Scout Notes

Aubameyang maintains fine FPL form with excellent fixtures ahead

The curtain came down on Gameweek 7 at Old Trafford on Monday night as Manchester United and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw.

We discuss what caught our eye in our latest Scout Notes article below.

Manchester United 1-1 Arsenal

  • Goals: Scott McTominay (£5.0m) | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m)
  • Assists: Marcus Rashford (£8.4m) | Bukayo Saka (£4.5m)
  • Bonus: Aubameyang x3, McTominay x2, David de Gea (£5.6m) x1

Midway through the first half of Monday’s clash between two erstwhile Premier League superpowers, co-commentator Jim Beglin remarked: “Are we watching mediocrity?”

The comment wasn’t even made in jest and anyone watching the first 40 minutes or so of this once-great fixture would have been hard-pressed to disagree.

It took 29 minutes for anyone to have a shot on goal and the sight of Marcus Rashford (£8.4m) falling on his backside when racing onto a Paul Pogba (£8.4m) through-ball not long before half-time summed up the contest in suitably farcical fashion.

While the final 50 minutes gave way to a more entertaining, end-to-end affair, the lack of quality on show just emphasised how far behind Liverpool and Manchester City these two clubs are.

From a Fantasy perspective, this is the time we ought to be lumping on Arsenal and United assets.

The two clubs sit first and second respectively in our Season Ticker from Gameweeks 8-14, with the Gunners’ favourable run extending into December: Unai Emery’s side are the only Premier League team to avoid one of the ‘big six’ over the next nine Gameweeks.

Which players are making a credible case for inclusion in our squads, though?

Aside from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m), more of whom below, we are scrabbling around for names.

Daniel James (£6.2m) is available at an attractive price and has shown early-season promise, while United’s defence, one of the statistically better backlines of 2019/20, will likely bank a handful of clean sheets between now and December.

Apart from that, though, there are few other names that appeal – at least for now.

Dani Ceballos (£5.6m) is evidently a rotation risk, with Monday’s match seeing him benched for the second time in four Gameweeks.

The budget midfielder, who did make a positive impact upon his introduction at Old Trafford, has blanked in six of his seven appearances this season.

Nicolas Pepe (£9.4m) needs more time before we can make a proper judgement on his talents but on current evidence, there seems little going for him given that Son Heung-min (£9.7m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£10.0m) are available in a similar price bracket.

Pepe lined up on the right of a front three for Arsenal but his skied 30th-minute effort was typical of his overall output, with teenager Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) outperforming – and outlasting – him on the opposite flank.

Saka is an exciting prospect and one to monitor given his attractive FPL price but considering that Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) is expected back sometime after the international break, and the competition provided by the likes of Reiss Nelson (£5.4m) out wide, he is obviously far from nailed in attack.

Emery said of the young winger:

I think he’s working and improving, being mature and also playing matches in front each player and each team as tonight, young, as tonight, Manchester United. But his work is natural and he is improving. He is helping us now as an important player.

We are going to work with him with calm, with patience, but if he deserves to take minutes and to take confidence for helping us with his performance, that is fantastic for us.

The Gunners’ defence, meanwhile, was breached again and they are one of only four clubs to have not kept a clean sheet in the last six Gameweeks – although they were less shambolic in Manchester than in recent times and were only beaten by a deflected Scott McTominay (£5.0m) effort.

Rashford and Pogba were almost must-haves in the first three months of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign but their Fantasy stock has fallen considerably since March.

Having played in more advanced roles in the early Solskjaer era, Pogba now seems to be firmly considered a deep-lying playmaker by his manager and his only big chance of the season came from the spot in Gameweek 2.

The France international’s passing range means that he will still collect FPL points throughout the season but, given the areas where he is spraying the ball from, he may well ‘assist the assister’ more times than he will set up a goal himself.

Rashford made a surprise return from injury to claim an assist for McTominay’s strike but again failed to convince as a frontman, with his one shot in the box being that aforementioned effort where he fell to the floor.

A late free-kick was pushed away by Bernd Leno (£5.0m) and in truth, Rashford looks more of a threat from dead-ball situations than he does in open play.

Two of his three league goals this season have been from the penalty spot and less than a third of his xG in 2019/20 has come from chances in open play.

Asked about Rashford’s display after full-time, Solskjaer said:

Marcus makes defenders fear him with his pace. Sometimes he trusts his finishing and his shots – today he went for a shot, maybe another time he’ll take him on. 

Rashford’s miraculous recovery meant that Mason Greenwood‘s (£4.4m) owners had to again make do with a substitute’s appearance, with the youngster registering his fifth one-pointer of the season when coming on for the final quarter of an hour.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.5m), meanwhile, missed out with tonsillitis.

With Emery packing his midfield with Matteo Guendouzi (£4.6m), Lucas Torreira (£4.9m) and Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) in the first half, United struggled to break Arsenal down.

This is a worry for the ‘easier’ games ahead as United are effectively built to be a counter-attacking side, given the pace they possess in James, Rashford and, when fit, Anthony Martial (£7.6m).

Probably as dangerous as they have looked this season is when they have taken the lead against Chelsea and Arsenal, with their opponents forced to attack and leave spaces on the break.

Reflecting on the game, Solskjaer said:

We got 1-0 up and we didn’t get the second goal that we wanted to get. That’s what this team needs to learn: to be more clinical at both ends of the pitch.

So many games, we have been 1-0 up, but we’ll learn, definitely. I think today was a steep learning curve for a few, because it was a bad goal to give away, but then again, sometimes, you make those passes and we play out and it looks good and, today, maybe it’s time that we learnt from it.

The goal that Solskjaer referred to saw Aubameyang race onto Saka’s pass to chip David de Gea (£5.6m), with VAR intervention overturning an offside flag that went up before the ball had hit the back of the net.

This was the latest in a string of typical Aubameyang performances: often isolated, sometimes frustrated and ultimately popping up out of nowhere to bank an attacking return for his owners.

The Gabon international hasn’t blanked once this season and no FPL asset has more bonus points after seven Gameweeks.

Aubameyang now has the same number of points as the more expensive Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and more than the pricier Sadio Mane (£11.6m) and Raheem Sterling (£12.1m), with unquestionably better fixtures ahead in the medium term.

While there are many factors in his favour in the premium bracket (including security of starts), there are perhaps two things going against him.

Firstly, he plays for an Arsenal side that has created 45 fewer chances than City this season.

As attack-minded as Emery might be, Aubameyang simply doesn’t have the calibre of teammate or production line that someone like Sterling does.

Secondly, the Gabonese striker is perhaps benefitting from Lacazette’s absence at present.

While he will gain FPL points wherever he is stationed, would Aubameyang have been lurking in the areas where he scored against Newcastle, Spurs, Watford (twice) and United had he been farmed out to the left flank to accommodate Lacazette centrally?

Until the France international returns, at least, Aubameyang looks like red-hot Fantasy property.

Members Analysis

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Maguire, Young; McTominay, Pogba; Andreas Pereira (Greenwood 74′), Lingard (Fred 74′), James; Rashford.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Torreira (Ceballos 55′), Xhaka, Guendouzi; Pepe (Nelson 74′), Aubameyang, Saka (Willock 80′).

Lessons Learned from Gameweek 7

550 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pepe, Digne & Greenwood > Dendonker, Soyuncu & Auba for a -4?

    Leaves me with:

    Adrian
    Lowton / Tomori / Lundstram
    Salah / Sterling / Son / Mount
    Abraham / Pukki / Auba

    Button / Dendonker / Soyuncu / Rico

    1. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I like it! Nice attacking team.

  2. andre_c
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Wildcarded this game week and only got 52 points. I'm sitting at around 1.2 million OR now and really disappointed as I finished 7800 last season. This is the team below.

    Pope, Button
    TAA, Otamendi, Lundstram, Soy, Rico
    KDB, Salah, Mount, Yarmo, Cantwell
    Aguero, Tammy, Pukki

    Yarmolenko was a good move I think but any other suggestions?
    Thanks a lot

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

      Save

    2. TheDragon
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Team looks great and should come good

      Auba and Vardy are the 2 to look at but then would you be prepared to sacrifice Aguero or Salah?

      Similar to you I finished top 2k last year (top 10k year before) and this season I am currently sat at 900k OR. Still plenty of time to turn it around. It’s not about how you start but how you finish. 🙂

      1. andre_c
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Thanks for that. Really encouraging.

      2. andre_c
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        May think of changing salah after Leicester game.

    3. No Totti No Party
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      all seem pretty standart and up to now that is the problem.
      Maybe with two city players i prefer Auba , but u never know when Aguero will brace

      1. andre_c
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Been thinking about Auba but don't really like the look of Arsenal and im a city fan. If Kun gets benched or is not delivering then may think of switching to Auba.

  3. No Totti No Party
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Captain choice will be so hard with Salah KDB Aguero Aubam all home games... Not sure who to pick

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      aguero for me.

    2. Kabayan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Midweek games might help.
      I am on Sterling/Kun right now

    3. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Just saw that City plays today and again on sunday comparing to liverpool (playing tomorrow and saturday) they got much more rest. Probably against an exaustit Wolverhampton from the Uefa League. So I'm going to pick Sterling or KdB depending on tonight.

      1. No Totti No Party
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        seems legit, but KDB against Sterling still a big doubt

        1. Tshelby
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Think I might go KdB for the first time the season. Never saw him play so good so consistent

          1. No Totti No Party
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            he looks at his best form, if i know that he will play 90 min not 70, he would me my ez choice

    4. Ask Yourself
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Has to be Auba if Laca still out

    5. Goat
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Aguero got me. Wolves playing Europa Thursday

    6. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Kane but mane and auba tramping it. Would probably go mane if I didn’t have Kane

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Tempting it*

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

      KDB for me.

  4. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    3 red arrows in a row.

    1FT. 1.5M ITB. Best way to fit KDB in?

    Pope
    TAA Söyüncü Zinchenko Diop
    Mane Sterling Mount
    Abraham Pukki Auba

    Button Cantwell Kelly Cleverly

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

      First we (you) need a fit KDB maybe for Mane.
      Or save, 2 FTs during IB will be useful

    2. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Mane to KDB straight up

    3. Tshelby
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Pukki, Cantwell -> KdB, Greenwood?
      Sterling -> KdB and use the money next week for an upgrade?

    4. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      I have Son over KDB and have 0.8 itb... I will get DeBruyne GW10 when spurs head to Anfield and City have those juicy hm Games..Hopefully he won’t rise to 10.5 by then

  5. ElliotJHP
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Been offered Alli for Siggy on FPL Draft, who do you reckon gets more points over the season haha?

    1. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      wow.. that's difficult, they are both terrible picks imo. However Siggy is sometimes on penalties and you'd expect him to always play whereas Pochettino likes to rotate more and Alli is more likely to pick up injuries, so I'd turn it down

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

        Haha I know ten man league so it is slim pickings I am afraid

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Siggy

    3. Party time
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Sigurdsson nailed. Alli isn't

    4. The Left Duke #3
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      1FT 0.1m ITB

      Pope Button
      TAA Otamendi Lundstram Rico Soyuncu
      Sterling Salah KDB Mount Cantwell
      Pukki Haller Barnes

      I like my team except my frontline but feel like I can give them all 1 more game as they are all playing good home fixtures.

      Looking ahead to the Int break with 2 FT what do you think of
      Barnes & Salah -->>
      A) Abraham & Mane
      or
      B) Vardy & Son

      Thoughts?

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

        B

    5. PrettyDick
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Dropped from 2k down to 17K and this GW is not looking great for me. What to do? I have 0.1 ITB.

      I have Aguero, and had a thought before to do Aguero --> Auba and captain Auba but that seems like a waste of a transfer (and I guess it depends on how much they play midweek) with the situation of my defenders (along with the fact that I'd want Aguero for GW 10+11 if possible).

      In defense I have Emerson as well as Aurier, plus Kelly. Do I use a transfer on Emerson or Aurier or just take a chance that Kelly will play. Otherwise I'm only fielding 10 players max.
      If I drop one, which one? Both are (supposedly) back for GW9 and have great fixtures, but which is more likely to play? Emerson's injury could keep him out for longer, and Poch could be losing patience with Aurier.
      And for who? West Ham is not an option after Fabianski's injury imo, and while Leicester are the best option they play Liverpool away (followed by an international break where someone like Chilwell or Soyuncu could pick up an injury).

      Any input on what I should do?

      A) Bank the FT?
      B) Aurier out? (for who?)
      C) Emerson out? (for who?)
      D) Aguero --> Auba (C)?
      E) A combination for a hit?

      1. No Totti No Party
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        i would go Emerson - Tomori, Aguero - Auba is a coin flip, i have both

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

        Big fan of banking this week because it gives you 2 FTs for the Intl. Break.

    6. Dont_Win_Friends_With_Salah…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Anything worth my 1FT here guys? Feels like my team is good, despite rubbish week.

      Pope
      TAA Tomori Lund
      Salah Sterling(C) KDB Mount
      Pukki Haller Tammy

      Button Cantwell Kelly Soy

      1. Tshelby
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        You still have faith in Haller?

        1. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          You'd keep this week though

      2. The Left Duke #3
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Save for Int break

      3. Lucackadoodledoo
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Very similar team to mine - Going without a premium up top and money being pumped into midfield. Worked well last season but fear not having Aubameyang. Vardy looking like a good option too. Sterling could be more rotated this season especially if he continues with poor performances ie last week (even though he scored)

        Im holding my transfer and during IB Sterling and Haller Could become Auba and a lower priced mid.

        Gonna Captain Sterling myself with a home fixture.

    7. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nicolas Pepe vs Man United:

      0 chances created
      1 shot on target
      1 foul committed
      1 successful take-on
      Lost possession 17 times

      £70 million.

      1. Party time
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Lol. Zaha way better imo

        • Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Tries not to laugh

        • Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          We all know Tuanzebe has been a world class left back for years now it’s a tough game for anyone

          1. Party time
              4 years, 5 months ago

              "world class" nah!

            • Big Al Stankovic
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              World class pass to Saka at least!

          2. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Nicolas PooPoo more like

        • Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          For the IB wildcard, would you be tempted to have Kane for Watford (H) and then go Auba (who has Sheff Utd) or just go Auba?

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Maybe but moves like that involving Kane rarely pay off lol

          2. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Auba plays in a better attack

            1. No Totti No Party
              • 12 Years
              4 years, 5 months ago

              and worse team

        • Totti
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          guys
          any goalkeeper with 3.9?

          want to get a cash as i own adrian and pope

          1. Shatner's Bassoon
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            No but Winston Reid is now 3.9 so perhaps you can get the 0.1 there with a defender downgrade.

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

              thanks mate

        • Shatner's Bassoon
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Pretty close to the mythical grey arrow. Bet someone outside top 100k got one this week somewhere.

          318,541 -> 318,406.

        • Rbyrne95
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Play 2.
          - Tomori, Lundstram or Cantwell?

          1. Klein
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Hard choice. I have to play 2 of cantwell, lundstram , ceballos, lowton and fredricks. Going with lundstram and fredricks for now. Cantwell first sub but still not sure.

          2. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Lundstram and cantwell probably

        • Miniboss
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Hello!

          Any tips how to proceed this week? 1ft, 0.0 itb
          Thinking of getting rid of Digne/Robbo for Tomori/Soyuncu.

          Heaton
          TAA Robbo Otamendi Lundstram
          Salah Sterling(c) KdB Cantwell
          Pukki Abraham

          Button Digne Dendoncker Greenwood

          thanks!

        • Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          We’ve only 1 gameweek in the next 18 days 🙁

        • OJS
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Hi FPL experts,

          I have
          Mid: KDB, Sterling, Mount, Cantwell,Son
          Fwd: Aub, pukki and Abraham

          Who shall I sub in your opinion?

          Also in Def, I have lundstram, Maitland, kelly, Digne and Matip (which 3 you would recommend)

          Thanks so much in advance

          1. OJS
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

        • Shatner's Bassoon
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Anyone reckon it's worth wildcarding to shift funds from Digne, Zinchenko, Heaton & use those to upgrade Haller to Auba?

          No other issues really.

        • danlynch13
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Salah + Haller > Son + aubam -4

          Should I wait to do this.. I’m so torn on weather to loose salah or not

          1. OJS
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 5 months ago

            Don’t you have another option? Instead of Salah