Scout Notes

Lukaku on target as Chelsea assets prosper at Arsenal

We continue our more detailed Scout Notes of the Gameweek 2 action with a look at Arsenal v Chelsea.

ARSENAL 0-2 CHELSEA

  • Goals: Romelu Lukaku (£11.5m), Reece James (£5.5m)
  • Assists: James, Mason Mount (£7.5m)
  • Bonus: James x3, Lukaku x2, Edouard Mendy x1 (£6.0m)

Romelu Lukaku (£11.5m) scored and put in a dominant display as Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 on Sunday.

The Belgian’s man-of-the-match performance earnt rave reviews, while Reece James (£5.5m) – who got the second goal – also impressed as a wing-back in Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-2-1 formation.

LUKAKU OFF THE MARK

Lukaku took just 15 minutes to get off the mark with the opening goal, sweeping home James’ delivery, and was unlucky not to add a second after a superb save from Bernd Leno (£5.0m).

The 28-year-old bullied Arsenal’s defence all afternoon, as he gave Chelsea a focal point up top and the clinical finisher that they have missed.

As a result, he collected two bonus points to return an eight-point Fantasy Premier League (FPL) haul in Gameweek 2.

After just one appearance, Lukaku already features amongst the top forwards for goal attempts, having attempted eight against the Gunners alone:

“What a start for Lukaku. In the beginning he struggled to touch the ball a little bit. Then he was very well integrated. He proved his value for the squad already. He linked really well with Mason Mount and Kai Havertz up front and gave something to the game that we did not have already.” – Thomas Tuchel

Lukaku deservedly grabbed the headlines, but this was a dominant team performance where others impressed, too.

JAMES IMPRESSES

James’ 18-point FPL haul – via a goal, assist, clean sheet and maximum bonus – was the biggest of his career to date.

Overall, he registered 42 final-third touches, more than any other player on the pitch, four goal attempts and two shots in the box, while his advanced role (no. 24 below) stood out, too:

Chelsea’s average position map v Arsenal

It’s now two clean sheets in two matches for Chelsea, though most FPL managers will surely be content to wait until Gameweek 7 before investing, given that their next four fixtures are Liverpool (a), Aston Villa (h), Tottenham Hotspur (a) and Manchester City (h).

ISSUES AT ARSENAL

While Arsenal’s opening day defeat at newly-promoted Brentford was perhaps unexpected, it has to be said that this result was on the cards.

Despite improving after the break, the Gunners 4-2-3-1 set-up looked devoid of width and left too much space for the likes of James to exploit.

However, it’s worth noting that the squad has been hit by Covid and injuries in the opening two weeks.

After the match, Mikel Arteta said:

“I don’t think the club in their history have faced something like this. We have to face the challenge. The league or table is not decided in August. The worst thing you can do is throw in the towel. We certainly are not going to do that. You have to understand the situation we have. We are missing nine players, and it is difficult. It is not just nine players – they are some big, big players.”

Worringly, Kieran Tierney (£5.0m) also limped off after 66 minutes with his side losing.

“They had to limp off. KT had an issue with his quad and Gabi (Martinelli) was cramping.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Arsenal, as their next Premier League game sees them make the trip to reigning champions Manchester City, though their fixtures do improve from Gameweek 4 onwards.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Holding, Mari, Tierney (Tavares 66), Lokonga, Xhaka, Smith Rowe, Saka (Aubameyang 61), Pepe, Martinelli (Balogun 79)

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic (Kante 72), Alonso, Mount (Ziyech 82), Havertz (Werner 90), Lukaku

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM GAMEWEEK 2

FPL Gameweek 2 round-up: Sunday goals, assists, bonus and injuries 4
2,220 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Supersonic Marv'
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Yolo the armband onto Antonio next week?

    1. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      yolo or fomo

      1. Supersonic Marv'
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Give me a break, I've only just learned what yolo means.

    2. JayKay1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Won't end well ;o)

    3. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Could easily

    4. FourLokoLeipzig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Hard to look past him really

  2. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    FPL Price rise site down

    Who's rising and falling??

    1. Alan The Llama
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Benrahma, Antonio, Lukaku and Tsimikas rising.

      1. BrockLanders
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Ta

    2. JayKay1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Is a bit flakey! Benrahma likely up, so gone early on Barnes to Ben myself, but have a FT to burn...

      1. BrockLanders
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I've Gundo and Barnes. Ditch Gundo for Benny right??

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

    White and Barnes to Dier and Benrahma (keep 0.9)

    Si or no ?

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Don't like Dier

      1. Dynamic Duos
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Why not, back to back cs

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Dier straits

    3. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Looks good. Dier a good pick IMO

  4. S.Kuqi
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Plp buying Lukaku already. Madness.

  5. Harper (No more Penandes)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Is Benrahma safe with Algeria possibly being added to the red list? Would Moyes use the FIFA rules to prevent it?

    1. JayKay1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Doesn't matter, I'll bank £0.2m between now and GW5... Sometimes you just have to bank the money, and I've got a FT to burn...

      1. Harper (No more Penandes)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I don't see how catching price rises would be more important than him missing a game

        1. Harper (No more Penandes)
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 7 months ago

          But I guess you own him already, I'm asking about bringing him in

  6. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    What would you do here? 0 ITB 2 FTs

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Ayling
    Salah Bruno Mahrez Buendia Benrahma
    Ings Antonio(C)

    Steele Livramento Tsimikas Scarlett

    1. RamboRN
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Lose mahrez then roll 1 ft

    2. Lord of Ings
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Mahrez+Buendia to raphinha+Greenwood.

    3. CC22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I’m on very similar! Only differences are I have Amartey over Livramento and Raphinha over Buendia.

      Mahrez out feels the smartest move but not sure where to go - quite tempted by a Spurs attacker so either find money for Son (if fit) or possibly Alli.

  7. Uns95
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Shaw + Toney > Antonio + Dier?

    Current team:
    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Livramento
    Son Bruno Salah Raphina Benrahma
    Toney Ings

    Steele Tsimikas Perica Manquillo

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Nah

    2. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Nah. Your defence to weak if u do that.

      1. Uns95
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Fair - might just bank the transfer then and do Ings > DCL after this gameweek assuming no issue during int. break

  8. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    G2G?

    Coufal taa shaw
    Salah bruno barnes raphinha benrahma
    Ings Antonio(c)

    Foster ayling tsimikas perica

    1. RamboRN
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah looks good

  9. All about the galacticos
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    I'm liking the price surges to break templates, Lukaka could be 12m+ by gw7.
    It's only monday, surely be 11.7 by end of this week?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Doubt it

  10. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    A. Greenwood

    B. DCL

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. Kane Train
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I have Greenwood been great. But prefer DCL. All depends on the rest of your team though

      1. Tcheco
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Sanchez
        Mings Shaw Tsimi
        Bruno Salah Benrahma Gray
        Toney Antonio Ings
        Bissouma white Amartey

    3. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Greenwood this week. DCL longterm from gw4 on

  11. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Front 3 all playing at 15:00 on Saturday, can’t wait!

    Ings (Brentford H)
    Antonio (Crystal Palace H)
    Wilson (Southampton H)

    Hopefully goals galore!

  12. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Would you;-
    A)Keep Barnes
    B)Sell for a hit

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Not for a hit

    2. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

  13. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Price rises is wrecking rolling the FT

  14. On The Up
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    In the last 30 10,000 people have done Barnes to Benrahma

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Mad

  15. RamboRN
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Best 5.5m or less bench warming mid ? Was going for esr but don't like arsenal and scared of his potential price drop.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Gray

  16. Manani
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    best 4.5m defender?

    will be replacing Digne

    1. Pep's Money Laundry
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Coady or one of the Spurs 4.5's

    2. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Spurs defender

  17. Our Tiny Windows
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Soucek to Benrama seems sensible then?

    1. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yea long term. Wouldn’t be surprised if Soucek returns though

  18. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Hey fam!

    A. Raphinha
    B. Alli

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        A

    2. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B

    3. Il Capitano
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

    4. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

    5. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      A

  19. Pep's Money Laundry
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Every time I think I've resisted the urge to get Lukaku in, I still go back to him. Opinions on this move?

    Ings, Toney & Jota to Lukaku, Dennis & Doucoure

    Or should I stick to my original plan of upgrading Toney to DCL using my 2FT's

    1. RamboRN
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I think toney to dcl would be best depending on other transfer.

      1. Pep's Money Laundry
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        I will most likely downgrade Shaw to Livramento otherwise it will be Jota to Gross

    2. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I couldn't make a 2FT or even mini wildcard work. So I pushed the nuclear WC option

  20. Mind över Mata
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Toney and Brownhill -> Dennis and Benrahma

    Yes, no, or wait?

    1. All about the galacticos
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      yes if free

  21. dunas_dog
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Using 2 free transfers I can switch to this formation ( Toney Brownhill to Scarlett Benrahma) with cash in bank for Ings to DCL next week. Good moves or am I leaving bench too weak and give Toney one more week and do planned move Tsimikas to Livramento?

    A Move to Benrahma Scarlett as below
    B Do Tsimikas to Livramento giving Toney another game and have 2 free transfers into international break

    Sanchez
    TAA Coufal Shaw
    Salah Bruno Greenwood Raphinha Benrahma
    Ings Antonio

    Foster Ayling Tsimikas Scarlett

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Do those moves and you have the best possible team right now, god I am jealous

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Thanks!

  22. chelseabrad
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    2ft and .5 itb, thinking about taking Barnes and Buendia out (who both look like theyll be dropping) to benrahma & raphinha, yay or nay? Or just 1 not the other? Would also like to change bachmann but what do you reckon?

    Bachmann
    Trent AWB Coufal
    Salah Bruno Barnes Buendia
    Antonio Ings Toney

    (Foster Tsim Veltman Cornhill)

    Cheers

  23. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Have hit WC early. Salah is on autocap this season...

    Raya
    Dier VVD TAA
    Salah(C) Fernandes Dallas Greenwood Benrahma
    Bambi Ings

    Foster Duffy Livramento Dennis

    1. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Dallas > Gray

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Why Gray?

    2. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Why play it so early?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Felt like it.

  24. Buck The Trent
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Got trashed in my ML due to no Antonio 🙁

    2FT, what would you do then ?

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Dier (Livamento Tsimi)
    Salah Bruno Greenwood Mahrez Benrahma
    Ings Toney (4.5)

    A Ings to Antonio & roll the other FT
    B Toney to Antonio Mahrez to ?? (7.9 max)

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B

    2. chelseabrad
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B

    3. bozankrkic
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      B

  25. chelseabrad
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Barnes to Raphinha for free?

    1. WVA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Yep

  26. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Is Buendia to Benny the best transfer or better to swap one of Wilson/Ings to Antonio.
    Can do both for free?
    Assume there will be quite an Ings exodus after gw3 anyway

  27. FPL Brains
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    How is everyone anticipating price swings? FPLStats or something else?

    Separately, what's the likelihood of Buendia dropping in price tonight? He's at -100.5 on FPLStats now.

  28. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    0ITB 2FT

    Sanchez
    TAA Shaw Ayling
    Bruno Salah Raphinha Barnes
    Ings Antonio Wilson

    Steele - Gilmour Tsimikas White*

    Jump on the Rahma wagon? FT would be spent shifting White/Tsim otherwise.

  29. Aye
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Which 4.5m spurs defender is most nailed?

    1. FPL Brains
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      Tang surely?

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 7 months ago

        Yep

  30. Kryptonite666
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 7 months ago

    Mahrez to Benrahma is a no brainer then ? Benny bandwagon

    1. Hangman Page
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 7 months ago

      I am looking at that move but its very dull.