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. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Need some help on WC. How's my team looking?

    2.3itb

    ryan
    robbo, duffy, laporte, doherty
    son, sterling, jota
    aguero, jimmy, deeney

    foster, pogba, fraser, valery

    1. Champions united
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Why fraser when ur not playing him this week nd 34 is double so its beter to bring a double player

    2. Indalo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Dump Pogba and Fraser

      1. Tonyawesome69
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        who do you suggest to bring in?

        1. School of Poch
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Deulofeu or James Ward-Prowse

  2. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Thoughts on this crowd?

    Ryan Foster

    Trippier TAA Doherty Duffy Valery

    Mane Son Erikssen KDB Hojberg

    Aguero Laca Jimi

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

      Laca or vardy

    2. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I had something similar, but just did Ryan and Trippier ➡ Lloris and Dunk

      1. My neck my back my Saed Kol…
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Not sure if I fancy a double up on the defenders

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

    Couple of quick questions:

    A) Ryan + Valery
    B) Gunn + Dunk (gw34) and Holebas (gw35) (-4)

    1. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    2. Indalo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

  4. Ten Season Wonder
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is that Scout Picks team a joke or what?

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Looks pretty good to me.

      1. Ten Season Wonder
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Why no Son?

        1. Ten Season Wonder
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          It has changed! Must have been last weeks

          1. jtreble
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            In situations like this I typically blame my browser cache. Works every time. :).

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

          Sons there

  5. Schwarzer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is Bennett likely to start for Wolves?

    Cheers

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

      I think so.
      Any Wolves fans about?

  6. Romford Pele - Don't w…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    What order would you play these three in this week?

    A) Kolasinac (wat)
    B) Doherty (sou)
    C) Trent AA (CHE and already playing Robertson)

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

      B, A, wouldn't even consider.

  7. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    1) Jota or Deulofeu?

    2) Captain Son or Duffy? Am I really considering defender as C, Jesus Christ

    1. Schwarzer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      1
      2

    2. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Jota and Son for me probably

  8. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    What about this idea ?

    Lloris/Gunn
    Laporte/TAA/Duffy/Dunk/Kiko
    Sterling/Mane/Eriksen/Son/Jota
    Kun/Jimenez/Deeney

    With 2FTs before GW36: Deeney Jota Duffy to Firmino Romeu 3.8

  9. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Have 1.2 ITB and not many upgrades I need apart from Vardy in a few games time.

    Would you upgrade Valery to Boly or bank the cash?

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

      Bank

  10. Hart-ake
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Start one:

    a) Kolasinac (wat)
    b) Robbo (CHE)

    1. School of Poch
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

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

    Pages flying. Rip responses, guess I'm on my own decisions 🙂

  12. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ryan
    TAA / Duffy / Dunk
    Mane / De Bruyne / Eriksen / Son
    Aguero / Vardy / Jimenez

    Foster / JWP / Doherty / Valery

    0.4m itb

    GW35 - Vardy > Deeney
    GW36 - KDB > Salah

    Thoughts ?
    Thanks guys.

    1. marksweet5
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I dont like tripling up on defence. A goal against in Brighton's games and you are stuffed. Of course it could work out brilliantly !

  13. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Son or Duffy captain?

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

    Hmmm. Wanted Mane but maybe this after training news?

    Foster Lloris
    Robo Duffy Dunk Val Doh
    Eriksen Sane Moura Jota Salah
    Vardy Deeney Jiminez

    0.8 itb to upgrade Duffy to Holebas? And then Vardy to Firminho for 36?

    Eriksen over Son right decision?

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Not fancy Sane and Moura

  15. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I think this GW is perfect to risk with someone who you wouldnt C normally

    1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Hence why many are going for Duffy

  16. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Play one

    TAA or Deeney

  17. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    This place will go absolutely bananas if Duffy scores tomorrow.

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      😉

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

    New article

  19. Lokako
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Im allready fuming about all your lol @ my Duffy captain! If I captain Son he will be benked and 1point cameo! Hehe when i write captain my keyboard suggest morgan as the following word

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

    Play Laporte or Digne?

  21. I Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Lloris + Dunk
    B) Ryan + Vertonghen

    Have Duffy.

  22. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A. Son+Pogba
    B. Eriksen+Pogba
    C. Son+Eriksen

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      C

  23. machickenz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A or B?

    A) Lloris Laporte Deeney
    B) Etheridge Trippier Rashford

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A by far

  24. thom830g
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Downed.

    G2G with this wildcard team? BB will be played in GW 35

    Lloris (Foster)
    Robertson - Duffy - Laporte - Valery - Doherty
    Mane - Sterling - Son - JWP - Brooks
    Agu - Jimenez - Deeney

    1. 007 [RoboKlopp]
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Why Brooks?

      1. thom830g
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Actually didnt consider him very much.

        Any suggestions to better alternatives?

    2. machickenz
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Im leaning towards adding Knockeart for a diffrential

      1. Debauchy
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Agree, gut call of note

      2. thom830g
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Hmm.. Good one. Hasn't been in the points a lot but he has looked quite good.

  25. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Any good?

    Ryan
    Vert TAA Duffy
    Mane KDB Son(c) Eriksen
    Vardy Jimmy Deeney

    Gunn JWP Doherty Valery

    Money ITB to bring in Hazard or Aguero in 35!

  26. Samwise
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    anyone considering bringing Mendy in?

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

    does anyone think pogba, lukaku, and a saints defence may outscore sterling, deeney and laporte this week and next?

  28. machickenz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    G2G?

    Lloris
    Lapore Duffy(C) Dunk
    KDB Son Eriksen Mane Camarasa
    Kun Jimmy

    Foster Deeney Doherty Valery

  29. Taegugk Warrior
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    How about Captain Murray...? Why he subs in the last gw..?

    1. marksweet5
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I have Murray and did have him as my captain, but have gone for Duffy instead. Brighton fans tell me he is unlikely to play both matches. Yet, when I check his mins he does seem to play most matches.... I would think captaining him is a reasonable punt. I guess it depends if you need to take a chance, or play it safe. Duffy is a safer option

  30. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Any1 captain Vardy?