Scout Notes

Should FPL managers sell Aubameyang ahead of Arsenal’s tough fixture run?

Arsenal 2-1 West Ham United

  • Goals: Alexandre Lacazette (£8.5m), Eddie Nketiah (£6.0m) | Michail Antonio (£6.4m)
  • Assists: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m), Dani Ceballos (£5.5m) | Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m)
  • Bonus: Nketiah x3, Ceballos x2, Lacazette x1

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m) is top of the charts for Fantasy Premier League transfers out ahead of Gameweek 3, with over 250,000 FPL bosses having offloaded the Gabon international since last Saturday’s deadline.

Modest returns in the opening two Gameweeks is one reason for the exodus but Arsenal’s upcoming fixture run is arguably the single biggest contributing factor, with the Gunners now facing five fixtures against sides who finished in the top half last season.


In nine meetings against these five clubs last season, Aubameyang delivered just two goals and one assist.

Even a player who consistently boasts one of the best goal conversion records in the division would struggle with his underlying numbers in these games: the premium midfielder managed only two shots on target (scoring both, naturally) and averaged less than one effort in the box per appearance.

Top half last season doesn’t necessarily mean top half this season, of course, and the jury is still out on a Sheffield United backline without the services of Dean Henderson (£5.5m).

Liverpool’s high defensive line was exposed by Leeds in Gameweek 1, meanwhile, and Aubameyang put Manchester City to the sword in the FA Cup semi-final in July.

Still, the fact remains that the Gunners’ Gameweek 3-7 opponents were all in the top six for fewest goals conceded in 2019/20.

Aubameyang will almost certainly bag at least one attacking return, maybe even a handful, in his upcoming five matches, but is he likely to outscore the premium assets from the other ‘big six’ clubs over the same timeframe?

And in how many of these fixtures would we realistically captain the Gabon international?

On paper, a premium midfielder exchange seems to be a straightforward decision – but FPL, as this weekend showed, may have other ideas.

ONE SHOT

Aubameyang was by some distance the most-captained FPL asset of Gameweek 2, with over two million Fantasy managers handing him the armband.

One solitary assist for Alexandre Lacazette‘s (£8.5m) opener was all that he could muster, with the Frenchman nodding home his teammate’s cross after just 24 minutes.

The expected avalanche of points failed to materialise as both player and club struggled to carve out chances, with Aubameyang’s only shot of the match coming from distance in the 90th minute.

There was mitigation for his own display though.

Aubameyang had cultivated a good understanding with Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£5.0m) and Kieran Tierney (£5.5m) down the left flank recently and he was without both of his comrades at the Emirates, with the former benched and the latter succumbing to an injury in the warm-up.

Bukayo Saka (£5.5m) and Sead Kolasinac (£4.9m) came into the side and although Saka “assisted the assister” for both of the hosts’ goals, the rapport simply wasn’t there between the left-sided trio for much of the game.

TIERNEY UPDATE
One statistic to rule them all

Mikel Arteta acknowledged a disjointed performance from his troops after full-time, saying:

I think we were a little bit lucky in certain moments, but we found a way in the end to win it and that’s the mentality I want from the team, to always believe that we can do it until the last moment, even when we have difficult games where suffer and make it very difficult for ourselves in certain positions.

But in the end, it’s three points and that’s what we’re here for. We will take some big notes because there are a lot of things to improve.

It’s very strange because we were talking with the staff today that they had their best week in terms of decision making, quality and execution with the ball by far since I joined the club, but then in the first 15 minutes, they gave the ball to the wrong colour too often. We need to improve on that and we know that we still have a lot of work to do here, but at least they kept trying and nobody tried to hide.

On Tierney’s injury, the Arsenal boss added:

Kieran is fine. He had a little muscular discomfort in the last few days. He tried today and worked in the warm-up but he wasn’t feeling comfortable today.
 
We believed that he was going to be fit but during the warm-up, in the last 10 minutes, he said he wasn’t feeling OK. We had to make a decision. We were prepared just in case and Kola came on and had a good game.

ANTONIO BACK AMONG THE GOALS

After an anticlimactic Gameweek 1, Michail Antonio (£6.4m) was back on the scoresheet at the Emirates.

Encouragingly, he was occupying the sorts of areas that led to his purple patch of form after lockdown ended in June.

His 44th-minute goal from a Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m) cross came from inside the six-yard box and he had an excellent chance to add to that tally after the break, failing to make proper contact on an Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) delivery from close range.

Antonio then hit the bar with a header midway through the second half and saw a goalbound shot blocked in the subsequent melee.

West Ham’s awful upcoming fixture run will put many FPL managers off but few players could compete with Antonio’s underlying stats after lockdown ended and there were encouraging signs that he could recapture that form on Saturday.

MOYES GOES 3-4-3

With Mark Noble (£5.0m) injured, David Moyes called on Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m) to replace him and turned to a 3-4-3 for the trip to north London.

While Jarrod Bowen (£6.4m) and Tomas Soucek (£5.0m) were not at their best, Masuaku was excellent in a left wing-back role and West Ham delivered a much-improved display following their poor performance in Gameweek 1 – something to perhaps consider for those targeting assets who play the Hammers in weeks to come.

Moyes’ troops registered twice as many shots as their hosts, with their goal not coming under much threat after Lacazette’s opener – that is, until a lapse in concentration allowed Dani Ceballos (£5.5m) to set up Eddie Nketiah (£6.0m) for Arsenal’s late winner.

Moyes said of his side’s display:

We were massively improved from last week. We made chances, played well, wanted to be as good as we could. But ultimately we are playing a form team. I am disappointed that we have not come away with a point at least.

Arsenal XI (3-4-3): Leno; Holding, Gabriel, Kolasinac; Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka (Luiz 89′); Willian (Pepe 64′), Lacazette (Nketiah 77′), Aubameyang.

West Ham United XI (3-4-3): Fabianski; Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Fredericks, Rice, Soucek, Masuaku (Anderson 85′); Bowen (Yarmolenko 83′), Antonio, Fornals (Haller 87′).

Members Analysis


FPL Lessons Learned from Gameweek 2

3,517 Comments Post a Comment
  1. bruuuno
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Was set on doing Auba Vinagre > KDB Saiss -4 tonight before price changes.

    Should I do the Vinagre > Saiss move or wait for Marcal news?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No do only auba

    2. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wait

    3. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'd wait on the Vinagre move. Can definitely wait.

  2. BarryManilows
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    That is defo a debruyne assist & I don’t even own him

  3. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Best option here? 0ft. 3.9m ITB

    A Wilson to Jesus
    B ASM to Foden/Zaha/Podence

    McCarthy
    TAA Justin Shaw Mitchell
    Salah Rodriguez Son
    Werner DCL Wilson

    Steer ASM Egan Bissouma

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B, Podence

  4. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is there any reason why the fixtures are so fragmented? What has happened to 3 o'clock kick offs on Saturday? First 3 gameweeks only 1 3 o'clock kick off.

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Covid

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      All fixtures at different times for TV.

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Money Money Money

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

      So people can watch the games because they can’t go to them I think was the reason

  5. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Rank old game week and the fortune some in my ml have had picking Martinez at the start of the season for arsenal, Zaha re taken peno the lot. Miserable

    1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Worst week i have known ever. No exaggeration

    2. gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yep it's been utter filth. I took out Son, Mane, Mitrovic and Antonio for Rashford, Bruno, Martial and Wilson. Does it get much worse than that? I don't even want to calculate how many lost points that is.

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

        50pts down on those trades. Ouch.

  6. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Auba > KDB or ASM > Foden -4?

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Both

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      KDB

    3. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes both. If both -4, just ASM > Foden

  7. SuperDan
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Pick one:
    A) Podence
    B) Klich
    C) Costa

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    3. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  8. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Can Son + Rodriguez (16.5m) outscore Salah + 4.5m defender?

    I'd need to nail my captaincy, wouldn't I?

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      It definitely can

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      The first pair would as you'd be more flexible in changing mids who are going through purple patches.

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Captain KDB

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      thanks, giving it serious consideration right now!

  9. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bottomed!

    WC side, thoughts?

    Guaita
    Trent - Taylor - Vinagre
    Salah - KdB - Son - Foden - Podence
    Werner - DCL

    Forster - Konsa - Ferguson - Brewster

    Could do Salah & Foden to Sterling & Pereira/Grealish. Not too sure about defence but only really like Ake & Saiss in 5-6.5m range

    1. Kuzser
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Like it very much

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

      Son to Rodriguez and spend cash in defence?

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Want Son

    3. HVT
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Vinaigrette out of flavour?

    4. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Looks good, no Manu?

      1. Coys96
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Dont fancy atm

  10. xHaTr
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Thoughts on WC?

    Martinez
    TAA Saiss Taylor
    Salah KDB James Podence
    DCL Jesus Jimenez

    Steer Lamptey Reed Mitchell

    1. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Prefer Werner to Jesus for WBA but Jesus after. Can see a Werner hat-trick

      Rest looks good. Dont expect much with Martinez - maybe get Vinagre if Marcel injury is bad

    2. Pep fraudiola
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Would potentially have Bamford instead of jesus, and upgrade Reed to son.
      Always good to spread assets from different clubs

      However good luck choosing the player to drop each week from that front 7

      I couldn't criticise anything else though

    3. Flynny
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Lovely

  11. Pep fraudiola
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    This game is so frustrating,

    Last week spurs were all over the place, drop all (thankfully not son) they then score 5

    Seeing people on here taking out united assets this week, all I would say is don't be so fast and maybe sit a bit longer

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Greenwood as my 7.4% differentiator

    2. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Spurs weren't great, Southampton were just shite.

      Expect Newcastle to park the bus hard like last season, can see Spurs struggling again.

    3. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      The blame is with Ralph H. Palace destroyed their high line without finishing their chances and he was dumb enough to persist with it against a team that had soneone who could finish

  12. afs2239
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    1)Bruno to KDB for a hit?
    2)What to do with werner

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      1. Your call. Long term KDB will outscore Bruno. Next week you might be bitten by Bruno.
      Keep Werner for WBA surely.

  13. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Would you use 2 precious FTs on the two idiots suspended to 03 Oct and 17 Oct respectively? There is a lot I don't like about this lot. But don't want to WC yet. Such a headache.

    McCarthy Steer
    TAA Doherty Justin Mitchell Egan*
    Auba Mane Son ASM Bissouma*
    Werner Adams Mitro

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      No chance sort out your 11

  14. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    please rate this WC team

    Guaita Steer
    Digne Justin Saïss Taylor Ferguson
    KDB Sterling Salah Podence Burke
    Jimi DCL Mitro
    0.3 itb

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

      Like it!

  15. Drip Doctor
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Jesus vs Werner is a tough one.

    Chelsea without creativity, but coming up against a wba side who have shipped 8 and a Southampton side who have a suicidal high line which both Zaha and Son have profited from.

    City are city, still creating chances at will but have a tougher two tricky games either side of Leeds. Jesus looked sharp.

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

      If Jesus doesn’t score at the end then no one here considers him. S

      1. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Anyone who watched the game would consider him.

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

          That’s why I own him.

  16. AD2110
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Podence nailed? Or likely to play 60-70 mins every week

    1. KDB4PREZ
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Seems likely to play a lot this season imo but hard to get 90 every week with rotation in that spot

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

      1/2 bad performances and may get dropped

    3. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Playing 60-70 mins each week is basically nailed

    4. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Semedo comes in. Traore will take one of those spots. There will be rotation.

    5. Coys96
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

  17. KDB4PREZ
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Jesus&Podence
    B) Jimmy&Foden

    1. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B and it's not even close

    2. Pukkipartyy
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

  18. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    "majority" of orient players have coronavirus? sounding like a rare day off for spurs tomorrow then.

    1. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      and they will be a bye to the next round out of it as well.

  19. FPL_Hazards
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Podence or Foden?

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Foden rotation risk but in that team could decent at 6.5

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Foden. Worth the benching risk for the decent points when he does play.

  20. afs2239
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I need to make a lot of transfers should i use wc or it worth saving it

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Depends on who you have

      1. afs2239
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Mccarthy ramsdale
        Coleman dier ayling justin holding
        Rodriguez salah son bruno Djenepo
        Laca werner brewster

        1. Concrete
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          Okay for this week imo

  21. Concrete
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Doherty to

    A Digne
    B Saiss (have Vinagre)
    C Keep

  22. FPLMACKEM
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A simple yes or no.

    Is ASM > Podence worth a -4?

    *I could play Burke (H) V Leeds but ASM will drop and Podence will rise in value. A potential 0.2 swing.

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

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

      Big yes from me

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

        Big yes? Is -4 worth that potential 0.2 value swing?

  23. ooooo
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA Davies Justin Holding
    Salah Auba ASM Havertz
    Werner Martial

    4.0 Taylor Bissouma Davis

    Was thinking of WC but holding off for now. Who's the biggest priority to move out here?

  24. tristanabc
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    WC team, v. light at the back given I think there's much more value elsewhere this season. Thoughts?

    Martinez Steer
    Saiss Lamptey Taylor Vinagre Mitchell
    Salah KDB Sterling Roddy Anguissa
    Jiminez DCL Wood

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Too early to dismiss TAA, Robbo etc

  25. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I thought yesterday was bad for me but hoped that I would get at least 1-2 points from Egan.
    But that bloody troll got a red card.

    Thought about holding my wc, but shall I release it now?
    McCarthy* (Button)
    TAA Justin Taylor (Douglas* Egan**)
    Auba* Salah Bruno ASM* Souchek*
    Werner DCL (Brewster)

    1) WC
    2) Auba Asm-> KdB/Sterling Podence for -4
    3) Auba Brewster-> Jiménez Zaha for -4
    4) Auba ASM-> Son Zaha for -4

  26. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Auba, JWP > KDB, Foden

    Good use of 2FT?

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes looks v good

    2. Hansel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes!

  27. C0YS
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which defender do you think is going to get the least amount of points come the end of the season?

    A) James
    B) Justin
    C) Saiss
    D) Digne

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

    2. Tonyawesome69
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Justin

    3. F4L
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Doesn't matter, none of those are season keepers. Just pick who you think will get the most in the short run.

    4. Paul Psychic Octopus
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

  28. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Would you wildcard this team:

    McCarthy 4m
    TAA Justin Doherty KWP Mitchell
    Auba JRod Son ASM Bissouma
    Vardy Adams Werner

    Opinions appreciated!

  29. Hansel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    A) Adams -> DCL (-4)
    B) ASM -> Foden (-4)
    C) Adams, ASM -> DCL, Podence (-8)
    D) None

    1. Concrete
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B

      DcL tempting but Palace away means can wait.unless looking at price rises

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Keep adams imo

  30. Robbie Slater
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Should I WC this?

    McCarthy Ryan
    TAA Davies Taylor Justin Lewis
    Salah Auba Traore ASM Bissouma
    Werner Martial Brewster

    0FT