Arsenal FC
Last Season Summary
League ranking: 4th (68 pts)
Points per game (home: away): 1.74: 0.79
Goals scored per game (home: away): 2.05: 1.47
Goals conceded per game (home: away):
Goals conceded per game (home: away):
Number of clean sheets: 13
Top league scorer: Robin Van Persie (18 goals)
Top league assister: Cesc Fabregas (13 assists)
Transfers
In: Gervinho, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Out: Gael Clichy, Denilson, Tom Cruise, Mark Randall, Wellington, Jay-Emmanuel Thomas
Pre-Season Results
4-0 Malaysia XI
1-1 Hangzhou Greentown
2-1 FC Cologne
2-2 Boca Juniors
1-1 New York Red Bulls
Predicted Season Finish: 5th
With Wenger seems increasingly stubborn about his philosophy, the future at Emirates looks gloomy. Lack of critical additions to the squad, coupled with Fabregas and Nasri's desire to leave has elevated fans' frustration for the Gunners' cup drought of six seasons. Their customary Champions League spot could be lost if nothing is done to improve the club's atmosphere.
Defence - 7/10
Much of the problems lie on the mentality of the defenders. The recovery of Vermaelen doesn't help much yet currently.
Midfield - 9/10
The a la Bercolona midfield line houses some of the best stars in the Premier League, but with two most important ace - Fabregas and Nasri - wanting to leave, the line-up for next season remains uncertain. Inadequacy of dirty midfielders is also an element which requires attention.
Attack - 9/10
Van Persie is the king of all when he's fit. Though he may be fragile, the availability of new signing Gervinho will reduced the effect of Van Persie's absence to the minimum.
Fantasy Ace: Robin Van Persie (£12.0m)
Obviously the MVP of the Gunners last season, Van Persie was able to record 157 fantasy points albeit only played for 1770 minutes from a possible figure of 3420. That kind of efficiency the Dutchman provides is just incredible.
The fact that he is so complete as a player - clinical finishing, threatening set pieces, agile speed and clever positioning - makes him the best striker of the league since Thierry Henry's era. I personally need not to think twice to get him when he's fit.
Powerhouse Picks: Samir Nasri (£9.5m), Cesc Fabregas (£12.0m), Gervinho (£9.0m)
Growing steadily over the past few years, Nasri functioned as the key playmaker last season during Fabregas' absence. He is unstoppable when he's on fire, but his price at £9.5m might make him less appealing to fantasy managers.
Priced at a very prohibitive level of £12.0m, Fabregas has been the luxury captain choice for fantasy managers over the past few years. When he's fit he's can be the most productive fantasy player in the game as seen by his points per game figure of 5.1. But on top of that you will need to make sure that he's fit before splashing 12% of your initial budget on him - his playing time per season wanders around 2000 minutes only for the last three years.
Signed from Lille, Gervinho (pix) certainly looks promising during Arsenal's pre-season preparations, receiving good reviews from both the matches against Boca Juniors and NY Red Bulls. At £9.0m he is one of the underpriced players in my opinion - provided he gains the starting position.
Solid Picks: Wojciech Szczesny (£6.0m), Theo Walcott (£9.0m), Jack Wilshere (£6.5m)
Szczesny did his job firmly last season and that has helped him to won Arsenal's #1 position starting spot. Being the cheapest keeper among the teams challenging for the title, he is a pretty reliable source of clean sheet points.
Walcott's price has risen to a not so tempting level, but being a player capable of getting a big bang of points from a single game, getting him at the right time will get you well rewarded.
Dubbed as the future of English football, Wilshere (pix) did his role in the deeper part of the midfield pretty well. Expected to gain more playing time this season, investments on him should be well rewarded.
Worth Scouting: Andrei Arshavin (£9.0m), Thomas Vermaelen (£7.0m), Kieran Gibbs (£5.5m)
Increasingly upset about his lack of playing time, Arshavin will be even unhappy with Gervinho here to steal even more of his playing time. Unlike Walcott, who can be in extreme form at certain times, Arshavin's more consistent fantasy points distribution makes him less appealing than the pacy winger.
Injured for almost one season, Vermaelen's will need to spend some time to regain his football senses, and it is a big risk to spend £7.0m on him despite his attacking prowess.
Thanks to the departure of Clichy, Gibbs is expected to feature as first choice left-back for Arsenal. And being the cheapest starting XI of Arsenal's defence, he has the potential of becoming a cheaper alternative for earning clean sheet points.
No Thanks: Marouane Chamakh (£8.5m)
The Moroccan performed well at the starting stage of last season, but it becomes increasingly difficult for him to get regular games this season with Gervinho around. Your £8.5m can be spent much better elsewhere.
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