Scout Notes

Golden Boot race hots up as Aubameyang and Vardy score again

Arsenal 1-1 Leicester City

Goals: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) | Jamie Vardy (£9.7m)

Assists: Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) | Demarai Gray (£5.0m)

Bonus Points: Vardy x3, Aubameyang x2, Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m)

A late goal from Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) earned Leicester City a point and denied Arsenal a fourth straight league win.

A sluggish return from lockdown meant more Vardy family members had issued writs against Coleen Rooney than scored Premier League goals, until the striker broke a three-match drought with a brace against Crystal Palace in Gameweek 33+.

His patchy form had lost him close to 600,000 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) owners since Gameweek 28, but three goals in the last four days means he’s now back in the top five for transfers-in heading into the weekend’s fixtures.

Vardy is also two goals clear of the pack in the race for the Golden Boot; a gap that had been reduced to one when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) opened the scoring last night.

The Arsenal forward had been in poor form himself, with four blanks spanning the start and end of lockdown, but three goals and an assist from Gameweek 32+ onwards has now brought in 26 points for his 23.1% ownership.

What it hasn’t done is persuade many to bring him into their Fantasy squads. Aubameyang is not even in the top 30 for Gameweek 35+ purchases as an immediate schedule involving the North London Derby and then a visit from Liverpool seems too rich for most people’s blood.

Fixtures trumping form? Presumably, because the Gunners were unlucky not to make it four league wins on the bounce, and ten victories in their last 13 matches in all competitions, last night.

That they didn’t was down to a superb display by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (£5.4m), who made five stops during a one-sided first-half, and a red card that reduced the home team to ten men for the final 15 minutes of the match.

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m) had only been on the pitch for four minutes when he failed to control a sliding tackle on the rain-slick pitch and he went in high and studs-up on James Justin (£4.7m). He was initially only booked for the challenge, until VAR had other ideas and referee Chris Kavanagh agreed once he’d taken a look on the pitch-side monitor.

A Foxes team that had threatened only intermittently before the sending-off were ruthless after it. 

Manager Brendan Rodgers went from a 3-4-1-2 to a 4-5-1 formation, which hugely improved the supply line to Vardy, as although the forward ostensibly had a strike partner in Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m), the Nigeria international dropped very deep for much of the match, leaving Vardy isolated up front.

The pair did combine well on occasion, with Iheanacho having a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, but once Harvey Barnes (£6.0m) replaced him and Nketiah trudged off a few minutes later, the visitors used patience, and the width of the pitch, to stretch Arsenal.

The tactic finally came good with six minutes to go when Vardy slotted home a cross from the impressive substitute Demarai Gray (£5.0m), although VAR had a long, long look at possible offsides before the goal was finally confirmed.

Rodgers was somewhat one-eyed in his post-match reaction to the result.

“I thought a point was the minimum we deserved. At 11 versus 10 we managed it really well, got the goal and unfortunate not to have got a second.” – Brendan Rodgers

Arsenal would have been extremely unlucky not to get something from a game they ran for lengthy spells.

Schmeichel earned two save points and a bonus for his superb display, denying Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) and Hector Bellerin (£5.3m) with fine stops and Alexandre Lacazette (£9.2m) with a brilliant one.

He could do little about the goal, however, as Aubameyang finished following fine work by Saka.

The 5.4%-owned midfielder, made it two straight Gameweeks with a haul – and three in his last four starts – as Arteta continues to use him as part of a front three.

But what is great news for some is potentially less pleasing for others – Lacazette was handed the central striker role last night, meaning Aubameyang’s owners had to make do with their man cutting in from the left flank.

Arteta, however, believes the move does not harm his attacking threat.

“He is scoring a lot of goals coming from that position, he’s done it all his career. We know he can play as at nine but at the moment the balance of the team is a little bit better like this. He is a team player.” – Mikel Arteta

The stats back the boss up – Aubameyang and Lacazette had exactly the same number of shots (two), all of which were inside the area, and they also had one big chance each. The Gabon international also had four penalty area touches to his teammate’s two.

While the Gunners’ attacking prowess has rarely been in doubt, their defensive improvement has been impressive under Arteta.

A fourth straight clean sheet was beyond them last night, in part thanks to Nketiah’s indiscretion, but the much-maligned Shkodran Mustafi (£5.1m) has been a man transformed in recent weeks, although his major contribution last night involved taking a stray Vardy boot to the face, an (entirely accidental) incident that the Arsenal coach thought should have led to the forward’s dismissal.

“I was agitated for a previous incident that was a red card. The referee has made a decision and we have to learn from that, as well it is our fault because it is the fourth time since I have been here we have played with 10 men and we have to reflect on that.” – Mikel Arteta

That speaks volumes for the, let’s just say, ‘more robust’ Arsenal that is emerging under their new coach, and although few Fantasy managers seem keen to invest right now, their final two fixtures – away at Aston Villa and home to Watford –  should tempt plenty more.

The situation is, essentially, reversed for Leicester.

The Foxes travel to Bournemouth and then host Sheffield United next. Small wonder, then, that Vardy is enjoying purchases.

But they end the season with a trip to Tottenham and a potentially huge home game with Manchester United that could determine which of them earns a Champions League spot for next year.

That will mean a motivated, and mostly rotation-free, side from now until the end of the campaign, but Leicester’s patchy form – a win, a loss and three draws – since Gameweek 30+ is not wholly convincing.

Arsenal (3-4-3): Martínez; Kolasinac, D Luiz, Mustafi; Tierney, Xhaka, Ceballos (Torreira 80), Bellerín; Aubameyang (Maitland-Niles 90+3), Lacazette (Nketiah 71), Saka (Willock 71).

Leicester City (3-4-1-2: Schmeichel; Söyüncü, Evans, Bennett (Gray 76); Justin, Tielemans, Ndidi (Praet 82), Albrighton (Fuchs 59); Pérez; Vardy, Iheanacho (Barnes 59).

MEMBERS ANALYSIS

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672 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I know who is in the City line-up. Just give me 3 minutes.

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I can give the news in 1 minute

      1. The Polymath
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Give me 30 seconds

    2. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      There you are. This is 100% correct. 😀

      Team to play Newcastle: Ederson, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Otamendi, Stones, Rodri, Silva, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden, Jesus.

      Subs: Bravo, Walker, Sterling, Gundogan, Laporte, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Garcia, Doyle.

  2. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    oh dear...

  3. the Penman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    The Greenwood Trap: “He’s 4.5m striker, so I should bench him for a 352!”

    Alternatively: dude, he’s a Man U striker for £4.5m! What are you doing?!

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      People are benching Greenwood? 😯

      He'll might be 14.0m in a few seasons 😉

      1. InSaneMan-e
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Mason Van Greenwood

      2. TomSaints
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I did =[

    2. InSaneMan-e
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      And hes likely to start in the next 2. Way better than James vs teams that Utd need to break down. No way James scores those 2 vs Bou

  4. Whats the Mata?
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Yessss he Starts!!!

    1. CRO KLOPP
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Ederson?

    2. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He doesssss

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

      Phew

    4. Bavarian
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez

  5. Superflymonk
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    One minute till total carnage! Hold on to your lug nuts, it's time for an overhaul!

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

      Hi Jim Carrey

      1. Superflymonk
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Hehehe , the mask, classic!

  6. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    MAN CITY TEAM NEWS –

    Team to play Newcastle: Ederson, Cancelo, Zinchenko, Otamendi, Stones, Rodri, Silva, Mahrez, De Bruyne, Foden, Jesus.

    Subs: Bravo, Walker, Sterling, Gundogan, Laporte, Bernardo, Fernandinho, Garcia, Doyle.

    1. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez and foden thank you pep!

    2. Giovanni Giorgio
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Laporte benched. ffs

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

        Laporte and Garcia will play together for the rest of the season including the FA cup game. Basically, avoid both.

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Where were you when I bought Garcia 😆

    3. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Mendy 😮

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

      FPL Driver exposed. Another one bites the dust.

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

      Happy for not getting Sterling for -4!

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

        And rival got Garcia in

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

      God I hate Jesus

    7. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      my god even a tight strained carroll would score vs that defence, it´s awful.

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

        Sterling benched!

    8. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      KDB Blank

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

    Lineup as expected 😉

  8. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling 🙁

  9. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Sterling fail

  10. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How we line-up tonight against Newcastle!

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      XI | Ederson, Cancelo, Otamendi, Stones, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, D Silva (C), Mahrez, Jesus, Foden.

      Subs | Bravo, Walker, Sterling, Gundogan, Laporte, Bernardo , Fernandinho, Garcia, Doyle.

  11. fusen
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    https://anewpla.net/fpl/lineups/

    Manchester City: Ederson (31), João Cancelo (27), Stones (5), Otamendi (30), Zinchenko (11), De Bruyne (17), Rodrigo (16), Silva (21), Mahrez (26), Gabriel Jesus (9), Foden (47),
    Subs: Bernardo Silva (20), Raheem Sterling (7), Tommy Doyle (69), Aymeric Laporte (14), Fernandinho (25), Kyle Walker (2), Ilkay Gündogan (8), Eric García (50), Claudio Bravo (1)

    Newcastle United: Dubravka (1), Yedlin (22), Krafth (17), Schär (5), Fernández (18), Rose (28), Lazaro (23), Shelvey (8), Bentaleb (42), Ritchie (11), Joelinton (9),
    Subs: Jack Young (60), Miguel Almirón (24), Karl Darlow (26), Javier Manquillo (19), Christian Atsu (30), Matthew Longstaff (43), Thomas Allan (50), Dwight Gayle (12), Yoshinori Muto (13)

    Sheffield United: Henderson (1), Basham (6), Egan (12), O'Connell (5), Baldock (2), Berge (32), Norwood (16), Osborn (23), Stevens (3), McBurnie (9), Sharp (10),
    Subs: Kieron Freeman (18), John Lundstram (7), Jack Rodwell (26), Lys Mousset (22), Jack Robinson (19), Richairo Zivkovic (30), Simon Moore (25), Phil Jagielka (15)

    Wolverhampton Wanderers: Rui Patrício (11), Boly (15), Coady (16), Saïss (27), Doherty (2), Rúben Neves (8), João Moutinho (28), Jonny (19), Traoré (37), Jiménez (9), Diogo Jota (18),
    Subs: Bruno Jordão (6), Maximilian Kilman (49), John Ruddy (21), Leonardo Campana (30), Oskar Buur (59), Rúben Vinagre (29), Morgan Gibbs-White (17), Daniel Podence (10), Leander Dendoncker (32)

    West Ham United: Fabianski (1), Fredericks (24), Diop (23), Ogbonna (21), Cresswell (3), Soucek (28), Rice (41), Bowen (17), Fornals (18), Yarmolenko (7), Antonio (30),
    Subs: Arthur Masuaku (26), Jack Wilshere (19), Manuel Lanzini (10), Fabián Balbuena (4), Darren Randolph (35), Albian Ajeti (27), Sébastien Haller (22), Mark Noble (16), Ben Johnson (53)

    Burnley: Pope (1), Bardsley (26), Long (28), Tarkowski (5), Taylor (3), McNeil (11), Westwood (18), Brownhill (8), Pieters (23), Rodriguez (19), Vydra (27),
    Subs: Chris Wood (9), Bailey Peacock-Farrell (15), Robbie Brady (12), Anthony Driscoll-Glennon (45), Max Thompson (33), Jimmy Dunne (34), Mace Goodridge (44), Jóhann Gudmundsson (7), Josh Benson (41)

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

      Cheers

  12. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Urgh I can’t believe this shite

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

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    MCI: Ederson, Otamendi, Zinchenko, Cancelo, Stones, David Silva, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Jesus, Foden, Mahrez
    Subs: Bravo, Laporte, Walker, Eric García, Bernardo Silva, Doyle, Fernandinho, Gündogan, Sterling

    NEW: Dubravka, Fernández, Yedlin, Krafth, Schär, Rose, Lazaro, Bentaleb, Shelvey, Ritchie, Joelinton
    Subs: Darlow, Manquillo, Jack Young, Almirón, Atsu, Matthew Longstaff, Allan, Gayle, Muto

    SHU: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O'Connell, Stevens, Osborn, Norwood, Baldock, Berge, Sharp, McBurnie
    Subs: Moore, Freeman, Jack Robinson, Jagielka, Lundstram, Rodwell, Mousset, Zivkovic

    WOL: Patrício, Coady, Boly, Saïss, Moutinho, Jonny, Neves, Doherty, Traoré, Jota, Jiménez
    Subs: Ruddy, Kilman, Buur, Vinagre, Bruno Jordão, Gibbs-White, Podence, Dendoncker, Campana

    WHU: Fabianski, Cresswell, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Diop, Fornals, Soucek, Rice, Yarmolenko, Bowen, Antonio
    Subs: Randolph, Masuaku, Balbuena, Johnson, Wilshere, Lanzini, Noble, Ajeti, Haller

    BUR: Pope, Tarkowski, Taylor, Long, Bardsley, Westwood, McNeil, Pieters, Brownhill, Rodriguez, Vydra
    Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Driscoll-Glennon, Dunne, Brady, Goodridge, Gudmundsson, Benson, Wood, Thompson

    1. VAR United
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pay this man

    2. JohnnyRev7
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Should be the new Demi and everyone else take a step back.

  14. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Saiss, Doherty, Jimenez, Foden, KDB (c).... CHAAAARRRRGGGEEE!!

    1. TomSaints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I’m going to be very happy or very sad in a few hours

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

    Foden Mahrez KDB Tick!

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Boom!

      Same here. Time for City to go goal crazy.

  16. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Lateriser captained Sterling

    Unlucky

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

      Will come and score a brace then

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

      it comes with his strategy, he goes for differentials so there is usually a big upside or big downside. High risk high return.

  17. Traction Engine Foot
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Salah to Sterling went well then

  18. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Delicious!!! KDB(C) Mahrez and Foden!!!!!!!

    1. Gunners in Haaland
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same 🙂

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Wahoooo!!!

  19. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Mahrez Foden KDB (C) LETS GOOOO

    1. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Same here

  20. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Kdb(c) / Mahrez / Foden

    Good start!

  21. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    That twatter guy said Jesus would be benched

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Should have gone to twitter.

  22. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    KDB, Mahrez, Foden and Jesus all start. Sterling benched.

  23. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    No surprises and no one serious owns overpriced Sterling anyway

  24. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Let's go KDB

  25. Dont give a fuchs
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    First walker and then Garcia. Fml

  26. SHOOTER MCGINN
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    I think bringing in Sterling and Mendy for a hit is generally considered bad news.

  27. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can't believe some people actually did Salah (bri) to Sterling for a hit. You were warned

  28. Hairy Potter
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    No alarms and no surprises...

  29. drughi
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Jesus to haul

  30. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    How the hell does Jesus still get picked?