Scout Notes

Arsenal’s defence in fine form as tricky run of fixtures gets underway

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Arsenal

  • Goals: Bukayo Saka (£4.7m), Alexandre Lacazette (£9.2m)
  • Assists: Kieran Tierney (£5.3m), Joe Willock (£4.7m)
  • Bonus: Lacazette x3, Saka x2, Shkodran Mustafi (£5.1m) x1

Arsenal pulled off a surprise 2-0 win at Molineux that would have only been truly enjoyed by their fans and those managers owning players on the Fantasy fringes.

Wolves came into the match on the back of three straight wins and four consecutive clean sheets. Arsenal, for their part, hadn’t won on the road against a team above them in the league since 2015.

A victory for the visitors was, therefore, not exactly expected.

From a Fantasy perspective, expectations centred instead on the fixture’s two most popular players – Wolves striker Raul Jimenez (£8.3m) and his Arsenal counterpart Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m), owned by 36.5% and 23.9% respectively.

Neither delivered.

Wolves’ Mexican forward had only one attempt, a header from an excellent Adama Traore (£5.8m) cross that he could only steer wide under pressure from Cedric Soares (£4.8m).

Aubameyang also managed just the one shot, although he did manage to hit the target when he latched on to a half-cleared corner, only for his mis-hit shot to provide home keeper Rui Patricio (£5.3m) with a regulation save.

With the pair shunted to the Fantasy sidelines, a home clean sheet was the next best outcome for many.

That didn’t occur either.

Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) put paid to that when he expertly volleyed home Kieran Tierney‘s (£5.3m) deflected cross to finish off a swift Arsenal counter-attack just before half-time.

The goal was the first Wolves had conceded in 448 minutes, although Arsenal had already gone close when an Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m) snapshot hit the outside of the post via a smart save from Patricio.

At the other end, Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez (£4.3m) had been forced into action very early on to block Traore.

But that, as it turned out, was the hosts’ only shot on target, although Traore – interestingly playing as a striker in Santo’s 3-5-2 – missed another great chance when he lofted the ball over both the keeper and the crossbar. That was bad news for the 17.7% of managers hoping the midfielder would prosper in an out-of-position role up front alongside Jimenez.

Patricio wasn’t that much busier than Martinez, although he could do nothing about Arsenal’s second goal.

Substitutes Joe Willock (£4.7m) and Alexandre Lacazette (£9.2m) combined well on the right, with the latter then hitting a shot across the Wolves keeper and in off the far post.

Midfielder Willock had a golden chance to make it three son afterwards when his scuffed shot beat Patricio but didn’t have the legs to make it past the covering Ruben Neves (£5.2m).

And while 3-0 might have been harsh on Wolves, the clean sheet for the visitors caught pretty much every Fantasy manager by surprise as the allure of all Arsenal’s players, beside Aubameyang, has not been great.

The (relative) popularity of the likes of Matteo Guendouzi (£4.2m and 7.5%) and Saka (5.0%) has clearly been based on their price or, in the case of David Luiz (£5.7m and 4.9%), no discernible reason whatsoever.

But the much-maligned Brazilian delivered a second consecutive clean sheet, as did the even more-mocked Shkodran Mustafi (£5.1m), and the unfortunate 0.5% who own Tierney were denied a third straight batch of shut-out points to go with his first Premier League assist only because coach Mikel Arteta took him off after 55 minutes.

In fact, since a disastrous Gameweek 30+, the Gunners have now won three straight league games by a combined score of 8-0 – a run few predicted and even fewer took advantage of in their Fantasy teams.

The maximum bonus award went to Lacazette, capping an all-action seven minutes from the bench that earned him eight points.

The Frenchman has been reduced to a bit-part player over recent Gameweeks – he’s started just two of the last six fixtures. But his record as a substitute has been impressive, with three goals and two assists from his last five cameo appearances.

Whether he ever holds down a regular starting role again remains to be seen, however.

Nicolas Pepe (£9.1m) dropped out of the squad to be with his heavily-pregnant wife, but Arteta opted to use midfielder Saka, not striker Lacazette, in an advanced role alongside Aubameyang and Nketiah.

The moment we have a situation with Nico, it was clear. I was trying to find something with Bukayo in that position. It is true that in the first half he had some moments where he struggled but then he started understanding things better after 20 minutes. I really liked the way he kept trying and trying and trying rather than putting his head down and being disappointed.

Saka’s first ever Premier League goal won’t have dimmed his coach’s admiration either, suggesting Lacazette might have to resign himself to more games as an impact.

Then again, Arsenal’s immediate schedule – home to Leicester and Liverpool, away at Spurs in between – might tempt Arteta to give experience the nod.

What it’s unlikely to tempt is too much Fantasy investment in the side’s key assets, which now should really include members of their defence.

Arteta said of his side’s backline:

The more we improve here, the more solid we are, the more chances we are going to have to win football games. This was down to 11 players defending every time the ball was at the opponents’ feet.

Regardless of yesterday’s impressive win, it’s probably going to take a good deal more to persuade most managers to rely on Arsenal players in matches as big as their next three, however.

That would seem to be the case based on the current transfer trends. Only two Gunners – Aubameyang and Saka – can be found in the top 30 for Gameweek 34+ transfers in. By contrast, four Wolves players make the cut.

That’s not overly surprising when the fixtures of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are factored in. Of their final five fixtures, a trip to Chelsea on the last day of the season looks the toughest.

It could also be a decider in terms of which of them qualifies for next season’s Champions League, meaning the coach is unlikely to rotate his key players any time soon.

But while that might be music to Fantasy ears, the issue of fatigue among Wolves players should never be dismissed – this is a team, after all, that started this long, long season way back in July last year.

Yes, the enforced lay-off has given the squad recovery time. But as a unit, no Premier League team has had to be match-fit and good to go for such an extended period of time; a fact possibly alluded to by the manager in his post-match comments:

What was missing today, a little bit more urgency at certain points. There was a moment that was the definition, if we were going to draw and push for the last moments of the game, but it didn’t happen.

Wolves have four players with Fantasy Premier League (FPL) ownership of at least 10 percent, and another three over five percent.

Such heavy investment is likely to stay in place for the rest of the season, but yesterday’s defeat and a couple of laboured 1-0 wins that proceeded it, might be an indication that the team is running out of steam.

Wednesday’s tricky trip to a rejuvenated Sheffield United will tell us more.


Wolverhampton Wanderers XI (3-5-2): Patrício; Saïss, Coady, Boly; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 89′), Dendoncker (Jota 55′), Doherty (Neto 72′); Jiménez, Traoré

Arsenal XI (3-4-3): Martínez; Kolasinac, Luiz, Mustafi; Tierney (Maitland-Niles 56′), Xhaka, Ceballos (Torreira 83′), Cédric (Bellerin 76′); Aubameyang, Nketiah (Lacazette 83′), Saka (Willock 75).

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 33+

1,768 Comments Post a Comment
  1. rozzo
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hendo Leno
    TAA Saiss Egan Lascelles Lund
    Salah KDB Martial Bruno Saka
    Rashford Jimenez Nketiah

    1ft
    2.3 itb

    How sure are we that Foden plays the next one?

    Lund to Digne worth a transfer?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pep seems to be rotating Silva & Foden. It's Silva's turn on the bench

  2. Ronnies
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    DDG
    TAA - Doherty - Kiko
    Salah - KDB - Son - Bruno
    Rashford - Jimenez - DCL

    (Button, Lascelles, Simpson, Guendozi)

    0.0itb 1 free transfer.

    Any ideas on what I could do ? Or save free transfer?
    Thanks.

    1. BERGKOP
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Save

  3. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Cash ml rival just 10 pts behind me in 3rd benched Mccarthy for hendo, and Egan for Saiss and Taylor.
    Gotta hurt just a bit!

  4. Better luck next year
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Better cap for GW34+?

    Bruno or KDB? Seems like a coin toss.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Dont expect AV to just Rollover.

      KDB

  5. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    R.James, Aurier or which defender up to 5.2?.

    Lund going down tonight so doing it tonight!

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Can always get a cheaper defender.

      1. Champions League Varane
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        True TM but not trying to lose any more TV

        Who do you think?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Rather points than TV.

  6. AC Yew
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Worth bringing Son in if im not planning to C?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not tonight.

    2. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I wouldn't, he has been playing like a left wing back. However judge for yourself tomorrow

  7. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Is Holgate nailed?

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I would say so.

  8. Willmissudimitrypayet
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    sorry for repost, but I feel really lost here:

    A) Guendouzi to Foden and BENCH jimenez

    B) Jimenez to Greenwood and Martial to KDB (-4)

    C) Rashford to Greenwood and Pulisic to KDB (-4)

    D) Save FT and play the following:

    Front 7 right now:
    Pulisic, Mahrez, Bruno, Martial
    Rashford, Kane, Jimenez

    1. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      D

    2. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      D

    3. Puncheon Guly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Definitely hold. That's a strong front 7, no point chasing points

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

      Thanks folks! Wanna play agressively, but I guess I need to pick my spots.

  9. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Keep with this team or make any changes? About 130 points clear in my ML and want it to stay that way haha!

    DDG

    Trent - Doherty - Aurier

    Salah - KDB - Bruno - Pulisic

    Ings - Jimmy- Rashford

    Subs: Henderson, Saiss, Fernandez, Hayden.

  10. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez should start the next game right?

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      They should, and Foden!

  11. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah likely benched next game?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Would you sell if so?

    2. AD2110
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Hard to tell. Could say the same for Mane I suppose

    3. Puncheon Guly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm probably selling for KDB. he's gonna get a rest in the next 2 you'd think

  12. Old Gregg
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any of these moves worth it? Thanks

    a) Saka > Foden
    b) Saka > Antonio
    c) Jimi/Dcl > Ings
    d) Any other?
    E) Save

  13. Gandalf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    When is anyone with WC and BB remaining planning to use them? Last few weeks of season?

  14. jason_ni
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench which this gw?
    A) Foden
    B) Puli
    C) Greenwood

    On foden, but seems wrong!

    1. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      That's a fair headache!

    2. Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Puli

    3. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Puli

  15. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    2FT; 0.0m Itb

    De Gea,
    TAA, Doherty, Fernandez
    Salah, Bruno, KDB, Son,
    Rash, Jimi, DCL

    Button, Taylor, Hayden, Robinson

    Salah Rash to Martial Kane for next GW?

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ddg, Dcl, Jimi to
      Gk of.choice
      Kane
      Greenwood for -4

      Means you keep rashers

      1. HD7
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hmm not bad idea, though Im nit sure Rash will hit form soon.
        Any gk (not Pope cause I have Taylor)

  16. waldo666
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ugh!

  17. Tmel
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Bench one of these:

    a) Mahrez (NEW)
    b) Foden (NEW)
    c) Jimi (shu)
    d) Greenwood (avl)

    1. Volley127
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

    2. The Big Larsbowski
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      C

  18. wildnothing
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Patricio Martinez
    Doherty TAA Maguire Ritchie Aurier
    Pulisic Fernandes Son Willian Saka
    Kane Rashford Jimenez

    2.0 itb 1 ft. I need to get KDB right? Rashford and Saka to Greenwood and KDB?

  19. MattysFantasyFooty
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jiminez to Kane for free? yes or no?

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeh I think it could work

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Not tonight

    3. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Na.

    4. The Big Larsbowski
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Go for it. Who would have thought Kane would be such a differential in 2020

  20. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    World #1 with a 26 points lead and WC/FH 😯

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      In with a big shot of winning, kinda crazy considering his history!

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yep, a better Salah showing would have helped.

    2. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Would be skinny odds to take it out now.

  21. Tempestic
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on either of these?
    DCL Pulisic > Kane Foden
    Or
    DCL Doherty > Kane Saiss

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      prefer b, puli has been looking great!

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeh think I agree. Foden vs Newcastle also looking tasty tho, I fancy city to stick a few past them

  22. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mane & DCL -> Mahrez & Kane (-4)?

    1. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      i think yes

  23. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Worst. Gameweek. Ever.

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      oh dear

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        38 points with a -4 hit and Mahrez captain fail

        1. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          eesh, unlucky man. Theres always next gw

    2. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      how bad?

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        See above. Just playing for pride now. Have my free hit and BB in the pocket. So I'm just going to go out all guns blazing.

        1. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          just try enjoy it i suppose

          1. Milk, 1 Šuker
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Yeah this is it

        2. jason_ni
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          ouch!

          1. Milk, 1 Šuker
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            You're not doing too bad though!

    3. Strchld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I will join.

    4. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      where are your man u assets?

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I had them. Martial was vice, AWB didn't keep a cleanie and bought Rashy for -4 to take that troll Vardy out. And look what happens.

    5. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Guessing City haven’t scored yet then

      1. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Poor decision from me tbf. But I thought why not be a bit "Maverick" and risky. Backfired badly. That said, who knew City were going to put that performance in?

    6. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I can say, if its any solace, I got 26 points total, the week after playing my wc in gw5, talk about nailing a wc.
      Think my gw rank was 6.8mill or something.

  24. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    73 from 9 (2 to go).....hoping Sonny and Aurier get a few points tomorrow.

    1. jason_ni
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      56, son and dcl to go.

      Only 3 blanks from others, but not capt Bruno over salah was the killer..

  25. Totti
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    front 8
    salah bruno martial son guenduzi
    DCL jimenez rashford

    2FT 2.3 itb

    A) salah rashford-> KDB and kane
    B) salah rashford calvert -> KDB and greenwood and kane (-4)
    C) salah rashford guenduzi -> KDB greenwood sterling (-4)
    D) other suggestion

  26. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How to get KDB :

    A : Mahrez > KDB ( free )
    B : Salah > KDB ( Free )
    C : Rashford & Guendouzi > Greenwood & KDB -4
    D : Jimenez, Doherty & Guendouzi > Nketiah, Digne & KDB (A naughty minus 8 )
    E : Dont get KDB
    F : Salah > KDB & Jimenez > Kane -4

    1. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      B easy

    2. Strchld
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I think KdB is a must. So not E.

      F for me.

    3. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I like the look of c actually

    4. The Big Larsbowski
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      If you are chasing- F. And captain Kane against bournemouth

  27. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Do we still think Mahrez is a good option?

    1. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes and foden as well

  28. Mackans
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Thoughts on selling Mane?

    1. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      depend who will you get instead

      i'm selling salah if this would help 🙂

  29. LucasPodolski
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Think I've finally lost it. Did TAA and Grealish to Maguire and Mahrez...Lost so many points from that haha. Ahh well onto the next game week. Any other shockers this week ?

  30. waldo666
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    1 FT and 0.6 ITB

    Unless we get something concrete about anyone being rested I'm really thinking I might save, thoughts?

    Pope
    TAA Doherty AWB
    KDB Salah Bruno Foden
    DCL Rashford Jimenez

    (Button Kiko Hayden Lascelles)

    1. Totti
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yes save

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      yeah save.
      Decent team

    3. waldo666
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers both.

    4. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I would consider DCL + Rashford to Kane + Greenwood for a hit