Scout Notes

Aubameyang delivers as Ceballos offers potential in Arsenal win

Arsenal 2-1 Burnley

Goals: Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) | Ashley Barnes (£6.5m)

Assists: Dani Ceballos (£5.5m) x 2 | Dwight McNeil (£6.0m) 

Bonus Points: Ceballos x 3 Lacazette x 2 Aubayemang x 1

Arsenal emerged victorious with a 2-1 victory over Burnley in their first home game of the Premier League season with Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) getting the goals.

Dani Ceballos (£5.5m), making his first Premier League start for the Gunners, put in a stellar performance, contributing two assists and collecting maximum bonus points.

In a man of the match display, the onloan Real Madrid man underlined his exciting potential to be a value for money route into the Arsenal attack this season. 

He played a crucial role in the attacking play and also had a hand in the Gunners’ corners and free-kicks but also helped break up Burnley’s offensive efforts.

Dani Ceballos was comfortably Arsenal’s man of the match against Burnley

At a price of £5.5m and after such an impressive debut, it will be difficult for managers to ignore Ceballos who unquestionably has the ability to start for Arsenal on a weekly basis.

And given the void that has been vacated by Mesut Ozil’s (£7.4m) ongoing absence, Ceballos looks to have the confidence and ability to contribute assists that the Gunners’ have been crying out for in the Emery era. 

Ashley Barnes (£6.5m) struck an early equaliser after Lacazette had put Arsenal in front, with the forward making it three goals in two games for the Clarets to stake his claim as an early frontrunner for the best budget forward in 2019/20.

Ashley Barnes and Dwight McNeil celebrate a goal for Burnley

Barnes took his goal well after a battling run and through ball from Dwight McNeil (£6.0m) rewarding the 3.9% of managers who had backed him to deliver against Arsenal. 

Despite a nervous first-half performance that culminated in a booking for Aubameyang, the Gabonese forward scored a crucial goal for the Gunners after cutting in from the left, burying his well-struck shot past Nick Pope (£4.5m) to give Arsenal the lead. 

Owned by 29% of managers, the performance of Aubameyang was relatively re-assuring given his well-taken goal, even if it was a long-time coming.

The premium forward was a peripheral figure in the first half, having been deployed on the right flank of attacking midfield.

Aubameyang was frustrating to watch for his Fantasy owners but he delivered a second goal in two against Burnley

It was not until the second period, when Nicolas Pépé (£9.5m) replaced Reiss Nelson (£5.5m), that Aubameyang really got going.

This substitution saw Aubameyang move to the left, with Pépé, making his home debut, taking up the right-wing station.

Emery’s decision to deploy the premium striker in both a left and right-sided role at various stages Saturday afternoon’s fixture will be an area of potential concern.

When we consider the assured positions of other premium options such as Harry Kane (£11.0) as a centre-forward, Raheem Sterling (£12.1) as a winger and Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) as a right-sided attacking midfielder, this is a level of consistency Aubameyang cannot really offer. That said, the Arsenal man still outscored all of those big names in Gameweek 2.

Despite his yellow-card for encroachment on a Burnley free-kick, Aubameyang picked up one bonus against Burnley, meaning he has a total of 12 points over two Gameweeks in 2019/20. 

If Lacazette can continue his goalscoring form alongside occupying the central striking role for Arsenal, then the Frenchman is certainly worthy of monitoring with regards to attacking Arsenal coverage given his favourable price-tag at £1.5m less than his Gabonese counterpart. 

Pépé’s introduction at half-time did not lead to any attacking returns for the £72m signing, but glimpses of his potential were on show at The Emirates. The former Lille striker will now be looking to nail down a starting berth and prove himself to Emery as a worthy candidate to feature alongside Aubayemang and Lacazette regularly.

Despite failing to record a second consecutive clean-sheet, Pope was exceptional at times for Burnley, making seven saves in total as well as a number of crucial blocks to prevent the scoreline developing into a mauling for the Clarets. 

Nick Pope made seven saves against Arsenal

There remains indisputable value in both Pope and the likes of Matt Lowton (£4.5m) James Tarkowski (£5.0m) Ben Mee (£5.0m) and Erik Pieters (£4.5m) who have a favourable run of fixtures from Gameweeks 5 to 8 after navigating an away trip to Wolves before hosting Liverpool at Turf Moor. 

The early momentum that Arsenal have now picked up after successive victories over Newcastle and Burnley is a stark contrast to Emery’s debut season with the Gunners, where successive defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea in Gameweeks 1 and 2 made for difficult reading. 

If Emery and Arsenal can translate this promising initial form into continuous winning momentum, then there is no doubt that they have a number of primarily attacking assets who can deliver for Fantasy managers – namely Lacazette and Aubameyang.

But Saturday’s victory was both a day and performance that belonged to debutant Ceballos with his two assists and a Man of the Match performance. 

Members Analysis

Lessons learned from Gameweek 2

4,582 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    By the end of MOTD there are gonna be a lot of spunked up WCs....

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

    Having Mane instead of Salah does give a very, exciting squad.

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It really does. Question is...can Mane match Salah?

      1. Guy Demel
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        he'll be close enough in my opinion, if not better

      2. E25
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Nope.

      3. Dank Squid
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He can, if he stays injury-free. Just like last season, Salah receives far more attention than he did during 2017/18 - means Mané can take advantage.

  3. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Lose Perez or Trossard?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Trossard

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        surprised at this

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Me to thought Perez would be the one?

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Perez still has to play this gameek. What happens if he gets a brace and assits tomorrow?

  4. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    no doubt Pep said to Eriksen, "you see they need you". Queue city bidding for Eriksen in Jan/Summer just to nulify Spurs. Hello bench eriksen

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

      What?

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Pep was talking to Eriksen after the game. As I said the kind of thing City would do is attempt to buy Eriksen just to deny Spurs him. If Eriksen is that stupid to take a move to a bench then so be it, City will bid for him in the transfer windows. No way they will get him in January but in the summer they will try hard.
        Classic Chelsea tactic, buy players you dont want nor need just to deny your rivals them, and then the icing on the cake is loan them out to a mid table team. They cant play vs their parent team so they just feature vs ur opponents and boost the mid table teams strength.

        1. have you seen cyan
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          but they wouldnt loan eriksen out to a pl club they would just bench him like mahrez minutes

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Eriksen is pure class. City is the only team in the league where he wouldnt be among the first names on the team sheet.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        yep

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

    Would you take a -8 or use your WC?

    1. Steirish
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Wildcard

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

      -8 max

    3. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      -8 (but no more than that).

  6. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Will u swap Salah to Mane if wildcard early?¡

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

    Nothing happening then yet. Don't even know what league I am in. No update on community article for a few days.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Lots of work getting 300 leagues posted.

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

        Appreciate that and I am grateful. Just asking if you knew anything. Anxious to find out which league I am in.

  8. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    difficult to get salah, kdb, sterling, kane into one side

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

      Get son instead of Kane then 😉

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Impossible. Have to sacrifice at least 1

    3. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah agreed I think it's between one of Salah or Mane or Kane for the next few weeks.

    4. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      mane over salah for sure

  9. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Poch favour Lamela? Or he will lose his place to Son?

  10. thomashl
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Should we get on the Pukki train already though?

    The round isn’t finished, but I’ve regretted not getting on bandwagons before

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Well he has 6.6 already so out priced for some. You not got till 7.1 before it hits the next bracket.

      At this stage if you missed one it wouldn’t make much diff to the team to still wait

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        And what if he keeps scoring

        1. thepeen555
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Then you miss out. But don’t worry about the price rising again that shouldn’t jerk you into it as what I’m saying is it has happened. You missed out. Your budget will not work it’s self out just by doing it tonight as you will have that money difference

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Heard the commentator say that Pukki never scored a hattrick for Norwich before today. I would wait.

      1. thepeen555
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It was always braces last season. He only joined last year. So it isn’t like he has been there forever

  11. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Choose:

    A) Kane & Perez/6.5
    B) Mane & Jota/6.5

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      B I’m not keen on kane at all. Especially sometimes when it counts

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

      B

  12. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Good to see that 5 at the back and the value is in the defence has lasted all of 2 gameweeks.

    Feels like everyone would play 0 at the back now if they could

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It was a total myth that it was ever ‘popular’ tbf

      The template move was to go without a back 5 (multiple FFS polls of literally thousands of responses all through ore season - back 5’s never got above 10%

      Whilst I’m firmly in the minority with a back 5 - I’m pretty sure im sticking for another week or two anyways - Double Everton defence smashing it, Laporte close to attacking returns today...TAA & Robbo have been disappointing but selling could be disastrous - Allison back in a couple of weeks

      If Digne is properly injured I might go back 4 though, otherwise Digne Coleman TAA, Robbo Laporte are too good to sell imvho

    2. E25
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Adrian moment of madness caused that.

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Very much so - Adrian conceded v Norwich also

        As soon as Becker’s back things will tighten up

        I love having TAA & Robbo - it’s like an FPL comfort blanket every time Liverpool attack 🙂

    3. Olivier Bernards watch
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      i have 5 at the back and had a strong start, very happy with this shape for now

  13. teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    So... Tempted to us the first of my 2FTs to kneejerk Wood to Barnes.

    Still have question marks over Abraham and Enda Stevens tomorrow but I still have another transfer available to deal with them or any other issue that arises.

    Ryan
    VVD Zinchenko Lundstram
    Salah Sterling Sigurdsson Trossard
    Pukki Wood Abraham

    Krul Milivojevic Soyuncu Stevens

    1. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Currently feeling I could roll with Pukki, Barnes and Abraham so I have another 2FTs to play with next gw.

  14. st4rty
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    A midfield of Mane - KDB - Sterling - Son on the WC.

    Thoughts?

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same as me pretty much. See below

  15. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Current team.

    Ryan / button
    Robertson, AWB, Cathcart, Rico and kelly.
    Salah, Kdb, neves, Perez, Grealish
    Greenwood, auba, Pukki.

    My wc plan was about now and it will look like; with 0.4 or 0.9 itb pending on pool defender.

    Ryan / button
    Vvd or TAA, Digne, Söyüncü, kelly and Rico (maybe Lund)
    Sterling, Kdb, son, mane, Ceballos
    Pukki, Barnes and greenwood

    Thoughts?

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

      Have a similar set up from last week. Major difference is Kane Martial over KdB Son

      Prefer this set up as Sterling and Kane rotate beautifully for captain and Son is an unknown quantity. Great when he's hot but he was more than diabolical in the last 11 last season (2.5 average).

      1. thepeen555
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Yeah that’s the only thing that I think about. I would have moura anytime really. But it’s the minutes.

        I’m not keen on kane at all. Although he can be hot on it. If son doesn’t work out I may just avoid spurs and move money around for elsewhere

  16. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Current team

    Pope
    Robbo VVD KWP Kiko
    Salah Sterling Martial Trossard Dendoncker
    Aubameyang

    Button Greenwood King Rico

    A) aubameyang and Trossard to pukki and son
    B) aubameyang to kane

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

      you could just keep aubameyang, he is looking alright

  17. Super Silva Haze
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Is Pukki on penalties for Norwich?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Believe so

    2. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Vranic does penalties when he is on otherwise if he isn’t they do give them to Pukki

    3. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      no-one knows, he took one last year and missed

      1. thepeen555
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I know cause I watch Norwich at home. Vranic is the main taker. Pukki will do one but isn’t the first port of call

  18. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    now Puki is already at 6.6 is it worth waiting more than if he was at 6.5 and rising tonight? If that makes sense.

    The moves I'm planning will leave 0 4 in the bank so I may as well wait surely as for 0.4 to play with

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Basically if you missed 6.6 then its not going to make a difference this early as it will mean either your 0.4/5 short or itb.

      So waiting until he is 6.8m (example) wouldn’t matter in the slightest imo

  19. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Can't believe what I'm hearing on MOTD. Shearer stating that the Jesus goal should have been allowed. Since when did the rules state that you can pass the ball to your opponent with your arm? This is what Laporte did. Clear handball and the right decision to disallow it.

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

      You’ve not listened to what he said at all

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

        And why would it state that you could ‘pass to your opponent’ - really weird post

        1. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          What are you on about? I will say again. Since when did the rules allow a player to pass the ball to an opponent with their arm? Don't think I can say it any clearer. Laporte handled it to Jesus. So it's right that the goal should be disallowed.

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

            Which is what Shearer said. Not sure what you’re on but I’m not going to waste more time here

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

            The opponent thing - Laporte is a Man City player. Jesus is a Man City player. Opponent means ‘different team’. Ffs how has at even come to the point where I’m having to explain this

    2. Guy Demel
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Depends what you call handball I guess

      It wasn't what i would want to see considered handball

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

        VAR was correct and has followed the letter of the law but, in the eyes of proper football fans, is wrong. This is pretty much what Shearer was actually saying.

        The post we’re replying to is just extremely strange

    3. Ozzy smith
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Current laws of the game are just being exposed by VAR. Handball should be intentional, and offside should be daylight. Football really needs to have a look at itself.

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

        This - but I’m afraid we’re wasting our breath on someone that doesn’t know what opponent means

        1. gooberman
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Just realized my error. Don't know why I used the word opponent. I meant colleague. Anyway, it was handball by Laporte so right that it was disallowed.

  20. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Didnt bought pukki for kean beacuae of the .1 rise was a big mistake

  21. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Surprised by the amount of people looking to wildcard already, most of whom seem to have decent teams.

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mine was always in the planning and I am currently on 53 points with 4 to play. Not 4 great ones mind you but still

    2. Dank Squid
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Last season I wildcarded after GW 2 and it worked really well. Didn´t feel like I had enough information after GW 1, quite a difference now. That being said, my plan is still to use it later (first IB).

  22. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    What time does the price changes daily?

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      About 2am

      1. teddy.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Bern a bit later this season I think? Like 6sm

  23. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Who’s this Cantwell cant getting 2 assists and 180 minutes as a 4.5 mid?

    What’s he playing at

    Is he trying to get into our squads

    Him and Lundstram

    The feckers

    1. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      He is alright yeah. Buendía is better choice but obvs more money

  24. Thomas M.
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    help a pal out...
    what to do with
    Ryan/Button
    Robbo / VVD / Digne / Zinch / Lundy
    Salah / Sterling / Fraser / Perez / Donk
    King / Rash / Greenwood

    Currently want 1 liv def, Fraser, Perez (?) and King out of my team.
    1 FT
    0 ITB

  25. 3 A
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    How Fraser look? Transfer out him or just bench against City?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Members area ftw.

    2. Guy Demel
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      stats look okay, looked lively

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

    worth wildcarding double bou double liv def?

    1. SADIO SANÉ
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      no

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I've got Trossard & No City def to add to that and I want Pope asap before he starts rising so I'm hitting the button.

      1. Manani
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        what is wrong with Trossard? thought he played well today

  27. Netters2018
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Fraser and King for Lanzinin and Pukki?

    Is Pukki on pens do we know?

  28. StevePeave
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Yay or nay for -8?

    Salah, Perez, Moura, Che Adams >> Mane, KDB, Cantwell, Pukki

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

      Be great assuming you get to play GW2 again

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

        Knee gonna fall off....

      2. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Ha

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not for me

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

        Thanks, want pukki and kdb though!

  29. Manani
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    likrlihood of Ceballos to rise tonight?

    thinking getting him for Fraser, but want to wait Perez to play first

  30. Penguin
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Some right dimwits on here, I mean wildcarding because of puki scoring against a poor team smacks of desperation, will only come to regret it when the goals dry up.

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      But at this rate he will score 76 goals this season...

      1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        knee jerk reaction, he will score only 50 goals this season in the league

    2. thepeen555
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      pukkiiiiiiiiiii

    3. Athletic Nasherbo
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I’m not sure they’re wildcarding entirely due to Pukki but you have to admit not getting him in is plain stubbornness. Can build team value and have a striker at 6.6 who’s banging the goals in- no other option in that price bracket looks anywhere near that...

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

      Goal against Pool
      Cheap as chips
      The dimwit here is the one that thinks he knows that Pukki will fail and isnt worthy.