Doubling up on Arsenal’s attack could prove a wise tactic from the very start of 2023/24 Fantasy Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side claimed a convincing 5-0 win over MLS All-Stars on Wednesday, with a host of their regulars all impressing.
Bukayo Saka (£8.5m) again showed why he is both the most-owned midfielder and Arsenal player in Fantasy.
The winger supplied two assists before being replaced at the break, adding to the goal he scored against Nurnberg last week.
Saka's first assist v MLS All-Stars
Sheer @gabrieljesus9 brilliance 🤌 pic.twitter.com/276OLYOpnj
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 20, 2023
Saka has climbed to 52 per cent ownership in Fantasy, second only to the 85 per cent of Erling Haaland (£14.0m).
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Gabriel Jesus (£8.0m) and Leandro Trossard (£7.0m) scored the Gunners’ first two goals, with the latter handed an attacking central midfield role in a 4-1-2-3 formation.
Meanwhile, both Gabriel Martinelli (£8.0m) and Kai Havertz (£7.5m) emerged from the bench to score, while their fellow substitute Martin Odegaard (£8.5m) supplied an assist.
Come for the Ødegaard assist, stay for the Martinelli finish 🤩 pic.twitter.com/HR38q0bV1m
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 20, 2023
Jorginho (£5.5m) also got on the scoresheet, converting a spot-kick after first-choice penalty-taker Saka had been replaced.
Arsenal’s form, combined with their early run of opponents, certainly lends weight to the idea of picking two of their attacking players for the start of the season.
According to the Fixture Difficulty Ratings (FDR), four of their first five matches score only two.
Arsenal’s opening fixtures
| GW | Opp | FDR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NFO (H) | 2 |
| 2 | CRY (A) | 2 |
| 3 | FUL (H) | 2 |
| 4 | MUN (H) | 3 |
| 5 | EVE (A) | 2 |
Elsewhere, Chelsea’s summer signing Christopher Nkunku (£7.5m) scored in his first pre-season outing in a 5-0 win over Wrexham.
The Frenchman was among eight second-half changes made by Mauricio Pochettino in his first match in charge. Nkunku replaced another new arrival, Nicolas Jackson (£7.0m), as the lone forward.
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Having scored 16 goals and supplied a further six assists in the Bundesliga last season, Nkunku’s form over the rest of pre-season will be closely monitored by managers in Fantasy.
Round the goalkeeper and onto the scoresheet! 👌#BluesInTheUSA pic.twitter.com/28nOMZWeGr
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 20, 2023
Like Arsenal, Chelsea have a very favourable early run of opponents, with five of their first eight matches scoring just two in the FDR.
Chelsea’s opening fixtures
| GW | Opp | FDR | GW | Opp | FDR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LIV (H) | 4 | 5 | BOU (A) | 2 |
| 2 | WHU (A) | 3 | 6 | AVL (H) | 3 |
| 3 | LUT (H) | 2 | 7 | FUL (A) | 2 |
| 4 | NFO (H) | 2 | 8 | BUR (A) | 2 |
Left-back Ben Chilwell (£5.5m) also came off the bench to score. He could be the go-to Chelsea defender in Fantasy from the outset, with right-back Reece James (£5.5m) having failed to travel with the squad due to illness.
But it was Ian Maatsen who was the star performer against Wrexham, scoring two goals.
Maatsen was a key player while on loan for Burnley in last season’s Championship, producing four goals and six assists from his left-back berth.
Although the 21-year-old played as a left-winger against Wrexham, it remains to be seen whether he will be part of Pochettino’s plans for the Argentinian's first season at the helm.
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