Scout Notes

Hazard all set for Gameweek 37 after Europa League benching

As per usual, the latest Europa League action has helped give us clues about the next round of Fantasy Premier League.

Most notably, Eden Hazard (£10.9m) was left on the bench ahead of a hugely appealing home fixture against Watford, with the Chelsea man potentially the key differential captain this weekend.

Meanwhile, the waters were muddied further at Arsenal as both of their centre-forwards were heavily involved against Valencia.

We discuss all the Fantasy talking points from the semi-finals in this latest Scout Notes article.

Arsenal 3-1 Valencia

Goals: Alexandre Lacazette x2 (£9.4m), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m)

Assists: Aubameyang, Xhaka, Sead Kolašinac (£5.0m)

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) was the star for Arsenal as they beat Valencia on Thursday night. He scored twice as his partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) proved too hot to handle for the Spanish visitors. The Frenchman’s first goal of the night was netted after a square-ball from his Gabonese colleague, who added a crucial strike in stoppage time.

Lacazette’s goals came at just the right time for the Gunners as his exploits turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead in just seven minutes. He was by far the most threatening player on the pitch and could have arguably netted at least a hat-trick, maybe more. Lacazette spurned several big chances, including a close-range header and two opportunities that brought saves from Valencia goalkeeper Neto. The volume of shots he had in the match certainly suggests he could offer serious points potential in Gameweek 37 – after all, you have to all the way back to Gameweek 16 for the last time Lacazette blanked in a home match.

“I had two more chances where I could have done better but thankfully Aubameyang scored the third one. If we can go to Baku [for the Europa League final] it will be special.” – Alexandre Lacazette

However, calling which of Arsenal’s front men will start their Premier League encounter with Brighton on Sunday afternoon remains something of a coin toss. With both Lacazette and Aubameyang playing the full 90 minutes against Valencia, it is very difficult to second guess Unai Emery at this point. After all, he very recently substituted Lacazette roughly an hour into a Europa League tie, suggesting he would start the following Premier League match, but the Spanish manager ended up benching him.

It certainly seems as if Emery will not be resting on Arsenal’s laurels in the second leg of this semi-final, which might impact the game-time of his attacking players in Gameweek 37. When asked how he would approach the return trip to Spain, the Gunners boss insisted that attack will be the best form of defence. The Europa League continues to increase in priority for Arsenal as they bid for Champions League football in 2019/20. Three consecutive defeats in the Premier League have seriously damaged their top-four chances and are two points short of Chelsea with two games to go. Therefore, it’s possible that both Lacazette and Aubameyang will have their minutes managed against Brighton with that second leg in Valencia in mind. That said, 27 of the Frenchman’s 35 goals in all competitions for Arsenal (77%) have come at home, so perhaps it might be him who starts against Brighton and is benched for Valencia.

“We need to play there thinking to win, thinking to score, thinking to take our moment in attack. They are going to feel strong with their supporters there. Aubameyang and Lacazette played very well. We managed to get in dangerous situations near their goal, and in the first half towards the end, we got in four to five times out wide. I still believe that the tie is in the balance, we know how tough it will be to beat Valencia again. And they will be looking to respond.” – Unai Emery

Despite the positive result, Arsenal still looked defensively vulnerable at stages of this semi-final first leg, especially in the first half. Ezequiel Garay missed from a few yards out, then Rodrigo was given the space to head across goal to set up Mouctar Diakhaby for the opening strike. Soon afterwards a loose Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.4m) header allowed Goncalo Guedes a chance.

“We started a bit nervous because we lost the last three games, I think that’s normal. We are human, but after that, we had a good reaction.” – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

There were further clues to Arsenal’s potential line-up against Brighton on Thursday night. Laurent Koscielny (£5.4m) might be touch and go for Gameweek 37 after he was taken off in the 82nd minute against Valencia, Emery now hoping he will be okay for Sunday. Meanwhile, Sead Kolaśinac‘s (£5.0m) 90-minute outing, plus a full match at Leicester in Gameweek 36, might see him rotated out of his left-back berth for Nacho Monreal (£5.4m), who only played 10 minutes against Valencia.

“I hope Koscielny will be ok for Sunday, I don’t know. But I don’t know for the second leg away he was very tired. He ran back 50 metres doing a sprint and it’s normal he can be tired and struggling. I prefer to change him to give also Nacho Monreal ten minutes after his small [calf] injury. Ten minutes helps us and him.” – Unai Emery

Meanwhile, Lucas Torreira (£4.7m) featured only as a second-half substitute for Matteo Guendouzi (£4.4m). That should probably see the Uruguayan start against Brighton.

“I was thinking with Matteo, he can have that and also with the combination with Mesut. After the first half, it was not playing like I was thinking. But, it is good for us and our composition with the team, the set up I think was for controlling the possession also. This is the reason. Matteo and Lucas can help us at the beginning or having an impact. Also, giving us different qualities. Both can play together, can play also one another. It depends on the match. Today I decided with Matteo to play the passes ahead for Mesut, for the strikers, also one side to another side. Maybe the match in the second half can be different.” – Unai Emery

Arsenal XI (3-4-1-2): Cech; Koscielny (Monreal 82′), Sokratis, Mustafi; Kolašinac, Xhaka, Guendouzi (Torreira 58′), Maitland-Niles; Özil (Mkhitaryan 75′); Aubameyang, Lacazette.

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea

Goals: Pedro (£6.2m)

Assists: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.2m)

Chelsea fans might have been disappointed to see Hazard on the bench for their trip to Eintracht Frankfurt, but it was a development that will be particularly pleasing to his Fantasy owners. Maurizio Sarri opted not to start the Belgian to ensure that he had ample rest for the remainder of the season, with Watford up next. The 30 minutes that Hazard got under his belt on Thursday, which featured an energetic display, should see him fresh and ready for an appealing fixture that has firmly established him in the Gameweek 37 captaincy debate.

“Eden was on the bench because, in the last period, he played 10 matches in a row. It’s impossible to play that many. For us, this was match No59 I think, and Hazard also played eight matches in the national team. For a player, it’s impossible to play 70-75 matches in a season. And so, sometimes, Hazard like all the other players needs to rest. Or not to rest, but not to play for 90 minutes. This is the first reason. The second is that Eden usually is able to change the match from the bench, and so, for me, it was better to start with Willian and then to try, in the last 30-35 minutes, with Eden. But for Eden, it’s impossible to play 75-80 matches in a season.” – Maurizio Sarri

Alternative sources of investment to Hazard at Chelsea have been hard to come by in recent weeks but Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.2m) has been making a case for himself. The England international was arguably the Blues’ best player on Thursday night, coming back into the side after featuring only as a substitute against Manchester United. He inspired the fight-back after Chelsea went 1-0 down, forcing a save out of Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp before playing in Pedro (£6.2m) to equalise. Subsequently, Loftus-Cheek had two more excellent opportunities to score and will have done his chances of starting against Watford no harm at all.

He was replaced by Mateo Kovačić (£5.7m) in the 82nd minute with cramp, so is not really nailed on to start against Watford. Maurizio Sarri revealed once again that the club are still managing a back issue for him but given that he played just 14 minutes last weekend, he is still in with a shout of starting on Sunday afternoon.

“Loftus-Cheek is a very important player. He improved a lot during the season. When he is at the top, physically, he’s a very important player. He’s always in trouble with his back, and it’s not easy for him to have training with consistency. But in this match he was really fit. He played a very good match. He had a cramp in the last 10 minutes so he called me for a substitution.” – Maurizio Sarri

Meanwhile, Pedro has now been involved in seven goals in his last six starts in the Europa League. The Spaniard has scored four of his own and provided assists for another three, but very much remains off the Fantasy radar. That’s because his heavy involvement in European competitions has meant just one start in the last six Premier League matches.

“It’s very difficult because we have to play again in the Premier League in 62 hours, so it’s not easy to recover, especially in a very competitive championship like the Premier League. You risk to pay.” – Maurizio Sarri

David Luiz (£5.8m) offered plenty of goal threat against Frankfurt and will be disappointed not to have come away with attacking returns. He rattled the cross-bar with one of his textbook free-kicks before directing a headed effort from Hazard’s cross straight at the goalkeeper.

Chelsea XI (4-3-3): Kepa; Emerson, D Luiz, Christensen, Azpilicueta; Loftus-Cheek (Kovačić 83′), Jorginho, Kanté; Willian (Hazard 61′), Giroud, Pedro.

1,647 Comments Post a Comment
  1. battlecat
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    99 points clear in my cash mini-league but want to push as close to the top 10k as possible from 17k.

    Is Son and Jimmy to Hazard (c) and Long for -4 just plain silly?

    Got a feeling in my waters about Hazard and Jimenez and the wolves boys normally balls it up against the bottom clubs.

    Rest of my attacking fellas are:
    B Silva, Mane, Jota, JWP
    Aguero, Vardy

    Cheers muchly

    1. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      You've bagged the cash in ML, I say go have fun! This could be that 'look-back' moment where you jumped rank after ballsy play!

      I like it... I'm considering Eriksen and Son out for Hazard and Mata!

      1. battlecat
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Mata is a strange one, but why the heck not?

    2. ALIVE AND KICKING
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Not at all, I am 55 pts clear & will be doing firm to long & Moura to haz

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

    Sterling - Mane - Son - Deulofeu - Hojbjerg
    Aguero - Firmino - Jimenez

    Not sure whether to:

    A) Redmond for Deulofeu (37), Rashford for Jimenez (38)
    B) Pogba for Son (37), Rashford/Zaha for Jimenez (38)
    C) Neither.... I want Son this week but Pogba next, so persist with Deulofeu (che) or Hojbjerg (wha) this time. Roll transfer.

    1. JabbaWookiee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      C

    2. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      C

  3. Feed tha Sheep
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    First to 3...Best option?

    A. Vertonghen > TAA (Have Robertson)
    B. BSilva & Son > Sterling & Babel (-4)
    C. Vertonghen & Son > Shaw & Hazard (-4)

    1. suddenorgan
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Who would be starting in place of Vertonghen (assuming he's injured) if you didn't get rid?

      1. Feed tha Sheep
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Valery

    2. battlecat
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I’d do C

  4. DanLynch
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ryan + son > ederson + pogba

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

      Yes or no??

  5. fantasydan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Eriksen and Doucoure out for Hazard and McArthur for 2 FT?

    Doucoure/McArthur will be first sub.

  6. Delph & Safety
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Best triple captain candidate either this week or next?

    1. claretparrot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Anyone playing Hudd. So Shane Long next week

    2. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Same boat.

      Going Sterling myself!

  7. Scotty B
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    De Gea
    Doherty VVD Bednarek
    Salah Richarlison Son Mane
    Rondon Wilson Jimenez

    Gunn Babel Cathcart Dunk

    4.3m ITB & 1 FT

    Rondon > Lacazette safest transfer this week and (c) Jimenèz Or Richarlison?

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

      Salah(c)

      Wouldn’t say Rondon > Lacca is “safest” but it’s ok move.

      No City is a little worrying

  8. The Sociologist
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Absolute madness to be considering Vardy > Aguero and Son > Babel/Redmond for a -4?

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

      Not madness no

    2. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Not at all. It's a good shout.

  9. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Repost:

    Salah ➡ Hazard (c)

    Yay / Nay

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

      no

    2. battlecat
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah, do it.

    3. Ich bin Klopp
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yes!!!!

    4. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No

    5. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yep!

  10. spyda12001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Torn........ to facilitate Aguero I need to turn Erickson into either

    A) Pogba
    B) Jota

    Pogba would be a set and forget hoping for PK's. Jota would allow me to go for whoever I need next week.

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

      set and forget for...2 weeks? bold

      1. spyda12001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        lol - meaning I wouldn't transfer him out where as I wouldn't play Jota next week.

    2. The Sociologist
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B)

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

      Id go Pogba, Wolves are away to Liverpool last week

      Mind helping me out below?

  11. Totti
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Triple captain:

    A) aguero
    B) sterling
    C) hazard

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

      B

    2. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      All will score well

    4. Wardinator
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      A

      Mind helping me below?

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

      A

    6. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Play Foster or Ryan?

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

      Probs ryan based on he’s more likely to save a penalty

      Mind heloing me out above?

    2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Same issue...going Ryan at the mo

      1. In a Rush
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        I’m playing Ryan not sure why!

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

    Bench one of

    a) Valery
    b) duffy

    And bench one of

    1) JWP
    2) Deulofeu

    Pick two, please 🙂

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

      B2

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

      B2

    3. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B1

    4. allthewine
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Bench Duffy & JWP.

    5. Ready Player One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B2

  14. allthewine
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Is Auba likely to start?

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

      Id say 75% likely

      Mind helong me out above?

      1. allthewine
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Thanks mate.

  15. wildnothing
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Do you think Martial will start this gw?

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

      I would say 25% likely to start

      Mind helping me out above?

  16. ignis88
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A) Play Doucoure (che)
    B) Play Wilson (spur)
    C) Doucoure -> Babel (-4)

    1. ignis88
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      D) Any other suggestion with 0.3 ITB

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

      B spurs seem a bit vulnerable

    3. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

  17. Codetto
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Dunk and Babel -> Shaw and Ward-Prowse (-4)?

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

      Wouldn't sell Babel

    2. ignis88
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      wouldn't take Babel out given his form. Actually wanting to bring him in

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

      Babel - in form, in the shop window, already in my team

  18. OOJ
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Kindly help.....

    I'm 3rd in my ML, with 2nd having a BB chips.
    10 pts behind the 1st and 6pts behind 2nd who hstill has BB

    My full team is
    Lloris
    TAA, Robbo Doherty
    Mane, Son, Redmond, Eriksen, Jota
    Kun, Jim

    Bench
    Foster, Valery, Vardy, Duffy

    Pls what is the best transfer to be made this week:

    Eriksen + Son --> Hazard + Pogba
    Eriksen + Lloris --> Hazard + Leno
    Eriksen + Son + Vardy --> Hazard + Sterling + Ings (-4)

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

    I have 2 free transfers and 2.1 itb
    What do you think about this move?
    Duffy & Foster ---> Allison & Duffy
    or just one of these transfers to have 2 FT before final GW ?

    Foster
    Robbo/Laporte/Jonny
    Mane/B.Silva/Son/Jota
    Aguero(c)/Vardy/Jimenez

    Subs:Ryan/Hojberg/Bednarek/Duffy

  20. Ruinenlust
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Help pls

    A) Mane -> Hazard

    B) Son -> Pogba

    C) Son -> Hazard (-4)

    D) Keep Mane and Son

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

      D

  21. FULLSERVICECOVER
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    who to captain
    A. sterling
    B. Hazard
    C. Jimenez

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

      A

    2. Disco Stu
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Sterling

      Wolves just seem to choke against bottom of the table teams

    3. acidicleo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      B

  22. striiiker
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    0.3 ITB and 2 FT, need to lose Vardy plus either Salah or Mane to bring in Aguero plus one midfielder.

    Current team:

    Guaita, Foster
    AWB, TAA, Jonny, Schar, Bednarek
    Salah, Sterling, Mane, Fraser, Westwood
    Wilson, Vardy, Jimenez

    Who would take out between Mane and Salah and who would you bring in?

  23. Reckoner
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    A: Duffy > Kelly and Kola >TAA , or
    B: Duffy > Kelly and Dunk > Shaw ?
    (have Robbo)

  24. Disco Stu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Use the TC on Kun this weekend or on someone else next weekend?

    Lloris

    TAA/Doherty/Shaw

    Mane/Son/Sterling/Jota

    Kun/Jimi/Wilson

    Foster/Moura/Valery/Duffy

    1. Dosh
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Salah next week?

  25. T0RR3S
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Lloris
    Laporte - Robertson - Shaw
    Son - Mane - Jota - Babel
    Aguero - Lacazette - Jimenez

    Ryan Doherty JWP Valery

    Should I play Doherty( FUL H) instead of Babel (WOL A)?
    or Gtg?

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

      It's close.. I would have played Doherty..

      1. T0RR3S
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah.. but given how poorly defensively Wolves are recently it could be fine benching him

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

          There is always a goal or assist in him though

  26. acidicleo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    1) Percentage chance for Kola starting?
    2) Kola to Shaw on free..Yes or No?

    My initial thoughts were Kola will start home match v Brighton and rest away match in EL on a 442 setup.
    Not sure now...Bench defense is Valery and Duffy.

  27. Tshelby
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    The one with the most votes is going to be my move cause I don't know what to do..

    2FT

    A) Moura -> Jota
    B) Moura, Long -> Holland, Rashford
    C) Kola -> Shaw
    D) Moura, Deulofeu -> Bilva, Camarasa/Hojbjerg

    Thanks!

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

      c

  28. Zlat-man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ericsen > Hazard for free, good move?
    (Have son)

    And how about Ha(z)ard?

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

      Yes

  29. OptimusBlack
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Which is da best plzzz

    A- Eriksen & Zaha > Hazard & Long
    B- Eriksen & Son > Hazard+ Mili

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

      b

  30. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Anyone bringing in Rashford this week?

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

      Hard to when he’s flagged

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

      lots will be, pictured in training on Wednesday.