Scout Notes

Aubameyang red card masks Arsenal progress under Arteta

Crystal Palace 1-1 Arsenal

Goals: Jordan Ayew (£5.0m) | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m)

Assists: Cheikhou Kouyate (£4.9m) | Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m)

Bonus Points: Ayew x3 Kouyate x2 Aubameyang x1

Jordan Ayew (£5.0m) rescued a point for Crystal Palace against a dogged, and arguably unlucky, Arsenal.

Fantasy managers looking for further evidence of Mikel Arteta’s benign influence on the Gunners found it in abundance during the first half at Selhurst Park.

The visitors controlled the match up until the break, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) giving them a deserved lead when he produced a no-nonsense finish from Alexandre Lacazette‘s (£9.3m) astute pass.

Arsenal under their new manager are already a mile away from the disjointed mess they were towards the end of Unai Emery’s reign, with left-back Sead Kolasinac‘s (£5.2m) frequent forays down the flank covered by Granit Xhaka (£5.1m) and the entire team defending as a unit when required.

But a combination of the high wind and Palace’s standard obduracy meant the Gunners couldn’t turn their early fluency into a second goal.

And everything changed after half-time.

The influential Lucas Torreira (£4.7m) had to be replaced at the break, with Arteta’s initial diagnosis a vague one.

“It looks like (an injury). He had to come off at half-time. I don’t know (what it is). I’ll have to check with the doctor.” – Mikel Arteta

What did become clear was how well Torreira and Xhaka had nullified Palace’s midfield, because without the Uruguayan, Arsenal struggled to contain their hosts, who were level within ten minutes of the restart.

Cheikhou Kouyaté (£4.9m) fed Ayew, whose shot took a big deflection off David Luiz (£5.7m) on its way past Bernd Leno (£5.0m).

Things then turned from bad to worse for Arsenal when Aubameyang was shown a red card, following an intervention by VAR, for a challenge on Max Meyer (£5.2m) that might have been lacking in malice, but was definitely mistimed and decidedly ugly.

The Arsenal coach had no complaints with the decision.

“I just watched it and it looked nasty, to be fair. Knowing Auba, there’s no intention to make such a tackle. Hopefully, he hasn’t been injured and we are sorry for that. The decision was made and we have to accept it.” – Mikel Arteta

His Palace counterpart, Roy Hodgson, was not so hopeful that Meyer had escaped without injury.

“The position of his ankle as the challenge comes in is not a pleasant thing to see. I’d be very surprised if there isn’t any ligament damage there, but we won’t know that until Monday.” – Roy Hodgson

Pre-Arteta Arsenal might well have crumbled after the dismissal, but there was none of that at Selhurst Park.

They rode their luck when a looping header from James Tomkins (£5.0m) had to be cleared off the line, but even better chances came at the other end, with Nicolas Pépé (£9.1m) seeing his shot brilliantly tipped onto the post by Vicente Guaita (£5.1m), who then bravely saved the rebound at Lacazette’s feet.

A win would probably have flattered the Gunners, but their defensive solidity was generally impressive – Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) did a particularly good job keeping Wilfried Zaha (£6.8m) very quiet – and their front three are likely to prosper against less well-drilled opponents.

Unfortunately for Fantasy managers, the most in-form of that trio, Aubameyang, won’t be adding to his three goals from the last four Gameweeks as he’ll now be suspended for the next three matches.

Arsenal have a very attractive long-term schedule, but investing in their improved defence still feels risky on the evidence of Arteta’s first three league games in charge.

Lacazette and Pepe might step up in the absence of Aubameyang, but Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) was little more than a bit-part player against Palace.

As for Roy Hodgson’s side, their defenders remain the best bet for points as they embark on a good eight-match run during which the first fixture, away at Manchester City, is by far and away the toughest test.

Zaha continues to be a misfiring luxury, while new loan signing Cenk Tosun (£5.7m) was starved of service during his 22-minute debut – a state of affairs he will probably have to get used to when playing for a side who’ve managed a league-worst 213 attempts this season.

Crystal Palace XI (4-5-1): Guaita; Riedewald, Cahill, Tomkins, M Kelly; Zaha, McCarthy, McArthur, Kouyaté, Meyer (Tosun 68′); Ayew.

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Kolasinac, D Luiz, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Torreira (Guendouzi 46′); Aubameyang, Özil (Martinelli 70′), Pépé; Lacazette (Nelson 90+2′).

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2,782 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Could do with a Grealish goal (or 2 today) and a Rico CS and perhaps assist... miracles can happen, right?!

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Wouldn’t surprise me to see Grealish scoring.
      Rico - that’s wishful
      Thinking I reckon

      1. FCSB
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 2 months ago

        Hoping one of his corners gets headed in... wishful thinking I guess haha

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

      It's not bad to dream.

  2. DALEDOBACK
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    2FT nothing pressing.

    Jiminez to
    A) DCL
    B) Deulofeu
    C) Maupay

    Holgate to Digne. Seem ok? Have ings already.

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Just do one FT then.
      Holgate to digne seems very sideways

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

    Best Replacement for Fabianski?

    A- McArthy
    B- Henderson (have Lundstram)
    C- Ryan

    1. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      B

    2. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I think I go safe route and pick Ryan as I have Button 2nd GK. Brighton have good fixtures too. All are good options depends bit if you want dbl SHU.

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

      a

    1. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks fitzy

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

    Is Janmaat nailed for Watford when he comes back from injury?

  5. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Kelly to Dunk here or save? 1ft 0.9itb

    --Hendo
    --VVD--TAA--Lund
    --Mane--KDB--Madds--Grealish
    --Vardy--Rash--Ings

    ---Stekel--Rico--Kelly--Cant..

    Thanks.

    1. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Save

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

    best fab replacement? money no issue

  7. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    For those bringing in Firmino, what avenues are you taking to do so?
    Seriously considering moving Vardy or Rashford

    1. Dr. Agabuse
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      I am moving Rash out for TAA

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

    Anyone considering Allison as a third pool spot ? Or is his points ceiling too low ? Thanks

  9. Dr. Agabuse
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Do you think Leicester will recover.
    Pool was inform. Before they played the two best teams of the league, in between crushed Ncastle.

    Foolish to let Soy go?
    Bought for 4,5

  10. FDMS All Starz
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    What would you do here? Kinda stuck, not sure about the forwards
    2FTs & 0itb
    Ryan
    TAA - Soy - Taylor
    Salah - Mane - Kdb - Martial
    Vardy - Jimi - DCL

    Subs: Button - Lunds - Kiko - Romeu