINGS
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Laca + Camarasa
    Or
    B) Vardy + Delefeu

    1. Mesh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

  13. ElliotJHP
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Son v Duffy biggest captain headache of the season, what a time to be alive x

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Camarasa

    2. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Son v Eriksen v Duffy for me.

    3. KINGS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Duffy

  14. John78
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    a) Mane and KDB

    Or

    b) Salah and Jota

    1. KINGS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  15. Fpl Richie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone tempted to go for a one-week placeholder (e.g. Martial or Siggy) before using a ft for Bilva for next week?
    He'd be so useful to stretch funds, but perhaps its a risk.

  16. CarrollsPonytail
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    No brainer of a decision right?

    A - Pogba & Doherty
    B - Eriksen & Kolasinac

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Eriksen and Boly

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Can you not do Erik and Doh?

  17. Teror
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    G2G?

    Ryan - Foster
    Robbo - Duffy - Boly - Valery - Kola
    Sterling - Mane - Son - Eriksen - Hojberg
    Aguero - Deeney - Jimi

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yep

  18. Demel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I am not on a wildcard. No hits taken. Good enough to remain in the top 500? (Current rank: 466)

    Ryan
    TAA - Kola - Duffy c
    Son - Salah - Sterling - Tielmans
    Vardy - Lacazette - Jimenez

    Leno - JWP - Valery - Bednarek

    3.6m Bank
    0 FT

    1. The Hindu Monkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      great team

    2. Black Knights
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yep.

    3. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      If you get enough points

  19. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    GTG?

    Lloris
    Robbo Duffy Dunk
    Salah Eriksen Son (c) Jota
    Aguero Jimenz Deeney

    Bench: Foster, JWP, TAA, Kola

    Bench order look good?

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yup

  20. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Choose one, my final decision:

    A) Camarasa

    B) Knockeart

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Cam, set pieces

    2. bhh
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B because Brighton are not playing liverpool next week and Cardiff score an average of 0.36 goals in away games

  21. Dynamic
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which Watford defenders are nailed-on?

    1. Toblerone52 - Zlatan Ibra-H…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Probably Cathcart and Mariappa but they aren't very exciting.

  22. Mr. Jenkins
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Rocking this squad at the moment

    Ryan, Leno

    Trippier, Robertson, Lindelof, Duffy, Doherty

    Sterling, KDB, Eriksen, Moura, JWP

    Aguero, Jimenez, Deeney

    1mITB for preferably a watford player or two after DGW

    Chasing with 60 pts in ML

    Any recommended punts?

    1. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Moura over Son? You're 100pts behind m8

  23. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Ederson, Lucas M, Eriksen, Son
    B) Lloris, Lucas M, Eriksen/Son, any mid

    On B atm but not sure who I want as 'any mid' and go without Eriksen or Son?

  24. Starky22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Trippier at risk of being rested for city?

    1. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      He who dares, Rodders.

  25. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Quick check on the last point?

    1) taa, vertongen, Siggi (play him vs Ful) and do siggi-> deulofeu/jwp next week.
    2) Robbo laporte jwp and save ft next week
    3) Taa Laporte Martial (punt this week) and do martial -> deulofeu/jwp next week.

    Foster Ryan
    Valery Duffy Doherty _
    Son Eriksen Salah Jota _
    Jimenes Aguero Deeney

  26. i am jose mourinho
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Milivojevic or Bennet ? Currently milivojevic

  27. Ibra
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Why people aren't captaining Aguero? I have Son, Eriksen and Duffy but I guess Kun will be my captain this week.

    1. FlockofSeagulls
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Good Captain option but don't see him playing more than 50-60 minutes. Palace with injuries at the back so could pay off handsomely. GL.

  28. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Deulofeu is ok?

  29. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    https://mobile.twitter.com/sammy_goal/status/1116627161421471744?s=21

    Very interesting. Mendy back on the cards.

  30. hogree
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Bottomed, need to start uni work in the next 5 minutes so would appreciate if someone convinced me either way asap lol

    On Wildcard:

    A. Aguero, Mane, Camarasa
    B. Rashford, Salah, JWP

    1. Riders of Yohan
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. bhh
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B. United will score with Rashford probably involved. Salah a good long term option and mane form might be over. JWP better than Camarasa in general and on fixtures