Pro Pundits

Is it time to invest in Arsenal assets after Gameweek 28?

Sitting inside the top 5k after Gameweek 27, FPL Family’s Sam has one eye on Arsenal assets after their upcoming blank.


The Tottenham Hotspur fan in me hates to think too much about the other side of north London. However, where FPL is concerned, the desire to improve one’s overall rank and win those all-important mini-leagues means that sometimes we have to put loyalties aside and bring in some of those players that in real life we don’t necessarily want to do well!

With my team set for Blank Gameweek 28, I’m now looking ahead to Gameweek 29 and thinking about what my strategy might be between now and the Wildcard, which I’m currently planning to use somewhere around Gameweek 30.

By then, we will know more about the Blank and Double Gameweeks as well as who has progressed in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League competitions, so this will inform my planning in terms of which teams I want to heavily invest in for the run-in.

At the start of Mikel Arteta’s tenure at Arsenal they, at times, struggled to find consistency both from week to week as well as within games. Whilst this hasn’t completely disappeared from their locker, we are beginning to see the Arsenal that Arteta is trying to create and therefore what his matchday teams and formations are more likely to look like.

This improvement in performances, coupled with a better understanding of the players that Arteta is building this new-look Arsenal team around, means that there are a few assets who look to be coming to the fore – especially given Arsenal’s fixtures between now and Gameweek 35, when we have the second north London derby of the season.

The new manager bounce, a lovely run of fixtures, and Arsenal players who seem happier and are thus playing better football means that they are fast becoming key to most FPL managers’ thoughts and plans.

Their early elimination from the Europa League can surely only be a boon for us Fantasy bosses, too, with the fixture schedule looking a lot less packed.

My decisions for Gameweek 28 were in part based on having enough money to bring in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) ready for Gameweek 29. But with this nice run of fixtures and with more consistency in terms of the starting line-ups, is it as simple as just bringing in Aubameyang or are there other options that we should consider either alongside or instead of the Gabonese striker?

With my Free Hit chip safely tucked away in my back pocket, owning more than one Arsenal asset feels like a sensible idea through this nice run, especially as we know that they will have at least one Double Gameweek in this period as a result of missing their fixture in Gameweek 28. So who makes a good potential FPL asset over this run of matches?

All of the stats used in this article are from Gameweek 19 onwards, when Arteta took charge of his first Arsenal match, unless otherwise stated.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

For much of Arteta’s tenure so far, Aubameyang has been mostly deployed out left. As a premium striker, this isn’t where we ideally want him to be playing.

However, for Aubameyang this role has suited him in terms of the job he is doing for Arsenal and FPL managers alike.

In the seven games that Aubameyang has played under Arteta, he has six attacking returns, thus showing that actually his positioning on the pitch isn’t having the negative impact on his returns which we feared it might.

The Gabon international has an xG of 2.84 and an xGI of 3.42 over the period studied, although obviously he also has a red card and a two-match suspension in that time.

When you compare Aubameyang and Sergio Aguero (£11.9m) over the last four Gameweeks, Aubameyang comes out on top in most of the key areas including goals, xA, goal involvement, shot accuracy as well as total BPS and baseline BPS.

Alongside the stats over the last four Gameweeks, Aubameyang also has the nicer set of fixtures and he is a full £1m cheaper than his Manchester City counterpart.

From Gameweek 29 onwards, Aubameyang seems like the striker that it is going to be the more appealing to own. He has already risen in price ahead of Gameweek 28 (when he blanks!) and I can see that trend continuing once this Friday’s deadline has passed and the fixture against West Ham in Gameweek 29 draws nearer.

Nicolas Pepe

When Nicolas Pepe (£9.2m) arrived at Arsenal we, as FPL managers, were all expecting big things.

With returns in only five matches between Gameweeks 1 and 25, however, he has somewhat underwhelmed.

Gameweek 26 seemed to signal a change, for both Pepe himself and Arsenal. Newcastle United played incredibly well for the first half but Arsenal’s dominance in the second half of a 4-0 win, coupled with Pepe’s 17-point haul, showed what the winger and Arsenal are capable of.

This, followed on by a win against Everton in Gameweek 27 alongside another assist for Pepe, has thrown him into the premium midfielder conversation.

Pepe now seems to have the confidence of his manager, having secured back-to-back starts, and has found his own confidence in himself. This makes him an interesting FPL option as well as a lovely differential, given that his ownership is just 3.5%. At a time when options in the premium midfield bracket are in short supply, Pepe, with the nice fixtures to come, might just offer a solution to our problems.

Pepe’s £9.2m price tag does put me off somewhat, simply because we are yet to see him deliver on a regular basis. However, given the fixtures and his differential ownership, I think he could be worth the transfer for the next few weeks, especially as he is easy to downgrade if his or Arsenal’s performances dry up again.

Bukayo Saka

When Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) was forced off through injury on Sunday and Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) came on to replace him, we suddenly had another option for our cheap fifth midfielder spot.

Over the course of the season, there have been numerous players who have held that spot in many FPL teams – Leander Dendoncker (£4.4m) and Todd Cantwell (£4.8m) being two of the most popular options.

Fixtures, form and, in Dendoncker’s case, the desire for FPL managers to own other Wolves assets, have meant that there is definitely scope for a change.

With the way Saka has performed of late, it is even possible to view him as a fourth midfielder if you want to build a squad which contains the likes of Mohamed Salah (£12.8m), Sadio Mane (£12.4m) and Aubameyang etc.

Normally, Saka is the kind of ‘out of position’ player who we would avoid. Playing in defence for Arsenal, yet listed as a midfielder in FPL, means that he doesn’t benefit from the full four clean sheet points should Arsenal keep one.

However, his heatmap shows that he spends very little time in defence and the majority of games in attacking positions:

Saka now has three assists in the last five Gameweeks and, as a result of the injury to Kolasinac, he could now get a regular spot in the starting line-up, which at £4.5m and just 1.6% ownership, is music to the ears of FPL managers.

With only two attacking returns over the course of Gameweeks 1-25, we should remember that this form is new and thus may not be consistent.

He also may lose his starting position when Kolasinac is available again or when Kieran Tierney (£5.3m) returns from injury. However, at £4.5m, he is worth the place in our squads as he appears to be hitting form and getting a spot in the starting line-up at the right time for the nice run of fixtures that Arsenal are about to embark on.

Are there any other options?

There are other options in the Arsenal team for us as FPL managers, such as Mesut Ozil (£7.2m), Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) and Bernd Leno (£5.0m).

For me, their returns (or the starts, in Lacazette’s case) just aren’t consistently there and thus the likes of Saka, Pepe and Aubameyang are far better picks for your FPL teams.

Lacazette is struggling for game-time with the likes of Eddie Nketiah (£4.3m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.6m) striving for minutes and therefore it seems that there is only one Arsenal forward worth investing in at the moment.

Conclusion

Arsenal do seem to be finding form, consistency and the ability to grind out a result, as shown against Everton, at the right time for their lovely run of fixtures.

Looking at the upcoming matches, recent results and individual form, Arsenal seem to be a really good investment opportunity right now.

With Arsenal now only four points behind Manchester United in fifth, it is all to play for in terms of UEFA Champions League qualification.

When an individual player has form, fixtures and motivation, I buy. The Gunners have all of those things and therefore maybe just one Arsenal asset isn’t enough.

Ahead of Gameweek 29, I’ll be bringing in Aubameyang, either in a swap with Roberto Firmino (£9.7m) to allow the Liverpool defensive double-up or to replace Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) if he blanks again against Norwich City on Friday.

However, Saka looks too good an opportunity to turn down, so I might line up a Cantwell to Saka transfer to give me an Arsenal double-up ahead of this favourable fixture run.


Sam Bonfield is a member of our Pro Pundits initiative, a team of Fantasy managers here to bring you regular advice and updates on their teams. Sam has served up two top 30k finishes in the last two seasons and is currently inside the top 1k in the world.

Sam FPLFamily <p>Fantasy Football Scout's General Manager. Half of the FPLFamily. Pundit on the FPL Pod, Fantasy Show and Sky Sports News&nbsp;</p> Follow them on Twitter

1,673 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is Traore to Richarlison ok for -4 hit ?

    1. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      what a top post haha

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Risky

    3. Energetics
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Can you bench Traore and still play 11?

      1. Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        yes i can, but i think traore will be benched and i would like to have more players for GW31

    4. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Don't know, difficult one

    5. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I would

    6. MOTHRA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yes. This week the risk is lower and reward higher.

  2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who scores more?
    A) Rico
    B) Richarlison -4
    C) Maddison -4

    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Probably c

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      On form, Richarlison
      Fixtures, Maddison

    3. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B,A,C

  3. Energetics
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ramsdale
    Taa Robbo Periera Boly
    Salah Fernándes Cantwell
    Vardy Jimi Ings

    Button Traore Rico KDB

    Anything I need to change?

  4. kysersosa
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Managers Thoughts ideas on these 2 options.

    Have to take a hit this week to field a keeper.

    *Button/Henderson
    Soy/TAA/VVD/Kelly/Lord
    Mane/Maddison/*KDB/Traore/Cantwell
    Ings/Jimenez/*Aubameyang

    0.1 ITB, 1FT

    20k overall, Top in main ML (50 points ahead) and 2nd in another (50 points behind).

    Feel my team needs some work. Traore and Lord now looking very Vulnerable.

    WC planned once we know what GW31 holds. FH still available.

    A) KDB to Fernandes and Button to Pope (-4)
    B) Aubameyang to Vardy and Button to Pope (-4).
    C) Henderson to pope
    D) A/B option with fielding a keeper!

    TIA

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      D

      Gives cash to upgrade Traore/Lundstram

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      C
      I don’t like many fixtures this week anyway
      Not worth a hit imo
      Also keep KDB and Auba

    3. MOTHRA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      C

  5. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I predict the only clean sheet will be Liverpool this weekend

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I think WHM will also keep a cleanie

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Also the Vardy party back in full swing

      2. The 12th Man
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        You selling Ings then?

        1. Holmes
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Not this week but I may sell soon, probably in GW31.

          Have too many issues this week, only 8 players including Traore 😀

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not even sure they'll get a cleanie

      1. Jebiga
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Deulofey party ?

    3. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Then i will dupm salah and mane and bring gomez and vvd for a -12 hit

    4. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Newcastle vs Burnley has 0-0 written all over it

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Pope for the win!

    5. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Thanks all. Bruno in. Got Martial last week, I'll take the 8 points and run

  6. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A) Grealish to Fernandes and keep Ings

    B) Grealish to Barnes which leaves cash for Ings to Auba next week

    1. DV8R
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      B

    3. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

  7. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Already have 11 players (including Traore) this week.

    Is Grealish to Barnes worth a -4?

    Dont have any Leicester attack.

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It probably is

      1. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Cheers

  8. some witty pun
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is Martial worth a -4 to replace? I can't field 11 players if he dosent play

    1. Fulchester's New Centr…
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Only a minus 2 then so yes

  9. Holmes
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    When will the DGW announcer wake up?

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He’s just BLANKED us.

  10. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Just realised that one of the two the definite GW 31 games...
    Wol v Bou is preceded by EL semi 2 days before

    Ffs

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      If wolves make it that far

    2. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      EL quarter you mean, lol

      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Sorry I meant 1/4 and they’ve already made it

        1. Qaiss
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          They haven’t. R16 is next.

          1. HuttonDressedasLahm
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Ha, sorry double fail...
            Next match is 12th and 19th

            Fixtures...

            7/3 v Brighton
            12/3 v EL 16th
            15/3 at West Ham
            19/3 v EL 16th
            21/3 v Bournemouth

            5 games in 15 days

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Why is there suddenly so much dgw 29 talk?

    1. Jambot
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      The community noticed that if arsenal were knocked out of Europa league it was the best place for arsenal v city to be replayed. That doesn’t mean it will be.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Arsenal out and if not now, then it won't happen

      1. Jambot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        It can easily still happen another time just not as straight forward as now. Also neither city or arsenal are actually through to QF of FA cup let alone SF when one of them have done that is when it gets tricky

    3. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Oh ok thankss

  12. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Not feeling confident but gtg for this week? 1FT 0.0itb

    Guiata
    taa soy taylor
    Salah mane(c) Traore dendo
    Vardy jimi ings

    Button Cathcart(vs pool) kdb Egan

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Why would you not be confident. Everyone is in the same boat unless someone free hits. At least you have 11 playing

    2. Your Doing It Wrong
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Good team g2g

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Better than my team

    4. MOTHRA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Solid. GTG

  13. FCSB
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who are you captaining this week?

    1. Rhodes your boat
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Currently on mane but could easily switch to salah or vardy

    2. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Tempted by Trent but will probably go Salah.

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Boring Salah

      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        This

    4. FCSB
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah (c)
      Vardy (vc)
      TAA (tempting)

    5. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Salah vs Watford

    6. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Currently Mane

  14. DV8R
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Ryan
    TAA, Soyuncu, Boly, Cresswell, Stephens
    Salah, Cantwell, Traore
    Ings, Vardy

    Button, Auba, KDB, Grealish

    1FT 0.2m itb.. Good to save or swap out Grealish/Auba?

    1. Your Doing It Wrong
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Save

  15. estheblessed
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    G2G?

    Pope,
    Taylor, AA, Gomez, Soyuncu
    Bruno, Barnes, Salah(c)
    Ings, Jimenez, DCL

    Henderson, Boly, KDB, Grealish

    1. Your Doing It Wrong
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Yes g2g

  16. linkafu
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A Haller
    B Ings
    C Firmino

    Who s get more points this WE?

    1. Cahill
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      C B A

      1. Saka Rice
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I cant be arsed either

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      1,2,2

  17. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Holmes and co, any news on Martial? Provably asked plenty times already. I have a ft to get Bruno for him?

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He’s having a scan today apparently. I reckon he won’t play Sunday.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      No clear indication from Ole, based on the quotes he will probably miss this GW, atleast

    3. Space Cadete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Martial doesn’t play through pain based on past history. If he’s not fully fit, get rid asap

    4. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      When has Martial ever been a doubt and actually started? This always happens and then he is out for like a month

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        I won't know, I'm a rugby kind of guy from South Africa 😆

  18. MichalFPL
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Who is better pick on this GW? I am on FH
    A : Bruno Fernandes
    B : Maddison/Barnes/Perez
    C : Jimenez

    1. Your Doing It Wrong
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

    2. MOTHRA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      A

  19. Karan14
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Richarlison or Bruno?

    Dont plan to use FH in 31.

    Is it worth going for Rich over Bruno for that reason as he has a good chance of playing in GW31?

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I got both and sacrificed DeBruyne...

    2. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Rich

    3. Jebiga
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Does united have any chance to play GW 31 ?

  20. andre_c
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Wildcard Time? Team in horrible shape.

    Hendo, Button
    TAA, Lascelles, Stevens, Rico, Kelly
    Salah, KDB, Martial, Traore, Cantwell
    Vardy, Firmino, Ings

    2FT, 0.3ITB

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It's close, but not with 2FT. Think a -4 or -8 could sort it out tbh.

      Hendo > Pope
      Kelly > Saiss
      Martial > Bruno
      Traore > Barnes

      or something like that

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

        What about Hendo > McCarthy, Kelly > Saiss, Traore > Mcneil and hope Martial starts. Don't really want to take a -8.

  21. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Saiss or Stephens?

    Stephens has better fixtures imo

    1. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Saiss

  22. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    A) Grealish + Greenwood to Saka + Vardy (-4)

    B) Grealish to Fernandes

  23. Captain_Shirokov
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    No GK
    TAA, Robertson, Saiss, Cathcart
    Salah, Maddison, Dendoncker
    Vardy, Jimenez, Ings

    (Henderson - KdB, Grealish, Lundstram)

    2 free transfers, what should I do?

    Nothing in the bank to upgrade my 4m non playing keeper.

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Grealish to Armstron or McNeil and get Pope

  24. Mattymo23
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Are folk not put off Fernandes as opposed to say Maddison by United's next three fixtures?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      United fans bias. Always happens

    2. Fit_to_drop
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      It seems not. Utd have tended to do better against better sides. Plus Fernandes seems to be the conduit for EVERYTHING they do. That's the big attraction.

    3. Viper
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      As a Maddison owner, I would completely avoid!

  25. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Some advice please

    Ryan
    TAA Soyuncu Stephens Rico
    Martial* Salah Dendonker
    Vardy Ings Jimenez

    A) Lundstram > VVD
    B) Martial > Fernandes
    C) Grealish > Fernandes
    D) A/B or A/C for -4

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I like a

      1. DAVESAVES
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Was planned until Martial news..

    2. MOTHRA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Martial > Bruno
      Rico > Boly/Saiss

      1. DAVESAVES
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Why not
        Martial > Bruno
        Lundstram > VVD ?

  26. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Any ITK rumours on Twitter or so about the double?

  27. Viper
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    1. Start Cantwell or Traore?

    2. Buy Pope or Patricio?

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Cantwell
      Pat

  28. SHOWSTOPPERRR
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Guys ogs presser today??

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Unlikely, no press for Europa managers

      1. SHOWSTOPPERRR
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Ok..

  29. JasonG123
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Play Holgate (MUN) or Williams (eve) and why?

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Neither

  30. Saka Rice
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Stephens or Saiss?