Pro Pundits
21 October 2022 625 comments
zøphar zøphar
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Throughout the 2022/23 Fantasy Premier League (FPL) season, our stellar team of Pro Pundits, Hall of Famers and guest contributors will be sharing their thoughts and own transfer plans.

Only Premium Members are able to read every single one of these pieces, so sign up today to get full access not just to the editorial content but all of the other benefits, from hundreds of Opta stats to a transfer planner.

Here, seven-time top 10k finisher Zophar compares the FPL appeal of two Arsenal midfielders and reveals his team plans for Gameweek 13.


It’s the last Gameweek of a hectic period, following a fairly low-scoring midweek where the two most prolific sides didn’t play. With only four Gameweeks left until the unlimited transfers of a World Cup break, surely the priority for FPL managers is to now get as many players from Manchester City and Arsenal as possible.

READ MORE: FPL Gameweek 13 team news: Live updates

Gabriel Martinelli vs Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka (£7.9m) has outscored Gabriel Martinelli (£6.9m) over the last four rounds, after a slow start to the season. As pointed out by my friend @UnderstandingF8, a lot of this has to do with Ben White (£4.5m) growing into his right-back role, allowing Saka to take up more central positions while Martinelli has to stay wider due to currently having Takehiro Tomiyasu (£4.2m) on his side rather than Kieran Tierney (£4.8m) or Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.0m).

Let’s have a look at the underlying numbers.

Above: Gameweeks 1-7, Saka left + Martinelli right

Over the first seven Gameweeks, Saka (above left) and Martinelli (above right) posted similar numbers, with 1.65 and 1.64 non-penalty expected goals (NPxG) tallies. The expected assists (xA) numbers were fairly similar too – 1.05 vs 1.24, slightly in Martinelli’s favour.

We discussed Arsenal, Man City, Darwin Nunez (£8.8m) and Wildcard picks in this week’s shorter episode of The FPL Wire. Check it out here.

See you next week!

VIDEO LATEST



625 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Prinzhorn
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Been in doubt about Zaha to Saka for a hit for two to three days. Sticking with the former. Everton fixture could be a big boom for Zaha, I believe in it. If not I'll still get Saka for him next week.

    1. ArseneAllTheWay
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah hold Zaha

    2. dansully3
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ya saka is a must then v forest

    3. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah it's also a move that I could make.

      I think I'm veering away from doing it.

    4. Konstaapeli
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Was pretty sure I'd do Trossard + Zaha/bowen to Foden + Saka for a hit. But only did Trossard to Foden and likely do Saka move next week.

      1. Black Knights
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        OK this is absolutely exactly me too. Looks like we've all gone Trossard to Foden and are going to leave Saka another week.

    5. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Going that way also

  2. ArseneAllTheWay
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone considering Xhaka or Odegaard over Saka (to double up with Martinelli)?

    1. dansully3
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No

    2. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No. Saka definitely worth the extra

  3. TeddiPonza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Transfer plan before WC

    13 Tross to Foden
    14 Bowen to Saka
    15 Mitro to Scamacca
    16 Toney to some punt

    Thoughts?

    1. TeddiPonza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martial in 16 if fit

      1. g40steve
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Martial was on fire & got in early but as usual injured again

  4. g40steve
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WC squad thoughts?

    Alisson,
    Cancelo, Saliba, Gomez,
    Foden, Saka, Martineli, Bowen
    Hauland, Darwin, Toney

    Ward, Zaha, Trippier, Justin

    Worth upgrading Gomez?

    Got probably too strong options if Saka or Darwin get benched!

    1. Ruudy Van
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’d probably downgrade one of your 8mill mids and upgrade Gomez

    2. I Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Too much money on the bench.

    3. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers probably wait for presser news on Saka & Darwin.

      The one i would consider dropping has home games & smashed the last couple?

    4. CABAYE4
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bowen and Darwin to Kane/Salah and 4.5.

  5. Ruudy Van
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    WC13 0.0ITB. Don’t love Kepa so some other options below

    Kepa (Ward)
    Cancelo VVD white trippier botman
    Salah foden saka martinelli andreas
    Haaland Nunez archer

    A) Kepa & Botman
    B) Guita & iversen
    C) Guita & Justin.

    1. g40steve
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Salah strips the budget looking at this?

      D Kepa & Justin

      1. Ruudy Van
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I think VVD sort of does that tbh.

        Could get a 4.5 for him and have an extra 2mill to play with

  6. elcesc
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    FPL friends, I need to get a third defender for GW13 and onwards (0.3 itb 1 FT)

    pope
    dalot dunk trippier
    martinelli mount zaha salah
    mitro haaland kane

    iverson andreas neco emerson

    What would you do?

    A) dunk >> white
    B) salah, dunk >> foden, cancelo (-4)
    C) dunk, mount >> bueno, foden (-4)

    better ideas maybe?

    1. Philosopher's Stones
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Can't we be friends more than just FPL friends, Elcesc?

      1. elcesc
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        sure echoes!
        would you advice taking a hit to get foden and cancelo for salah and dunk this GW?

  7. Teddy10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Chances of Foden price rise tonight?

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Again?

  8. DAZZ
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    A bit concerned not owning Martinelli or any Arsenal for that matter. My current midfield is Zaha Foden Salah Bowen Andreas.

    Would you remove Zaha for Saka/Martinelli? going Martinelli covers myself as his ownership around my rank currently is incredibly high. Sitting 8K. Martinelli returns hurt

    1. ZeBestee
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think Saka > Martinelli

  9. ZeBestee
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Jesus has been playing really well without getting the returns. Could be his gw at last.

    1. I Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm eyeing him up as an alternative to Saka next week.

      1. ZeBestee
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Frustrating to watch if you own tbf. Brought him in this gw but have to admit Saka is better as we speak

    2. Tanaka'd
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Celebrates his hat trick by removing his shirt, gets a yellow and misses Forest (H)

      1. ZeBestee
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would take that.

  10. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on what to do?

    Ward
    Cancelo • Trippier • Botman
    Salah • Bowen • Zaha • Martinelli
    Haaland • Darwin • Mitrovic
    (Pope / Pereira / Emerson / Webster)

    Thinking of Webster -> 4.5m or less defender. Who though?

  11. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Play Zaha (Eve away) or Mount (utd home)?

    Don't hold much hope for either this week.

    Thanks

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Zaha

    2. No Professionals
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Zaha

    3. ZeBestee
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Why not? Zaha played really well in the second half against Wolves, and could see a similar performance against Eve

    4. Bring back Timmy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who are you playing ahead of either of those?

  12. ZimZalabim
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on this WC team ?

    Guaita
    Cancelo Trippier White
    Salah Saka Foden Martinelli
    Haaland Nunez Mitro

    Ward Andreas Neco 4m Fodder

    I have 0.3 itb I can do Mitro to Robbo and switch to a 4-4-2 or keep as is ?

    1. I Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Keep as is. Looks good.

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nice

  13. Coupes
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ward or Pope this week?

  14. tim
    • 16 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Ward
    Trippier Castagne Saliba
    Martinelli Foden Zaha Salah
    Solanke HaalandC Toney

    Pope Guehi Andreas Neco

    Gtg or play Guehi instead of Castagne?

    1. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Really nice team. Probably a coin toss this week between Guehi and Castagne. Similar conundrum myself below.

  15. Deulofail
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Someone run the numbers for me! Alternatively, if you don't have a supercomputer, you should probably just scroll past this post.... unless you're really, really bored like me. Just writing down my options for dead-ending into GW14 and it's getting out of hand. Ta daaa

    A) Foden (BHA) + Saka (NFO) + Foden (lei) + Ward (MCI)
    B) Foden (BHA) + Foden (lei) + Zaha (SOU) + Ramsdale (NFO)
    C) Saka (sou) + Saka (NFO) + Martinelli (NFO) + Ward (MCI)
    D) Saka (sou) + Saka (NFO) + Zaha (SOU) + Ramsdale (NFO)
    E) Mount (MUN) + Mount (bha) + Zaha (SOU) + Ramsdale (NFO) + 4pts
    F) Mount (MUN) + Saka (NFO) + Zaha (SOU) + Ward (MCI) + 4pts

    1. Mirror Man
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I got a stitch half way through reading that

        1. Deulofail
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks for getting halfway

      • circusmonkey
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        B then D second choice.

    2. DannyDrinkVodka
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Darwin too risky now? Firmino or Jesus for Wilson?

      1. Rhys85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Darwin could be a good differential this week.

    3. Rhys85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Benching headache. Play two of the below:

      A. C.Wilson (tot)
      B. Trippier (tot)
      C. Anderson (eve)
      D. Castagne (wol)

      Cheers

      1. tim
        • 16 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A and I guess B

        1. Rhys85
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers

    4. Malkmus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      A'noon all,

      Any thoughts on this WC team? 0.1 ITB.

      Guaita (Ward)
      Cancelo - Trippier - White
      Saka - Martinelli - Mount - Foden
      Haaland - Kane - Darwin

      Subs - Andreas, Andersen, Neco

      Ta!

      1. Rhys85
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I can't see much, if anything wrong with that team. Looks great!

        1. Malkmus
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks !

      2. Sting
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        this is exactly the team i’m trying to get to for next week. would take me 4 transfers.

        great team although you might want a west ham defender over andersen

    5. Al Pacho
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This WC team G2G?

      Guaita
      Cancelo trippier castagne
      Salah foden Zaha martinelli
      Tony mitrovic Haaland

      Bench: Ward Andreas Kilman Neco

    6. Nightf0x
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raya (ward)
      Gomez saliba cancelo (triper guehi)
      Zaha tross salah foden (taverner)
      Haland mitro toney

      Which?

      A) tross to martineli
      B) other transfer, u suggest

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        play Trippier

      2. hylander37
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Same dilemma,tripper v spurs or saliba v soton?

    7. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Klopp on Nunez's tight hamstring: "He had treatment yesterday so we will see."

      https://twitter.com/JamesPearceLFC/status/1583422804133056513

      Surely a doubt/reduced minutes. Not that you'd need many minutes vs. Forest.

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Unless you're Trossard.

        1. Mirror Man
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yes, kick 'em while they are down. I approve of this. Upvote locked in.

          • GENERATION X
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            He got his left back clean sheet lol

        2. Deulofail
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          *moves VC to Trent

        3. FantasyClub
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Salah just became the best captain option this GW

        4. Mambino
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          wonder why he isn't flagged on fpl

        5. hustler7
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Could be good for Salah

      2. TeddiPonza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Better transfer plan scenario?

        A.
        13 Tross to Foden
        14 Bowen to Saka
        15 Mitro to Scamacca
        16 Toney to some punt (maybe Martial if fit)

        B.
        13 Tross to Foden
        14 Bowen to Rash
        15 Mitro to Scamacca
        16 Toney to Darwin/Jesus

        Thanks

        1. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          effectively Bowen to Rashford or Saka next week?

          A

          1. TeddiPonza
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yes but also means better striker option in 16 if B.

            Is Saka NFO che wol better than Rash WHU ful avl?

      3. Annie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Zaha to Saka with one FT or just roll?

        1. thom830g
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Would roll if you have Martinelli

      4. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        International NEWS:

        France and Bayern Munich great Franck Ribery retires

      5. thom830g
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        WC g2g?

        Alisson
        Gomez - Cancelo - Trippier
        Martinelli - Foden - Zaha - Salah
        Mitrovic - Haaland - Toney

        (Ward - Andreas - Trippier - Neco)

      6. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Son to?
        A) Salah
        B) Foden
        C) KDB

        1. Made in Japan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B

      7. torshov_bulls
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'm bringing in Bowen this week. 3 nice homematches next 4. Can't believe people are selling.

      8. Assisting the assister
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Wc still doing me in.
        A. Mount
        B. Zaha
        Thanks all

        1. sk24
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B

        2. Made in Japan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B

      9. sk24
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        To bring in for -4:

        A) Trent
        B) Cancelo

        1) Jesus
        2) Firmino

        1. DannyDrinkVodka
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B2

        2. FantasyClub
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B2

        3. Made in Japan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          B2

      10. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'm tempted to BB...

        Only issue is many of mine playing away.

        I managed to keep the green arrow yesterday. a nice surprise.