Scout Notes

The Arsenal players on the radar for Blank Gameweek 18 after West Brom win

West Bromwich Albion 0-4 Arsenal

  • Goals: Alexandre Lacazette (£8.2m) x2, Kieran Tierney (£5.5m), Bukayo Saka (£5.3m)
  • Assists: Emile Smith Rowe (£4.4m) x2, Rob Holding (£4.5m), Tierney
  • Bonus: Tierney x3, Lacazette x2, Holding x1

Arsenal brushed aside a hapless West Brom side that has now scored just once while conceding 13 times in the four league matches since Sam Allardyce took charge.

That keeps Baggies assets the wrong side of pointless, in so many senses, while Arsenal stars offer intriguing Fantasy possibilities in both the short and medium-term.

Lacca Boom

Gameweek 18’s seven fixtures are tempting managers to consider using their Free Hit chip, with the Gunners’ home match against Crystal Palace catching the eye.

The north London side have won three games on the bounce now, although their south London rivals are likely to show considerably more resistance than West Brom, having taken four points from the last six available, conceding just once along the way.

Alexandre Lacazette (£8.2m), who scored twice in four second-half minutes on Saturday, should be a strong bet to be a Free Hit striker for many.

He’s owned by just 4.6% of FPL managers and isn’t feeling huge regular transfer love despite four goals from his last three appearances, one of which was a 24-minute match-winning cameo at Brighton.

Midfield Magic

Instead, the Gameweek 18 money is going on Bukayo Saka (£5.3m), who was outstanding at West Brom, scoring his second goal in three matches.

The midfielder is currently the most-popular transfer in, with 100,000+ new managers.

But like most Arsenal assets, he’s still something of a differential, even if his 7.7% ownership figure is bettered by only Bernd Leno (£4.9m and 8.3%) among his team-mates.

Saka is providing a lot of bang for relatively little buck, with 27 points over the last three Gameweeks.

And so is Emile Smith Rowe (£4.4m), who set up two goals against the Baggies and is shaping up to be a team talisman.

He’s started the last three matches, producing three assists and helping the Gunners to three wins at exactly 6.0 points per match – no midfielder at that bargain bucket price can offer such a return.

For those on the tightest of budgets, Smith Rowe is a tempting prospect if he continues to hold down a starting spot.

Tierney Time

An understandably delighted Mikel Arteta reserved his biggest praise for defender Kieran Tierney (£5.3m), in part simply for being Scottish on a snowy night:

He’s got something special in his blood because we’re all wearing snoods, gloves and hats. He just goes out in his shorts and t-shirt! He is a joy to work with and I’m so happy for him with the goal he scored and everything he’s put in to be better every day towards the team and towards the club.

Tierney ended up with a match-leading four chances created and, with a second straight clean sheet under his belt as well, he produced a bumper 18-point haul for his 5.7% ownership.

The 6.3% on Hector Bellerin (£5.1m) were rather less well served as their man’s first-half booking persuaded Arteta to take him off after 53 minutes.

So while Tierney produced his first double-digit total of the season, the Spaniard brought in zero points.

Centre-half Rob Holding (£4.5m) also made it into double figures, thanks to an assist and one bonus point.

He’s put on over 100,000 new owners over Christmas and his price has moved up a notch as a result, but he’s still relatively cheap for a player who’s currently looking like a reliable starter in an improving backline.

Gunner Be Interesting

Free Hit or not, Arsenal players need monitoring.

After the visit of Palace, their fixtures are a mix of the good (Newcastle at home), the tough (Manchester United, also at home) and the harder to call (Southampton, Wolves and Aston Villa away, Leeds at The Emirates).

But the form of Lacazette, and the cut-price delights of Saka and co, should prompt investment, especially for those in need of a differential or two.

The Gunners could be further boosted by the return to fitness of Thomas Partey (£4.9m), with Arteta providing an injury update post-match:

Well, he hasn’t trained fully with us, but he has done most parts of training in the last few days. He’s feeling good and we will assess him if he needs another two or three sessions to see if he’s 100 per cent available to play [v Newcastle in the FA Cup].

Finding space in the midfield for a player of such quality will need to be achieved without upsetting a side that has clearly found some balance in his extended absence, of course.

As for West Brom, Allardyce continues to play the just-arrived card:

Another game gone by where we learn more about the players we have. We have learned an awful lot about what we can and cannot do.

‘Awful’ is the word and Fantasy managers learned that long ago – the only starter with anything approaching a vaguely significant ownership is keeper Sam Johnstone (£4.5m and 2.4%), who made eight stops against the Gunners to continue leading the way for saves in FPL, with 74.


West Bromwich Albion XI (4-1-4-1): Johnstone; Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanovic (Bartley 66), O’Shea; Sawyers; Diangana (Austin 45), Gallagher, M Phillips (Harper 81), M Pereira; C Robinson. 

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Leno; Tierney, Mari, Holding, Bellerín (Maitland-Niles 54); Xhaka, Ceballos, Smith Rowe (Willock 77); Saka (Willian 71), Aubameyang, Lacazette.


Lessons learned from FPL Gameweek 17

1,142 Comments Post a Comment
  1. as33
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL>Laca for free?
    Martinez
    Dier, Holding, Cancelo, Mitchell
    Son, Bruno, Sterling, Grealish
    Kane, DCL.

    1. The Count of Monte Cristo
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is this a FH18 team?

      If so, I would do it

      1. Black Knights
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I think as he's mentioning it's free, possibly not. In which case i wouldnt bother and would hold the FT for 19 when you could gain more from using it.

        1. The Count of Monte Cristo
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Well inferred. Looking back on it, I don't think that would be a FH team if Mitchell was starting.

          In which case, I would definitley agree with you. Holding the FT to attack GW19 with a DGW-er is the better option.

          Apologies @AS33 for reply before.

          1. as33
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 2 months ago

            Hi, its not FH team, just have FT and thinking what to do next 🙂

  2. Tomsk
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone think -7 for a penalty miss would be a good idea?
    Might make players like Mane, Sterling and Rashford more viable options.

    1. Poetry in motion
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How did you come up with that number

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Its already -7 for midfielders...

    3. Tomsk
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Just think More player would look at Mane if Salah wasn't on pens and surely better if all our teams are not so similar

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

    Lost at the bottom... To free hit or not to free hit? That is still the question, and will be for a while.

    Using my 2FTs, I can get to something like:

    Martinez
    Holding Cancelo
    KDB Bruno Son
    Wilson (who is currently DCL) Watkins

    My concerns include: no Kane, only 8 players, no triple City, only 1 Arsenal... and chips are good for being aggressive, not just getting by...

    FH or no FH ?

    I’m going to BB19 all being well. Got 12 (usually) starting double players, will take out DCL and Holding out for Dallas and Adams/Wood.

    Thanks!

    1. Lazaretti
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      In similar situ 2FT. I will use transfers to bring in players who play 18 and have dbl gw. Then maybe -4 for DGW and use TC (KdB).

      Martinez
      Cancelo - Kilman - Taylor
      KdB - Fernandes - Son
      Wilson

      Also have Salah, Coufal 3x Leeds + Adams. Maybe Salah to Foden/Sterling and upgrade elsewhere. Prob Mane and Liv def for dbl.

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Nice, that looks good.

  4. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Who are you captaining gw19 ?

    1. Poetry in motion
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A lot of time till then, probably Salah.

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Cheers

    2. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      TC Salah most likely

    3. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Probably kevin/Sterling

    4. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bruno

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

      KdB or Bruno or eveN Sterling 1.5m rank so need to do something

  5. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    In GW19 - Son and DCL to KDB and Adams for a hit?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      KDB Rodrigo?

  6. Eleven Hag
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can I get away with no FH?

    McCarthy
    Tierney Dias
    Son Bruno (c) Grealish
    Kane Brewster Wood

    1. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    2. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes, don't use it. Maybe just look to get KDB in with your transfer and you'll be fine.

      1. The Count of Monte Cristo
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This, nice team!

      2. Eleven Hag
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I can do Salah to KDB and then Son to Salah in GW19.
        Do you think it's worth it ?

        1. Bleh
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I’m looking at this same move (see below)

  7. Bleh
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Planning on attacking these next few weeks without using FH. Do these moves justify hits in your opinion?

    GW18 (11 starters):
    Salah, Stephens > KDB, Smith Rowe (-4)

    GW19 (11 doublers):
    Kane, Son, Holding > Vardy, Salah, Dallas (-8)

    1. Eleven Hag
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kane to Vardy and Holding to Dallas for -8 could even out imo?

      1. Bleh
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Potentially, although I wouldn’t be losing any value on Kane so might be worth the punt on Vardy over 2 games?

        I could always look to bring Son back after the Liverpool game. Vardy would have Leeds and Fulham next so would keep him over Kane.

  8. Boz
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any more news on Charlie Taylor?

  9. Werner Bremen
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Kane, Son and Zouma to
    Vardy, KDB and Justin for -8 (GW19)

    1. Bleh
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Don’t want KDB for GW18 too?

  10. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Buying Lacazette is risky. Coming from someone who's owned Gabriel, Bellerin, Holding, Auba and Saka twice this season. I wouldn't be buying him, and would also avoid on a FH, especially with so many other good options from available teams this GW, and other cheap, cheap players at Arsenal. He could score big if/when he starts, and he probably will this gameweek, but it's far from certain, and he's certainly not nailed in general either.

  11. The Count of Monte Cristo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    With only the below 6 playing GW18, 1FT and Kane --> KDB (-4) looking pretty difficult to do, would you say FH18 is the best option?

    R.Dias -- Dier -- Holding
    Bruno -- Son
    Kane

    Bench:

    McCarthy -- Meslier
    Justin -- Coufal
    Salah -- Raphinha -- Soucek
    Bamford -- Adams

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yes FH

  12. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    City’s positional structure vs Chelsea here, note KDB, Gundogan and Cancelo.
    https://mobile.twitter.com/slawekmorawski/status/1345797652441661441
    KDBs average position this game was CF