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. The FPL Units
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    ASM => Podence/Neto/Klich/Costa/Ceballos/Harrison?

    or

    Davies => Saiss?

    1. Alexis Nonsense
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Depends on how you could field your squad

      If Saiss means you can bench ASM I think he's the most value of them with the fixture run they have

    2. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Podence

      1. OneArseneWenger32
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        with semedo..adama could move further forward and podence dropped..unlikely with podence's output thus far though

  2. HD7
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any update on the ASM injury? Any chance he plays in GW3?

  3. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What do you think about my team ?

    Ryan, Button
    TAA, Dallas, Justin, Struijk, Ferguson
    Salah, Sterling, JRod, Zaha, Son
    Werner, Mitrović, Wickham

  4. jimmy6363
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Zaha or Hamez given fixtures and saving with Zaha?

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

      Zaha

  5. Corona is not good 4 U
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Will Gomez (LIV) play next game week? Thank you!

  6. Snevitz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    If TAA scores 215 points this season that will be 28.7 points per £1m.
    Defenders on my short-list who could beat this are:

    Saiss 160 points giving 32.0 ppm
    Ake 170 points giving 30.9 ppm
    Laporte 180 points giving 30.0 ppm
    Castagne 160 points giving 29.1ppm
    James 145 points giving 29.0 ppm
    Lamptey 130 points giving 28.9 ppm

    Does that make these defenders better, or at least similar options?

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Too small of a sample size to be honest

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

      Problem is, you'll play TAA every game and get his 215 points. With the other defenders, you may get those points in tough fixtures where you've benched them.

      There are a lot of good defender options and it's only going to get better with Samedo and Reguillon. I don't think TAA is essential but he will be very good value.

  7. BenDavies
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Fellas are we thinking De Bruyne or Werner (C) this weekend? Or perhaps someone else.....

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

      Kane

      1. BenDavies
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Shades of Kane's blank against Cardiff come to mind

    2. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sterling

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

      Son, hoping for three weeks in a row with hat trick captains 😉

  8. AF90
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    ASM likely to drop tonight so ASM -> Podence -4?

    1. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      why not..podence could raise before gw 3 as well so a net 0.2 team value

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

    How do i check my predicted rank please

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      livefpl.net

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

        Thanks

  10. Puyol Pants Up
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Whats more of priority?

    Selling Auba to KDB? Or getting rid of ASM to Podence?

    1. Viper
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Auba - > KDB purely because of the upside. Podence won't be bringing home any hauls

    2. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      -4 for both

  11. enrico.palazzo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any reason not to do Auba > KDB? 2 FT so will hold the other for the time being

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

      Wouldn't be surprised if Auba scores vs. Liverpool. That being said I'll likely be doing that transfer.

  12. Joyce1998
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    rmt

    hows this looking for next gw?

    mccarthy
    taa, saiss, taylor
    salah (c), KDB, bruno, klich
    DCL, jimmy, wilson

    steer, alzate, mitchell, justin

  13. Scout15
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Any thoughts on what to do if own both Auba and Vardy? Though fixture ahead, but after that could be a great one...
    Pretty satisfied with my score so far and wouldn't like to rush with the decision to get rid of any of them.

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Auba out for KDB. Keep Vardy

      1. Scout15
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I was leaning to that. The only thing that bothers me is that Sheffield game Auba has ahead of him

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

      Auba needs to go, such a FPL troll. He has no good run of fixtures also, 16-20 might be a trap, only 32-35 is decent.

      1. Scout15
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        I tend to agree, but that usually means that he will score a hattrick in the near future.
        My bet would be Sheffield at home. 🙂

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

          Nah, Sheffield's defence is solid. They are actually one of the few teams who could actually defend now.

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

    Pick 1 please... I already own Jimi and DCL

    1: Zaha
    2: James Rod
    3. Podence

    Thanks

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      2

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

      4. Barnes

    3. Hospital Pass
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      2

  15. stat sifter 888888
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Martial to Jesus thoughts?

    Apologies if anyone has read my other transfer queries before, only got one ft and very indecisive this week.

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Incredibly kneejerky. Keep faith with Martial for at least another week.

  16. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So many good options will be available at 0.1 to 0.2m cheaper before/when they explode, the price losses due to patience can be made back with points

    These wild price swings aren't that problematic when you consider the quality of the dropping players and temporary factors which led to their blanks or absence... As GW2 illustrated in full force

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes the price market is all over the place and I honestly wouldn't worry about it. Son dropping despite his amazing run of fixtures was a bit silly. As you say the players dropping are class. Ings and Son best examples.

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

        Mane made me chuckle

    2. PastaFasul
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Agreed...as my patience with Son and holding off ManU attackers rewarded me this week. Hoping holding Chelsea assets for West Brom will be the same gold.

  17. Ser Davos
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What bodes well for Jimenez is that Jota used to be particularly greedy at times and not pass when he was in a better position. Podence's assist was lovely creativity in contrast

    Doherty didn't tend to provide a great deal of width compared with say Adama too

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

      Yup. They currently have three main goal threats:

      Jim: open play and set pieces

      Saiss + Boly: set pieces

      Good for FPL

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Completely agree.

  18. AF90
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    McCarthy
    TAA, Coady, Mitchell
    Salah, Auba, Son, Rodriguez, ASM
    Werner, Adams

    Steer, Justin, Lascelles, Brewster

    Already made a transfer....

    A) Auba -> KDB -4
    B) ASM -> Podence -4
    C) Both -8

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

    Thoughts on this WC team appreciated ?

    Martinez
    TAA Saiss Taylor
    Salah KDB Son Foden Podence
    Werner DCL

    Steer Mitchell Justin Brewster

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

      Yeah, decent. Jimenez would be nice to squeeze in somehow.

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

        Would you rather have over Werner?

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

          I'm trying to have both so that Werner is a placeholder for Jesus or Martial, but it means dropping Son or Salah.

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

            I could go Rodriguez Jiménez over Son DCL- close call ( and hide when Spurs play Newcastle!)

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

              My WC team has all 4 of those currently, but I am a sucker for value picks.

  20. Viper
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    27 games in the Greek league in 2019/20 - 5 goals, 5 assists

    13 games for Wolves - 1 goal, 3 assists

    The only thing Podence really has going for him right now is fixtures because I'm failing to see too many other reasons.

    Fixtures & he's likely to start, the two perks. Far from prolific though! He is only a 5.5m Midfielder though I suppose

    1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      He's very creative, terrible finisher though. Will probably have a 3-5 PPG average over the next couple weeks, which is good enough for his price.

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Your last paragraph is it really. He’s cheap, mostly nailed and gets in good positions for a good team

    3. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Podence minutes per expected goal involvement = 426 mins so far this season

  21. AppleDunk
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So is Foden nailed now?

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

      no

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      You wouldn't ask if he was.

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

      Thanks guys. Pity, looks delicious for a 6.5 mid

    4. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Mahrez to play next weekend imo vs. Leicester

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

    Final WC decision:

    a. Jesus/Werner + Foden (343 with James/Saiss/Foden first sub)
    b. Brewster + Salah (442 with Brewster first sub)

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      So Salah vs the forward.
      1st sub won't get used enough.

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

        yep, pretty much. I think having a strong first sub might be worth having if going with both Reece James and Foden.

    2. Boberella
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A with Werner

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

        Thanks Bob.

  23. Razmataz
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Is Mitchell going to loose his spot soon? If so do we know when?

  24. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Ok gents, I want to take a value-driven -4. But which one to take?

    A) ASM > Foden or Podence
    B) Soucek > Foden or Podence
    C) Davies > Castagne or Digne
    D) KWP > Castagne or Keane

    1.5itb
    McCarthy
    TAA, Davies*, KWP*, Mitchell
    Salah, KDB, Rodriguez, Soucek*
    Werner, Martial
    (Steer) (Taylor, Brewster, ASM*)

    Cheers

    1. kamdaraji
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Thanks mate

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

      A to either.

      1. Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Cheered TS. You’ve got to think that overall Foden is the higher quality pick over Podence but who really knows!

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

          I like Traore as a pick now that Wolves are signing Samedo at RWB.

  25. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    2 FT below seem like no brainers right?

    auba saintmax > kdb podence

    gets me 0.5 in bank and price rises out of kdb tonight. kind want to go sterling but too early for differential i think.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Sterlings ownership makes him an absolutely worthy differential, the best there is, i'd love to include him, still might, who knows.

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Decent moves yes

    3. OneArseneWenger32
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      seems like too good to be true indeed..but an early sterling hattrick is always on the cards..leeds gw4

  26. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hmmm, Dr. rog has really got me thinking now between these two:

    A) James + Rodriguez

    B) Digne + Foden

    That really is a tricky one for me. Anyone have further opinions? Cheers.

    1. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      very tricky one. slightly leaning towards A just because i have the price rises on those already locked in, but a bit late to the digne party. also pep roulette. James has some easy sideways options, whilst Foden doesnt.
      in any case i have my eye on Pulisic anyway, but in a few game weeks time which again leans me towards JRod as its easier to switch him

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        This makes so much sense! Right, well that settles it for me then i think, thank you kindly mate 🙂

    2. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      JRod probably on pens as well

  27. Dr. Rog
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Some lovely teams forming here

    Martinez/Steer
    ____ ____ Saiss (Lampy, Mitchell)
    Salah KdB Son ____ ____
    ____ Jimmy DCL

    A) Digne James Soucek (Burke) Werner
    B) TAA Digne Foden Podence (Brewdog)
    C) TAA James JRod Podence (Brewdog)

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

      I'm on C but considering going without Salah!

    2. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I'll throw my hat in return 🙂

      Between B & C for me there, much similar to my conundrum after your thoughts on mine haha! Damn it's a hard choice, i am actualyl liking B the more i look at it.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Update: yeah option C hehe

        1. Dr. Rog
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 6 months ago

          meh moving back to B now.

          1. Dr. Rog
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 6 months ago

            and back to C, but with Robbo for more flexibility.

            honestly its all much of a muchness.

            1. Dr. Rog
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 6 months ago

              ok one final combination - what if you went with VVD instead of trent, and then you can have Traore & Foden!
              hows that?

              1. Salah’s Sonnet
                • 12 Years
                3 years, 6 months ago

                Sorry Rog didn’t see this.
                Haha! It’s such a tough decision, which i feel is very much the last decision to be made on WC.

                As for Traore and Foden going with VVD, i do like it, just wish i knew Foden woukd start most games, and just can’t be too sure on Traore either even over these nice fixtures, i think Podence will likely be the sidekick man of the show with Jimi. However, nothing against going with this option at all, could be golden or bust.

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

    A: Salah & Mahrez
    B: KDB & Mane

    Which is the better combo?

  29. Clickzy
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    On WC:

    A) Rodríguez & Zaha

    or

    B) Son & Podence

    1. Dr. Rog
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      B hands down

  30. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Which one of Adams, Mitro, and Wilson to leave for Werner?

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

      Probably Wilson

    2. FPL FAN
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Wilson

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

      Adams by a country mile. At least Mitro and Wilson can score goals.