Scout Reports

Pépé has potential to be most important FPL asset at Arsenal this season

Nicolas Pépé (£9.5m) has the potential to be Arsenal’s most important Fantasy Premier League asset in 2019/20.

The former Lille winger joins the Gunners with plenty of potential to both score goals and register assists this season.

We have assessed what Pépé is capable of and what he could bring to FPL in 2019/20.

The history and statistics

Pépé in action for Lille last season

Pépé arrives at Arsenal as one of the most promising players in Europe with much expected of him.

In recent seasons the 24-year-old has demonstrated tremendous pace in wide areas and possesses enormous amounts of skill to boot.

Curiously though, the attacking winger started his career as a goalkeeper for local side Solitaire Paris Est in France, playing that position until he was 14.

Pépé’s senior debut came for Angers in 2014 but his first extended period of football came with third-tier side Orléans.

During the 2015/16 campaign with them, he scored seven goals in 29 Championnat National matches.

A full season in Ligue 1 with Angers followed in 2016/17, Pépé scoring three times and assisting once in 11 starts and 22 substitute appearances.

That was enough to earn a move to Lille where the now Ivory Coast international enjoyed a breakout 2017/18 season.

In 36 appearances, Pépé found the net 13 times and provided four assists.

He went from strength-to-strength in 2018/19 as he scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists demonstrating his ability both to put chances away and create them for his team-mates.

Furthermore, Pépé’s attacking statistics were particularly impressive in the wider context of European football.

Pépé was one of just two players in Europe’s top five leagues to score 20 or more goals and register 10 or more assists in the same season. The other? Lionel Messi. Not bad company to be keeping.

For that reason, Pépé was a highly courted player in the summer of 2019, linked with many of the elite European sides.

The fact that he has signed for Arsenal should very much be considered a coup and has been met with much excitement from their fanbase.

It would be fair to say that he is probably one of the most appealing of any new signing made by a Premier League team ahead of 2019/20.

Comparisons

2018-19 Mins per shot Mins per shot in the box Mins per shot on target Mins per key pass
Nicolas Pépé 28.2 46.8 54.5 47.5
Aubameyang 29.1 47.1 68.3 82.8
Lacazette 31 47.3 83.6 80.9
Mkhitaryan 33.6 65.8 117.4 56.7
Ramsey 40 72.8 106.7 51.6
Özil 158.4 193.6 290.3 38.7

The Prospects

Pépé should add both goals and assists to Arsenal this season

Once he has reached the required levels of fitness, Pépé should slot straight into Emery’s Arsenal team seamlessly.

The Gunners have been lacking a pacey wide player with the ability to stretch opponents in wide areas for some time.

The addition of Pépé to their squad enhances Arsenal’s attacking credentials greatly, considering that he is capable both of scoring and setting up goals.

His pace and trickery should help unlock even the most stubborn of defences and cause opponents plenty of problems.

Pépé attempted 5.76 dribbles per game in Ligue 1 last season and that drive should also see him do well in the Premier League, even if the average difficulty level of opponent is likely to rise for him.

As you can see from the table above, Pépé compared very favourably against his new colleagues based on 2018/19’s performances.

His minutes per shot of 28.2 was better than any of the selected attacking options the Gunners had at their disposal last season.

The same goes for his shot in the box every 46.8 minutes and shot on target every 54.5 minutes. As we’ve already explained, we have to attach a caveat to these that the Premier League is a tougher league than Ligue 1 but there is no doubt that Pépé is an exciting attacking talent.

Based on those numbers, there is a chance he can rival both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) and Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) for goal threat, but he also proved in 2018/19 that he is much more creative than them too.

He fashioned a chance every 47.5 minutes, with only Mesut Özil (£7.5m) offering better than that among Arsenal’s ranks last season.

This is why Pépé could potentially overtake his new colleagues and prove to be the most important FPL option among Arsenal’s ranks as he can combine both goals and assists regularly if he lives up to his potential.

The introductory price as a £9.5m midfielder is what seals our serious interest in this player. Already, he can offer a saving of £1.5m against Aubameyang and the fact that he is the same price as Lacazette is also important. While offering an extra point for goals, Pépé will also be eligible for clean sheets which could see him prove better value compared to the Frenchman too.

It is also worth saying that these added levels of creativity, from a wide position, could also boost the attacking potential of Aubameyang and Lacazette at the same time.

However, we should temper the excitement a little bit by explaining some mitigating circumstances for the impressive nature of his 2018/19 campaign.

Of the 22 goals that he scored in Ligue 1, nine of these were from the penalty spot.

It is worth pointing out that Aubameyang and Lacazette are already established penalty takers at Arsenal.

That is not to suggest that Pépé could not work his way into that pecking order, but as things stand we have little evidence to guarantee that he will.

That said, even if Pépé does not manage to challenge Aubameyang or Lacazette for penalty-taking responsibilities, his style of play could still see him win Fantasy points for spot-kicks.

Of the nine penalties that he scored last season, five were won by fouls on him, so it’s possible that he could be the one most likely to secure them for Arsenal this year which, if scored, would afford him assist points.

Finally, Fantasy managers may also have to wait before they can jump straight into signing Pépé for their Gameweek 1 squads.

He was part of the Ivory Coast squad that made it to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations this summer and was given some extended time off.

For that reason, Arsenal’s latest signing was not part of the matchday squad for the 2-1 defeat to Barcelona over the weekend.

“Tomorrow we are going to train together. Each day for him [Pepe] and for us is information we can save. ‘We hope he can be [available] for this match [against Newcastle next Sunday]. With him, I want to be patient. He is in the same situation as the other players who have been coming in the last days. For example, Lucas Torreira, after one week of training today has his first ten minutes. With Pépé, it’s the same. It’s better to be training and be working with us.” – Unai Emery

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1,787 Comments Post a Comment
  1. LangerznMash
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Wish you could filter by '100% nailed'. You would only have to pick from a field of about 80 outfield players.
    Winning system:
    1) Filter by nailed
    2) Filter by fixture difficulty
    3) From the remaining player pool choose the ones you think will be best value.
    4) Arsenal
    5) ?!?!?£%?"
    6) Profit!

  2. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best option:

    A) Wilson + Barkley

    B) King + Siggy

    Thanks guys.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      b for me definitely

    3. theboijones
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    4. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    5. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A >>>>>

    6. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B.

      I really don't like Barkley.

  3. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How did the Penguin pass his driving test?

    He winged it.

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      🙂

  4. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    a perez and wilson (no everton cover)

    b siggy and king (no leicester cover)

    thank you

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

      Thank you

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        thanks

        1. Bruce Lee
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          No, thank you

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    3. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    4. Aubaaaaa
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

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

    Which would you choose?

    A - Perez King Wilson

    B - Barkley Murray Vardy

    1. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      barkley ings vardy

    2. poulteren
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      barkley / perez / king

    3. Aubaaaaa
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  6. Oooo Matron
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Quick selection dilemma:

    A) Digne, Montoya, Romeu (benched)

    B) Lamela, Duffy , Greenwood (benched)

    C) Deeney, Montoya, Romeu (benched)

    1. Pukki Blinders
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

  7. tabby98
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best £5.0 mil defender?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      AMN

    2. BigBillyBass
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Ake

    3. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      4.5 and move the 0.5 into midfield or forwards

  8. Pukki Blinders
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What's peoples plan for Laporte? Won't be easy to get in after GW1, espeically considering he's 6.5

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If you have VVD then it will be

    2. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Why wont it be easy?. Use 2 FT's or WC.

  9. Dele
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Trossard or McGinn as my wildcard pick?

    1. The Albatross
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Trossard for me. Better fixtures initially and less of a yellow card magnet

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Thissssd

    2. Da Funk
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      McGinn for me

    3. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’ve gone for Trossard

  10. King Lallana
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Best £6.5 option!?

    A: Jota
    B: Wood
    C: Deeney

    1. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B for me, he's had an excellent pre-season.

  11. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Okay haven’r Be able to get my point across properly in my last couple failed questions. 3 real differences but makes more sense in context of a team. Which do u prefer my loves x

    A) ASS team (Auba Sterling Salah) 352

    Heaton
    MONTOYA/GUILBERT VVD Digne
    Sterling SALAH (c) Martial Perez ROBINSON
    Auba Wood

    Stekelenburg GUILBERT/MONTOYA Rico Wickham

    B) No salah team 343

    Heaton
    TAA VVD Digne
    Sterling (c) BILVA Martial Perez
    Auba Wood WILSON

    Stekelenburg Rico Hayden Hanley

    1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Tbh, I can't choose between them. If you held a gun, B). But I would not be happy with it.

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You were meant to say A and you were meant to say you love my ASS

        1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGeniusâ…
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          😆

    2. LangerznMash
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Oh no really :/

    3. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Are you an organic cow?_ I'd love to eat you.
      Auba > Firm in B and I'd run with it love.

    4. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B I'm afraid, put your ASS away.

      I don't love either tbh

  12. Black Panther
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is it true that Woodman (NEW) can't drop in price this season because he's red flagged?

    Also is this the same for Son in the first 2 GWs?

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It is not true

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      To the best of my knowledge and from experience last season, a player's price is locked once he leaves the Premier League, on loan or permanently

      Red flag due to injury or suspension can still drop in price, but will be locked for one week when he becomes available again

  13. BigBillyBass
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Digne or Walker?

    1. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      walker safe choice (boring)
      digne more up side (enjoy the ride)

      1. CostaCoffee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Walker hardly safe with Cancelo on the way

    2. The Albatross
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Digne for me. Better initial fixtures and you might want to have more slots for man city attack

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Digne. Baines in his prime cost 7.0m. Digne is even better than Baines on set pieces and Everton's defensive record was superb end of last season.

      He's a season keeper imo.

      1. Leehane
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        This.

  14. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A) Fraser - assistking of the last season, I kept him from start to end - but he was a way cheaper and I have now Wilson too
    or
    B) Martial - I've never bought him before, but now Lukaku is missing, he got real potential and can score around 10 a season

    1. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A

    2. The Albatross
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      A for first 2 weeks then maybe B

  15. The Mighty I
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Settled on this, still not sure about Zinchenko though

    Pope Heaton
    Robertson VVD Digne Zinchenko Lundstrom
    Salah Sterling Fraser Perez Dendoncker
    Wilson Jota Greenwood

  16. badgerboy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Bojan Krkic leaves Stoke after 5 years at the club. Must have felt like a life sentence.

    1. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Living in Barcelona to living in stoke. Whoever sold him that idea is dangerous

      1. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Mark 'silver tounge' Hughes.

    2. Da Funk
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He must have hated 3 top 10 finishes and beating City, United, Arsenal...

      1. CostaCoffee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah I’m sure those 3 days in 5 years really made it all worthwhile

        1. Da Funk
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          And the 3 top 10 finishes?

          1. CostaCoffee
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Oh boy what a thrill, from playing in one of the best teams ever to a couple of top half finishes and a relegation

      2. badgerboy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You must be easily pleased!

  17. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Walker-Peters or Zinchenko?

    1. Da Funk
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Zinchenko

  18. CostaCoffee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Thoughts on this? Where would you spend the spare 0.5m?

    Pope (Heaton)
    Trent, Van Dijk, Digne, Stones (Rico)
    Salah, Sterling, Barkley, Fraser, Perez
    King (Wesley, Greenwood)

    If Laporte was fit I’d probably find another 0.5 and do Stones to Laporte but he’s not so..

    1. The Albatross
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Save it. Might be needed if Stones and/or Barkley aren't nailed on

    2. Basil1977
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      drop heaton to 4.0 keeper and have 1 mill to upgrade
      also perez to maddison

  19. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone else finding it hard to get into the right mood needed building a team?

  20. LangerznMash
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Any one got the stats for AWB attack returns?
    Mins per chance created, crosses completed etc... cheers.

  21. rnrd
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Looks like coutinho is heading to Arsenal (according to French lequipe.fr).
    PAM, Pepe, Lacazette, ceballos, ozil, Mkhitaryan and now coutinho Well that’s a load of attacking players

    1. Christina.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      "We've never talked about Coutinho," Emery told Cadena SER after the 2-1 friendly defeat to Barcelona. "He's a splendid player, but we haven't talked about Coutinho at any time."

    2. Boris Bodega
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Meh...he isn't a centre back.

  22. Aubaaaaa
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Fraser or Moura?

    Got this feeling Moura could do well in the first gw. But second game against City won’t be easy and Son will be back from gw3 onwards. Fraser while on the other hand has slightly better fixtures and if he carries on his form from last season and pre season, could start the season well. I have Wilson, if it affects the decision.

  23. Steiger
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Last piece of the jigsaw, who would you choose....??

    A) Moura
    B) Fraser
    C) Martial

    Already have C.Wilson btw.

    Thanks in advance.

    1. InvertedWinger
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Fraser between those 3. Martial a potential gem but monitor

    2. Babek
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not fan of Martial, so either Moura or Fraser, Bou have a little bit better start than Spurs.

    3. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      C

    4. Aubaaaaa
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Torn between Fraser and Moura too. Leaning towards Moura as I have Wilson too.

    5. Steiger
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Thanks for the suggestions, but it looks like a coin flip lol

  24. Lionac
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who scores more next 3 GWs?

    A) Barkley
    B) Zinchenko

    1. InvertedWinger
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Barkley

  25. Babek
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Hi guys , what do you think about this:
    Foster/Pickford
    Van Dijk/Digne/Dunk/Boly/Wan-Bissaka
    Zaha/Perez/Fraser/Salah/Filipe A
    Sharp/King/Jota

    Still have 2.5 in Bank,who to upgrade?

    Cheers!

  26. InvertedWinger
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Sigurdsson or Fraser if I have Wilson already?

    1. Babek
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Have same dilemma, to upgrade Fraser for Sigurdsson or not..

  27. Lionac
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Which is better option?

    A) Coleman, Martial, McGinn
    B) Digne, Perez, Barkley

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. InvertedWinger
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B easily

    3. The Tinkerman
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

    4. Lionac
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Cheers!

    5. Babek
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B

  28. MarcusAurelius
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMT Please.

    Tinkering between same team but with KDB/King instead of Bilva/Wilson

    Heaton
    TAA VVD Coleman AWB
    Salah Siggy Bilva Pérez
    Kane Wilson

    Bench 4.0 4.0 4.5 4.5

    Thanks in advance

  29. Just Fofana
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Will Moise Kean start this weekend?

  30. Pluge
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    RMT Please.

    Heaton/Button
    TAA/VVD/Digne/Coleman/Kelly
    Salah/Sterling/Siggy/Barkley/Dendoncker
    Vardy/Gray/Wickham

    1. Babek
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Too much everton for my taste 🙂 would replace either Digne or Coleman and changed Gray for 6.5 player