Scout Notes

Arteta’s Arsenal show signs of defensive improvement in United victory

Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United

  • Goals: Nicolas Pepe (£9.1m), Sokratis (£4.9m)
  • Assists: None
  • Bonus: Sokratis x3, Bernd Leno (£5.0m) x2, Pepe x1

Earlier this week we wrote about the green shoots of recovery shown by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in their defeat to Chelsea.

There was further encouragement on New Year’s Day, with the Gunners deserved winners over the Jekyll-and-Hyde outfit that is Manchester United.

The matches in Gameweeks 20 and 21 followed a similar pattern, with the difference this time being that Arsenal had established a more comfortable two-goal cushion by the time their energy levels were depleted.

The north London side look much hungrier under their new head coach, with their all-action, high-pressing approach clearly borrowed from the Manchester City playbook.

It’ll take a while for Arteta to fully get his methods across to this Arsenal squad, who are, by their own admission, not fit enough to carry out their manager’s demanding gameplan for a full 90 minutes.

The Gunners were gasping for air in the second half, with a flagging Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) pleading to be substituted and Lucas Torreira (£4.7m) scoffing an energy bar as his own limbs seized up.

Interviewed after the game, David Luiz (£5.7m) said:

We have to be honest and admit physically we are not ready, but you have to show heart and this team is ready to change a lot of things.

Arteta himself added:

That wasn’t the plan [to sit back in the second half], I have to admit, but at the moment we are suffering a little bit to maintain the intensity we had in the first half. I think it will come, it is part of the process, the way we train, but at the moment we don’t have much time to do so.

It might be that we don’t really see the fruits of Arteta’s labour until 2020/21, then, after the Gunners have had a full, intensive pre-season under their new boss.

The impact has been immediate, though, and Fantasy managers will be watching with interest ahead of some appealing fixtures for the Gunners in Gameweeks 25-32.

We FPL bosses have largely dodged the Arsenal defence for a while now but it is at the back where the Gunners look most improved, with the sight of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) diligently covering his left-back and even Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) tracking back from the number ten role summing up the collective approach to defending.

It was only an error from Bernd Leno (£5.0m) that let Chelsea back into the game last Sunday and, with the Gunners not shooting themselves in the foot this time around, United never seriously looked like getting back into the game.

Names we have all smirked at over the past couple of years – Luiz, Sokratis (£4.9m), Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) and Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) – were all superb at the back, with Torreira and Granit Xhaka (£5.1m) covering expertly in front of them.

Carry on like this and we may even have to start considering them for the weeks and months ahead.

Nicolas Pepe (£9.1m) was named in the starting XI for the first time by Arteta, impressing down the right flank and opening the scoring when converting a deflected cross from Kolasinac.

Pepe later struck the upright and created chances for Lacazette, Aubameyang and Torreira in an eye-catching 62-minute showing.

Arsenal’s two premium FPL forwards contributed majorly to the cause without having too many sights of goal, with Lacazette screwing his best chance wide after making a fool out of Harry Maguire (£5.2m) and Aubameyang volleying his only shot of the game off-target.

Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) continues to sparkle in ‘the hole’, meanwhile, but there is a sense that he might not be the most explosive FPL asset in the mid-price midfield bracket, given that he’s had only one shot since Arteta took charge.

After back-to-back wins over Newcastle United and Burnley, the Red Devils treated us to one of their meek away-day specials at the Emirates.

For the money that we pay for the likes of Anthony Martial (£7.9m) and Marcus Rashford (£9.1m) in FPL – not unsubstantial but hardly top-dollar, either – we have become accustomed to swallowing the occasional dismal display in the knowledge that a haul may be just around the corner.

United started the brighter of the two teams, with Rashford forcing Leno into a save early on, but a positive opening ten minutes gave way to a fairly poor performance, with Maguire’s close-range header on the stroke of half-time as close as the Red Devils came to finding a way past Leno.

Martial indeed didn’t have a single shot, while Rashford was wasteful and Daniel James (£6.1m) and Jesse Lingard (£6.3m) were anonymous as the United attack failed to click.

The likes of Maguire and Luke Shaw (£5.4m) were pretty ropey at the back, too, as they have been for much of 2019/20.

Still, bottom-of-the-table Norwich (who the Red Devils play next in the league) offer Rashford and co an immediate chance at redemption, just as Newcastle did after the Gameweek 18 loss to Watford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troops will likely be without Paul Pogba (£8.4m) when they next play in the Premier League, with the United boss saying of the Frenchman in his post-match presser:

He’s injured now and he’ll probably need an operation on his foot. And let’s see how long it takes for him to get back.

We’ve had scans and while it’s nothing major, it’s something that has to be sorted and dealt with, within a timeframe. He’s been advised to do it as soon as possible.

It’s a big blow that Paul is out now – he’ll probably be out for three or four weeks – and Scott will be out for a few months. Scott has been magnificent and we hoped Paul could come back. He can’t – he’ll be back within a month or so. 

On the injury front at Arsenal, Sokratis, Xhaka and Kolasinac were back in the starting XI after recent absences, although the latter seemed to aggravate his ankle problem before being substituted in the second half.

Dani Ceballos (£5.2m) was on the bench, too, but failed to get on.


Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac (Saka 69′); Torreira, Xhaka; Pepe (Nelson 63′), Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette (Guendouzi 82′).

Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic (Mata 81′); James (Greenwood 59′), Lingard (Pereira 59′), Rashford; Martial.

Members Analysis

1,148 Comments Post a Comment
  1. lilmessipran
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    For next gw, i need to bench one out of these 3 , which one-

    A Maupay
    B Mousset
    C rico

    1. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      C, would not start Rico under any circumstances right now!

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

      B and C

  2. jb1985
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Alli to Maddi/Richarlison for -4 hit?

    Ryan,
    TAA,Robbo, Soy,
    Mane, Traore, Alli*, KDB
    Rashford, Vardy, Jimi

    Button, Lund, Rico, Dendo

    1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Maddison for me!!

  3. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Only 21 points is the difference between Me - 67k and ML Rival - 123k

    Small Margins. 😉

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      21 points, or a "Lundstram" as it should now be known as

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

      not easy to cover 21 points. That means 21 differential points

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

    Thoughts on this WC side?

    Fabianski Elliot

    TAA Soy Lund Dunk Holgate

    Mane Salah KDB Grealish Luiz

    Vardy Ings DCL

    1. OLLY G
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Very nice. Any money ITB?

      4.1m Martin of West Ham as backup keeper to hopefully cover Fabianski if injured/suspended?

  5. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    should I save FT this week? 

    Guaita 
    Lunda TAA Soy
    Alli Mane KDB Martial
    Rashford Vardy Tammy
    Button Cantwell Rico Targett.

  6. beric
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who else has the holy trinity of mo(c), mane and trent tonight?

    Can you taste the green arrows?

    1. Le Bluff
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Here here. Any=d my understudies of Balbuena, Grealish, Ings and Cantwell (Vardy auto-sub) have already done the business.

      A Mo (c) haul will be the icing on the cake.

      1. Le Bluff
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        *And

      2. beric
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Wow you smashed it. Ive only had returns from todd and danny so far

    2. HurriKane
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I will be joining you next gw

      All set for Alli to Mane next gw

      1. beric
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Spurs away next week...

        1. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Spurs are pants. Liverpool could have a field day

          1. beric
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 2 months ago

            I sure hope so

    3. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I do, but getting Salah in for 3+3 pts hasn't been that holy imo.

  7. Le Bluff
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Anybody considering Southampton's Alex McCarthy as a Pope replacement?

    Only 4.3, and has good fixtures all the way through to GW 30 (Wildcard / DGW time) with the exceptions of GW 22 (lei) and GW 25 (liv).

    They seemed to have turned a corner, with clean sheets against Tottenham, Chelsea and West ham and only 2 goals conceded in their last 5 GWs.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

    2. FPL Theorist
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, he might be the most underrated enabler in the game right now.

    3. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I wasnt but i am now

  8. ShaunGoater123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What to do here? Have 2 FTS

    Gazza

    Soyuncu / Rico / lundstram

    Mane / kdb / grealish / alli

    Aguero / Vardy / rashford

    Button / Kelly / targett / dendonker

    A) Aguero & grealish > DCL & salah (have exact money
    B) grealish > traore (allows salah TAA & DCL in next week)

    1. NUFCAndrew
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What about Aguero + Dele > Ings + Salah

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

      Gazzaniga and Aguero to Fabianski or Ryan, and Ings/Jimenez etc.
      Which allows Alli to Salah next week, I would think.

  9. One Man
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Who to captain next week ?

    Martial Nor (H)
    Rashford Nor (H)
    De bruyne A Villa (A) ?

    1. beric
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Slim pickins

    2. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      surely u may consider pool mids too think they ll bang a few

    3. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I’m going Martial atm with KDB vice

  10. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What would you do here?

    Ramsdale
    Rico Sidibe Gomez
    Grealish Maddison Mane Martial
    Kane Wilson Vardy

    Button DLuiz Aurier Reid
    2ft 0.9 itb

    a)Kane->Aguero
    b)Mane->Richarlison
    c)Kane+Aurier->Aguero+Soy
    d)Kane+Mane->Aguero+Richarlison
    e)something else

    1. Cojones of Destiny
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      easy to give an advise, hard to decide on ur own ))) A or C , defo not B

  11. Cojones of Destiny
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    need help pls , want to transfer Alli and Shelvey for who ? 2FT, 0ITB

    Salah, KDB, Madds, Shelvey*, Alli*
    Vardy, Rash, Ings

    thx

  12. jimmyabs1987
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    With Kane likely out, Son will be main man. Anybody looking at him post Liverpool?

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      KdB to Son is risky, Salah or Mane to Son before dgw also.

  13. Rushford
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Foster
    TAA Soy Lund Digne
    Salah KDB Martial
    Rashford Jiménez Vardy

    Button Grealish Rico Cantwell

    0.9itb 2FT

    Don’t know how to use my 2FTs. Planning to get Mane ahead of GW 24, by selling the United players. However I don’t want to ship them ahead of Norwich at home. Any suggestions?

  14. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What is this? Not updated yet. Next thing will be a new GW starts before OR is updated.

    1. Fitzy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Apparently the first VAR disallowed Aston Villa goal is being rechecked. Grealish on for another 5 points maybe.

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

        Lol what?

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

        Of course thats it. More jammy Grealish points incomming.

        1. Fitzy.
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Yep, the scoreline will stay the same, but Grealish will get the FPL points.

  15. kamdaraji
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Salah 2 bps?

  16. taylormccormack
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Sideways moves here? Or take the -4...

    Do I trade;
    Alli + Martial + Jimenez

    FOORRRRRRR?

    Salah + Grealish + DCLewin

    Lineup would be;

    Pope (Button)
    TAA - Soyuncu - Kelly - Rico - Lundstram
    Salah - Mane - KDB - Grealish - Cantwell
    Abraham - Vardy - DCL

  17. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Hi!

    Pondering Jimenez-> Ings. I know Jimi has great couple of fixtures, but I’m sick of missing out Ings points week after week. What do u say?

    A) go
    B) no-go
    C) fix something else?

    1ft, 0.1itb

    Pope
    TAA Soyuncu Lundstrom
    Salah Mane(C) KdB Grealish
    Vardy DCL Jimenez*

    Button Rico Kelly Dendoncker

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

    Nyland essential now?

  19. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Play 1 out of these three:

    1) Rico vs Warford
    2) Grealish vs City
    3) Gomez vs Spurs

    1. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Play Grealish, he is in great form and Man City defence is still struggling.

  20. COYS78
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Gomez vs. Spurs - an easy one for me.

    Watford is playing increasingly good form as of late and I dont see a clean sheet in that game - particuarly with some of the Cherries top offensive talent injured.

    City is well.. City - although a case could me made that with Ederson out, Grealish stands a chance.

    Gomez looks to have secured a spot in the starting 11. Kane will be out - and the form of the Spurs has been poor lately.