FPL pre-season lessons: Havertz stars while Saka returns to action

The Scout highlights the main takeaways for managers in Fantasy Premier League from the latest pre-season friendlies.

Kai Havertz (£8.0m) was the standout attacker in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen while Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) emerged from the bench to earn his first minutes of pre-season.

Similarly to the Gunners’ previous match, Havertz started as a left-sided No 8, with Gabriel Jesus (£7.0m) retaining his place as a centre-forward.

Havertz showed his versatility by assisting both the hosts’ opening two goals, scored by Oleksandr Zinchenko (£5.0m) and Leandro Trossard (£7.0m).

Havertz's assist for Trossard's goal

However, the second-half introduction of Saka and Declan Rice (£6.5m), both making their first appearances of the summer following their exertions with England in UEFA EURO 2024, allowed Havertz to regain his role up front after Jesus made way at the break. 

And the German duly justified that switch by scoring his side’s fourth, taking his tally to two goals and two assists in his two summer appearances. 

Taking both form and pre-season fitness into account, there would be no real surprise if Havertz continued as a No 8 for Arsenal's opening match of the season at least, at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Jesus has been equally impressive up front, with three goals and an assist - including the opener against Bayer Leverkusen – indicating he could lead the line in Gameweek 1.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta’s post-match press conference proved encouraging for managers who are considering Saka for their opening squads.

“The season starts in nine days, so they have to be ready,” Arteta told the official club website.

“This is the demand that they have right now, so we will look after them every day they are with us. When we have the ability to give them days off we do, and we give them days off before the Euros. We have given them the rest that they needed.”

When asked if he would ease Saka and Rice back into action, Arteta revealed what the players say will have a major bearing on his decisions.

“They will tell us!" he said. "You throw them in and we will see how they deal with everybody. But they certainly want to be involved.”

All eyes will be on Arsenal’s final pre-season line-up on Sunday, then, when they take on French side Lyon at Emirates Stadium. 

Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli’s (£7.0m) battle for the left-wing role could also offer a mid-price route into the Gunners’ attack over the opening weeks of the season. The Belgian seems to have seized his opportunity with his first strike of pre-season on Wednesday night, playing over 80 minutes before being replaced by his rival.

At the back, meanwhile, it was good news for owners of David Raya (£5.5m) and William Saliba (£6.0m), the most-owned goalkeeper and defender in Fantasy. Both were named in the starting XI in their first outings of the summer.