Scout Notes

How Arsenal’s FPL assets fared under new manager Mikel Arteta on Sunday

Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea

  • Goals: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m)| Jorginho (£4.9m), Tammy Abraham (£7.8m)
  • Assists: Calum Chambers (£4.4m) | Mason Mount (£6.4m), Willian (£7.1m)
  • Bonus: Aubameyang x3, Willian x2, Abraham x1

Arsenal are showing signs of improvement under new head coach Mikel Arteta but they remain a work in progress and Fantasy managers will perhaps require further proof of an upturn in performance levels before they revisit the Gunners in earnest.

Arteta’s troops were the better team for large chunks of Sunday’s London derby and set about their visitors with venom, hassling and pressing Chelsea in the early stages in particular.

There were plenty of positives to take from this defeat.

The Gunners looked much better defensively than they had done under Unai Emery and more recently Freddie Ljungberg, with Chelsea not really carving out too many clear-cut opportunities until Bernd Leno‘s (£5.0m) error of judgement allowed Jorginho (£4.9m) to tap in Mason Mount‘s (£6.4m) floated free-kick delivery in the 82nd minute.

The sight of Pierre-Emerick Aubemayeng (£10.8m) haring back into his own half to help makeshift left-back Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) on more than one occasion was typical of the effort that the Gunners put in as a whole.

Even David Luiz (£5.7m) looked fairly competent at the back although the loss to injury of Calum Chambers (£4.4m), arguably Arsenal’s best centre-half on current form, could be a big blow.

Chambers limped off with what looked like a knee problem in the first half and Arteta said after full-time:

The doctors are assessing him. The first feeling he got, it wasn’t very positive.

Further forward, Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) still looks short of his best but Mesut Ozil‘s (£7.2m) renaissance continues, with the German midfielder impressing again in the number ten role – although he still has only two attacking returns to his name this season and he ‘assisted the assister’ for the hosts’ goal.

Reiss Nelson (£5.3m) was also bright on the right flank while Aubameyang’s role on the opposite wing didn’t mean that he was hugging the touchline, as we will discuss in the Members Analysis section below.

It was the Gabon international who put Arsenal in front, nodding in a flick-on from Chambers from a set-piece situation.

Reflecting on the game, Arteta said:

I’m really disappointed with the result and the way we conceded the goals, and the timing of them as well.

I’m pleased with a lot of things that I’ve seen. I’m pleased with a lot of things we worked on in training that actually happened in the game, and how they bought into this.

But I’m disappointed to lose the game obviously. We had to sustain that level for longer periods against a very, very physical team like Chelsea.

Physically it was tough to maintain the level Chelsea play at at the moment. We are asking them to do something different, to play at a different pace, much more aggressive and at the moment [of the second goal] they suffered.

Chelsea excelled in a 3-4-3 against Tottenham Hotspur in Gameweek 18 but Lampard has now abandoned the wing-back system early in each of the last two games, with the Blues shifting to a 4-3-3 and sacrificing Emerson (£5.5m) after just 35 minutes on Sunday.

Lampard’s side unsurprisingly gained more control of the midfield with N’Golo Kante (£5.0m), Mateo Kovacic (£5.3m) and Jorginho reunited in the middle of the park but it’s the constant shapeshifting and the lack of a fixed formation that remains offputting to Fantasy managers, as we’re never entirely sure how the Chelsea boss will send out his troops.

The victory over Spurs was perhaps the high point of the last month and this was the latest in a string of underwhelming displays, even if there was a definite improvement in the second half at the Emirates.

As mentioned earlier, it was a Leno error, rather than a moment of magic from the Blues, that led to the equaliser.

The match-winner came from an incisive Chelsea breakaway, with Willian (£7.1m) teeing up Tammy Abraham (£7.8m) for the striker’s first goal since Gameweek 15.

Abraham had been starved of service for the first hour but came into the game in the final third, heading a decent chance straight at Leno in the 74th minute and blazing over with normal time almost up.

Willian and Mount were similarly peripheral until the final 30 minutes, although both banked their eighth attacking returns of 2019/20 with assists for Chelsea’s goals.

In defence, the need for improvement at left-back was again apparent after Emerson’s latest horror show.

Only five teams have kept fewer clean sheets than Chelsea this season and the improvement at the back has been only modest since August, with even Antonio Rudiger’s (£6.0m) return not really having the desired solidifying effect.

Reflecting on the match, Lampard said:

When we played as we did at Tottenham last week, I probably would have questioned my sanity if I had come to Arsenal and we played four at the back and it had gone that way in the first half-hour.

For me the main thing in the first half-hour was not the tactics, it was the spirit and the fight. Arsenal were quicker, we were lethargic, they were brave, we were nervous.

We changed and it got better. Mikel Arteta is not silly. He saw us play at Tottenham and found a way to pin our five back. We had three men marking one at the back and they had numbers in midfield and they won all the second balls, and that had to change.

The response in the second half was everything I wanted. We have been rightly questioned recently. Everton away would be a good one, a team that had life breathed into them by a new manager and we didn’t react and it was quiet after that game in the dressing room and I did not like that, and some of our home games recently were lacking something.

This is not a turning point, it is only a turning point if we show it going forward, but we showed we can have a right go and win a game in a different way. At Tottenham we won it by playing really good football from beginning to end and today we won it by showing fighting spirit. If we can put them together then we will have a chance.

Christian Pulisic (£7.1m) was nowhere to be seen on Sunday, with his absence explained as precautionary due to a hamstring strain.

Reece James (£5.0m) and Marcos Alonso (£6.0m) also missed out through injury, with teenager Tariq Lamptey (£4.0m) playing at right-back for the final half an hour.

Members Analysis

2,738 Comments Post a Comment
  1. doppelganger
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    -12 worth it? ( did grealish - martial ) Zaha Alli Aurier - KDB Traora +1

    Schmeichel Button
    Taa Pereira Aurier Rico Lund
    Mane Alli Zaha Martial Cantwell
    Vardy Rashford Ings

    1. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Time to log off.

  2. Dr Dream
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Maybe a little watershed moment today for VAR.

    Both sets of fans at the City/Sheff game chanting together “F**k VAR”...

    I’m gonna predict, as earlier, that football fans will see it removed the way things are going...

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Didn't watch any game this afternoon. What went wrong?

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Dunno....the usual stuff. MEN reporting it tonight.

        If the football fans organise ten stadiums singing “F**k VAR” in unison every weekend then the authorities have a big problem....and I can see it being organised online before too long.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      It is interesting how this hatred of VAR is largely a phenomenon of the PL and not other European leagues. Almost as if the implementation of VAR in the PL has been purposely botched......

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Are other leagues as pedantic with that stupid hairs breadth line lark?

        1. diesel001
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yes in France (where they don't like VAR as much), but in others they have got used to doing it and doing it quickly. Plus greater use of pitchside monitors in other leagues as well as better communication with fans.

          I still think part of the issue is the law. VAR is showing how hard it is actually to apply the laws as they stand.

    3. Budgies
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      All games I’ve been to at Norwich this season both sets of fans have sung this in unison....nothing new, can defo see fans having it removed!

      1. Dr Dream
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Really. Good. It won’t take much to co ordinate fans across the country will it?...I can see it coming.

  3. Tonyawesome69
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    RP - What to do with this team?
    a. grealish > traore
    b. alli > martial (had him before and feel it's a trap)
    c. connolly > DCL
    d. combo of the above
    e. something else

    2ft 1itb
    ryan pope
    evans dunk TAA lundstram rico
    maddison KDB alli grealish mane
    rashford vardy connolly

  4. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Last Man Standing GW20 🏆 (1158 teams)

    Safety score = 45
    Top score = 86
    LMS average = 58.67 (-0.44) = 58.22

    106 teams to be removed.
    1052 through to GW21.
    Up to 10% or minimum 106 out next GW.
    Congrats to all the survivors 🙂

    1. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do you have the link to check the scores for new joiners? X

    2. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Thanks. What’s the lead code Sir? Xx

    3. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      League

    4. Brimble82
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Bloomin love LMS!
      Through to 2020!
      Cheers TM - Happy New Year

  5. Citizen Kane
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best wildcard 11?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Isn't it obvious?

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Fantasy.premierleague.co.uk/gw20/dreamteam

  6. camarozz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This managerial merry-go-round is getting farcical at this stage, these guys laughing whole way to the bank...

  7. palace ash
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Martial due a rest?

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Fragile individual

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      MUN do not want to be battered by ARS and he is one of the few scorers for them, doubt it

  8. Vpan
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Grealish + Soy -> Martial + Holgate for free

    Do or Don't ?

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Just about yes, but not much in it

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Doo iit!

  9. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Microscopic smooth: hendo to Ryan for a hit paid off already after just 1 gw

    Rough: everything else

  10. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Richarlison > Traore?

    Someone else?

    1. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      i own Traore already. considering Rich to Sarr to fund Aurier to Trent

  11. The Cherry Picker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone know if 52 will be good enough for Last Man Standing? Xx

    1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah safety score is 45

    2. The Cherry Picker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Literally posted at the same time as me lol x

    3. jimmyabs1987
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Look up

  12. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Pope
    Rico,Soyuncu,Willems
    Salah,Mane,KDB,Maddison,Grealish
    Tammy,Vardy

    Button, Lundstram,Sibide,Connolly

    How do I get TAA into this team?

    1. PepSala
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Maddison to Traore and upgrade Sidibe to Trent

      1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Reactant to lose Maddison before those fixtures

    2. DAVESAVES
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rico >> TAA, done!

      1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        If only!

        1. DAVESAVES
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Hard to say when not knowing you’re money situaiton

  13. PepSala
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    What to do here? 0.3 ITB

    Ryan Gaz
    TAA Robbo Soy Lunds Rico
    Sterling KDB Alli Traore Dendo
    Kane(c) Abraham Ings

    A) Kane to Vardy(c)
    B) Sterling, Kane to Mane, Vardy (-4)
    C) kane, Ings to Vardy, Jimenez. (-4)
    D) save and captain Kane

    1. The Big Fella
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      D and Gaz to Button

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Leaning towards D

  14. Pacer.
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    BREAKING NEWS

    just thought I'd bring you awesome news of my impending WC disaster so you can all feel better about your frugal and sensible moves

    10.25pm

    Gazza (button)
    TAA, Lord, Chilly (Rico, Targett)
    Salah, KdB, Alli, Grealish, (Cantwell)
    Ings, Auba, Vardy

    10.30pm

    Fabianski (someone)
    TAA, Docherty, Cresswell (Kiko, Lord)
    Mane, KdB, Sterling, Maddison, Traore
    Wood (to become DCL, Maupayor return ings after break), Vardy (Greenwood)

    36 points equiv

    Goodbye mediocrity, hello....He who falls through the bar Rodney etc.

    Wish me luck

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A. Tammy to Jimenez
    B. Grealish, Tammy to Traore, Rashford for -4

  16. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Grealish banned or?

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Many selling and I don't understand why

      1. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Villa are poor.

      2. Gimli son of Gloin
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Villa are crap. He's really good. Some tough fixtures coming up. Traore looks a better pick for less over the next three.

        1. barracuda
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          4,75 on average in last 8

      3. Firminooooo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Let them sell. I’m keeping.

  17. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guys Q. Alli to Martial for free before price rise Y or N. Or wait another GW ?

    I have Kane too.

    1. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Wait of course

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        think Martial could do well vs Arsenal but probably i will keep

  18. Saïss Doesn't Mat…
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Slept halfway through the city game, just woke up. Thank you Kevin! A smooth 84. Finally crept into top 100k

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I've crept in this week as well thanks to Kevin (C) 🙂

  19. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Any way to find out how many in the top 10k that’s used up second WC?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pretty hard to work out until GW21 update.

    2. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      No.

  20. Aaa
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best Sterling replacement?

    Have this mid currently:

    Salah/KDB/Sterling/Grealish/Cantwell

    1.6 itb

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Mané

  21. Eric Banternaaa
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    7 Green arrows in a row!

    Henderson Button
    TAA Soyuncu Lund Rico Kelly
    KDB Mane Maddison Son Dendoncer
    Vardy Jimi Abraham

    2FT 0.3ITB.

    Thinking Salah Tammy > Martial DCL.

    Leave me 6.6ITB to do Cantwell to Son next GW. Thoughts?

    1. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Keep salah imo.

  22. Where dahoud at
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Please please help iv 2ft and 1.2 itb any ideas? What to do with this?

    Guaita
    Taa, Aurier, cathcart
    Alli, salah, kdb, grealish
    Vardy, rashford, greenwood

    Bench, Stekelenburg, lundstram, pieters, dendoncker

  23. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    is the DGW between 23/24 or 24/25?
    Liverpool host United in 23 which no doubt will be full strength, so just wondering if rotation could kick in for the west ham game...

  24. Cruz88
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Play Ings or Martial?

    1. ClothedinSun
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial. Arsenal defence is appalling!

      1. Cruz88
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        So is Spurs defence! And Arsenal didn't look as bad for most of today's game

        1. ClothedinSun
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          David Luiz is effectively a complimentary goal to the opposition and Utd have threat across the forward line. Ings could be marked out of the game by the Spurs CBs and Soton have little goal threat beyond that.

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Martial

  25. ClothedinSun
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    I'm falling behind with this team, what do I change?

    Guaita,
    Pereira, Aurier, Robbo,
    Martial, Alli, KDB, Maddison, Richarlison,
    Vardy, Rashford

    (Ramsdale, Maupay, Lundstram, Kelly)

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pereira, Aurier, Richarlison to sort out

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nothing mate, it'll come good

      1. ClothedinSun
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You're a good man. I feel better.

    3. Pacer.
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aurier down Pereira up to taa

      1. ClothedinSun
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Was looking at this, am thinking Aurier down to Dunk around gw 25?

    4. DF
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aurier

  26. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Bottomed

    Ok week at 55 points

    Transfers?
    Targett,Rico,soyuncu,Richarlison.?

    Guaita

    Targett Soyuncu Rico Hanley Lundstram

    Mane Salah KDB Ali Richarlison

    Vardy Greenwood Ings

    Any suggestions majorly appreciated!!..

    1. chilli con kone
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rich to Tony M but could backfire

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I have a feeling it could backfire and Tony M is my favorite player - any other options?

        Appreciate the reply

  27. chilli con kone
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Mahrez at 8.3 worthwhile?

    He’s burned me once before

    1. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dont't go there

      1. Arctic monkeys
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        *

  28. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    This is the most brutal season I remember in my 13th year playing the game. From 23k to 128k in 6gws had never ever happened before. It all came unstuck when Tammy for injured and been scrambling ever since. Hadn't taken a hit until that point either. Was 27 from top 10k at best, 57 now.

    Onwards and hopefully back upwards 🙂

    1. Mind över Mata
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah, has been pretty remarkable

    2. Celt Abroad
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes, that Tammy injury was the moment it all started to fall apart.

  29. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Best Abraham replacement?

    A) Jim
    B) Ings
    C) Maupay
    D) DCL

    B, C or D would raise funds to get TAA back. Cheers all!

    1. chilli con kone
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why sell?

      1. Mind över Mata
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        To raise funds for TAA was my thinking

    2. Bielsa's Blue Bucket
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Was going to get DCL on my WC but went Ings instead. Toss up between the two but Ancelotti's comments are encouraging for DCL

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

      I went for Maupay. Hope he delievers

    4. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

    5. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      A or D
      I'm keeping though.

    6. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B

  30. Redranger
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    A) Aurier > Jomez
    B) Aurier & Grealish > Robbo & Adama

    1. Arctic monkeys
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      B