Scout Notes
26 September 2025 45 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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More midweek action to look back on now as we recap the EFL Cup ties involving Arsenal and Newcastle United.

As ever with these Scout Notes, it’s all about the lessons we can take into the upcoming Gameweek.

RESULTS

TeamOpponentResultGoalsAssists
ArsenalPort Vale (a)2-0 winEze, TrossardLewis-Skelly, Saliba
Newcastle UnitedBradford City (h)4-1 winJoelinton x2, Osula x2Gordon, Bruno G x2, Barnes

SELECTION/ROTATION

TeamNo. of starting XI changes made from GW5Players who kept their places (mins played)Mins for other players
Arsenal9Saliba (90), Merino (71)Kepa (90), Mosquera (90), Lewis-Skelly (90), Norgaard (90), Nwaneri (90), Martinelli (81), Eze (81), White (71), Saka (63), Dowman (27), Gabriel (19), Gyokeres (19), Trossard (9), Rice (9)
Newcastle United7Thiaw (90), Miley (90), Botman (89), Hall (61)Ramsdale (90), Guimaraes (90), Joelinton (90), Osula (90), Gordon (69), Elanga (69), Krafth (61), Trippier (29), Livramento (29), Barnes (21), Woltemade (21), A Murphy (1)

ARTETA ON SUBBING SAKA

Given that he’s just back from injury, it was a bit of a surprise to see Bukayo Saka (ยฃ9.8m) get a decent amount of game-time against a League One side just days before Arsenal head to Newcastle United.

Saka lasted just over an hour at Vale Park, failing to make much of an impression and not registering a single shot – not that anything but avoiding an injury recurrence really mattered in this glorified fitness-building exercise.

He seems to have achieved that, despite being clobbered by a Vale player.

“It was planned – 60 minutes was the maximum. We had four, almost five players already in the line-up that we had to get out for different reasons, especially for load and coming from long periods out, so, we planned for that. The good thing is that nobody got injured, so he has no muscular issues. So that’s a very positive thing again.” – Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka

EZE IN MIDFIELD

There were few meaningful takeaways from this contest, which Arsenal predictably bossed with 80% of the ball.

Mikel Merino (ยฃ5.9m) led the line with Viktor Gyokeres (ยฃ9.0m) rested, while recent supersub Gabriel Martinelli (ยฃ6.9m) got a chance on the left. It’s games like these where the argument that Martinelli is a better ‘finisher’ of games than a starter gains credence.

No one really dominated for the Gunners, with Ethan Nwaneri (ยฃ5.3m) and Eberechi Eze (ยฃ7.5m) perhaps the brightest as ‘eights’. Between them, they had five of Arsenal’s 11 shots. Vale had three, none on target.

Eze had dropped deeper in the second half of the Manchester City game on Sunday and here he was starting in central midfield again, endeavouring to probe from the middle of the park. He bagged his first Arsenal goal, too, when Martinelli’s low ball found its way to him in the eighth minute of Wednesday’s contest.

Substitute Leandro Trossard (ยฃ6.9m) added gloss to the score late on.

“He played very centrally against a team that’s obviously with a 5-4-1; they are a super compact inside. It’s not easy to find spaces, but he’s very capable with the ball. You’ve seen that in another three or four actions that he’s completely through, and playing people through. He still needs a little more time with those guys to understand the timings, especially the things that he needs to do. Then actions like that will be more consistent and better for us. In general, very good – there is still a lot more to give, I think.”

With Merino flopping in the last two matches, would Arteta consider starting Eze in midfield against Newcastle on Sunday? It may depend on the fitness of Martin Odegaard (ยฃ7.9m), who Arteta said earlier this week had recommenced training.

OSULA BAGS A BRACE

Again, not a huge deal we can take out of a contest that Newcastle coasted through. To paraphrase Neville Southall: “Well done, he’s League One.”

The Magpies seem to get through their 4-1 win over Bradford unscathed, with Sven Botman‘s (ยฃ4.9m) late substitution – and the ones that preceded it – not injury-related.

The main lesson from the last week is that, unlike in Newcastle’s previous incursion into the Champions League in 2023/24, when Howe (somewhat enforced through injury) kept running the same players into the ground three times a week, the Magpies boss seems a lot happier to use his squad this time.

There doesn’t seem to be a ‘priority’ competition, either. Bruno Guimaraes (ยฃ6.5m) and Joelinton (ยฃ5.9m) dropping to the bench for the Gameweek 5 draw at Bournemouth, then lasting 90 minutes against a Football League outfit, underscores that.

Joelinton returned to bag a brace here, with Will Osula (ยฃ5.5m) – in for the benched Nick Woltemade (ยฃ7.1m), who Howe is only starting once a week – matching the Brazilian with two goals of his own.

“Slowly but surely, he is improving his game. It wasn’t just his goals tonight; it was his hold-up play, his wing play.

“He’s done his chancesย (of Premier League pitch time)ย no harm.” – Eddie Howe on Will Osula, quoted by nufc.com

Anthony Gordon (ยฃ7.4m) meanwhile came back from a three-match domestic ban and adds to the stiff competition out wide.

defensive contributions
45 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 4 hours ago

    Milenkovic > Gabriel/Tark (-4) or nah?

    1. SpaceCadet
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      No

    2. The FPL Units
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Nah

  2. Price Changes
    rainy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 10 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Price changes 26th September

    Rises:
    Foden 8.1
    Richarlison 6.8
    Doku 6.5
    Reijnders 5.7
    Zubimendi 5.5

    Falls:
    Wood 7.5
    Smith Rowe 5.8
    Hinshelwood 5.2
    Seung soo 4.4
    Arrizabalaga 4.3
    Areola 4.3

    1. JT11fc
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Cheers

      Thought I had 2 risers, seems I hadnt made the transfers....

    2. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Thanks rainy, quickly done.

    3. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Cheers, Rainy

      Wood and Areola. Will leave the joke for others

      1. ColeyHoley
        • 2 Years
        17 hours, 28 mins ago

        The cold affects us all differently.

    4. Amartey Partey
      • 6 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Gabriel still not rising.

    5. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Thanks Rainy + 2
      ๐Ÿ˜‰

    6. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      Cheers, rainy

  3. SpaceCadet
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Bench one

    A. Anderson
    B. Gakpo
    C. Watkins

    1. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      I'd take a -4 to get rid of Watkins!

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        Nah will dump him for free next gw

  4. the dom 1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Would take a - 4 and bring VdV in this GW or just play one of these?

    a. Guehi

    b. Gudmundsson

    Cheers

    1. Sheffield Wednesday
      • 5 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Despite my comment above, avoid taking a -4, particularly for a defender.

      1. the dom 1
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        1 day, 3 hours ago

        Playing Guehi at present

    2. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      B

  5. Heskey Time
    • 11 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Start Rodon or Lacroix this week?

    1. Heskey Time
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      Or Lacroix to Romero or Chalobah for free?

    2. ITS AMAD WORLD
      • 2 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      Gotta be Lacroix. He's got goal threat and he's a defcon daddy.

  6. Tripleh123
    • 5 Years
    1 day, 3 hours ago

    Pick one each:

    A. Sels
    B. Vicario
    C. Petrovic

    1. Ndiaye
    2. Grealish
    3. Dewsbury Hall

    1. the dom 1
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 day, 3 hours ago

      B2

    2. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      B1

    3. Jinswick
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      For this week only - A1
      Longer term - B1

  7. Casual Player
    • 4 Years
    1 day, 2 hours ago

    Those Haaland training pics were enough for me to stop playing chicken with the Watkins price fall just before the price change (which still didn't happen!)

    Gone Palmer/Watkins to KDH/Haaland. Keeping Salah. Probably triple captain the new signing.

    Fairly confident Watkins scores 2 goals this weekend. Which will also be funny because Anderson at Fulham is apparently the only 4.5 DEF any content creator on WC thinks is worth a punt.

    1. ITS AMAD WORLD
      • 2 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      What has Watkins shown that you think he'll suddenly score a brace against Fulham?

      Fulham are no mugs defensively too.

      1. Casual Player
        • 4 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        With Watkins he's been a prolific scorer for 5+ fantasy seasons so I guess I feel that still overrides 5 games.

        And Fulham have been poor for xGC and clean sheets for the last season and a bit.

        1. The Pretender
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          1 day, 50 mins ago

          Fulham have been pretty good for xGC - they have drastically underperformed on actual defense.

    2. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      Can’t over think it Haaland c done.
      TC? Not sure

      1. Casual Player
        • 4 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        I'll wait for pressers for the TC decision.

  8. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 day, 2 hours ago

    A) Diouf -> VDV (bench Rodon)
    B) Wood -> Pedro
    C) Rogers & Watkins -> Foden & Pedro
    D) Save FT

    Sels
    Milenkovic, Porro, Rodon
    Salah, Reijnders, Rogers, KDH
    Haaland, Watkins, Wood

    Dubravka, Diouf, King, Esteve
    Bank 0.3m, 2FTs, all chips

    1. Bggz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      Roll

    2. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      1 day, 2 hours ago

      C

    3. ZimZalabim
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      D

  9. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 8 Years
    1 day, 2 hours ago

    Gabriel or Gvardiol? Raya in goal

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 9 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Gab

  10. ZimZalabim
    • 9 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Thoughts on this WC and future plan

    Pope (Dubravka)
    Tark, Senesi, Vdv (Gabriel,Rodon)
    Semenyo, Foden, Bruno, Reijnders (King)
    Haaland, Gykores, Rich

    Plan would be to roll till Gw9 and then
    GW9 - Haaland and Foden to JP and Salah or Isak and Palmer(if Fit)
    GW10- Rich to Mateta

    Will then look at Haaland in for Gykores and Bruno in Gw12/13

    1. Bad Kompany
      • 7 Years
      1 day, 1 hour ago

      Similar to mine so like it. Plan seems sensible. How sure are you on richarlison? I also am unsure on tarkowski. Defcon monster but think others are close for a lot cheaper (Andersen, palace defenders)

      1. ZimZalabim
        • 9 Years
        1 day, 1 hour ago

        The players im not sure on are Rich, Foden and Tark.

        I want Rich but im wondering if just getting JP now and downgrading Foden to Ndiaye or Doku is the better(safer) play but, I do feel we can bet against Chelsea for the next couple weeks and take advantage of Spus good fixtures for next couple. Im not sure but leaning towards the picks I have atm.

        On Tark its a great entry point but does lock an extra mil, Anderson has poor fixtures next 4 so might get him in for one of Tark or Gabriel down the line but Tark with 3 Home fixtures in the next 4 should be worth it.

        What are you thinking ? and whats ur team looking like ?

    2. The Pretender
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 day, 48 mins ago

      I would play Gabriel this week personally. Like the long term plan!

  11. Bad Kompany
    • 7 Years
    1 day, 1 hour ago

    Is Chalobah nailed? Was thinking of picking him on wc but just heard fofana just returned

  12. New Article
  13. Jigi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    18 hours, 46 mins ago

    Simple one please - which of these for next 2 game weeks:
    a - Foden
    b - Ndiaye
    c - Xavi
    d - Doku

    Thanks