FPL Notes: Gabriel Knock, Arteta on Rotation + Rodri’s Fitness

Arsenal and Manchester City were in midweek in Champions League promotion.

Here we look at how they died, the most important talk points and the implications for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Gameweekek 7 and then.

Result

Selection/rotation

Arteta on rotation

Mikel Arteta brought wholesale to the side that defeated Newcastle, although the recording of William Saliba (£ 6.0 million) and Martin Ødegaard (£ 7.9 million) represented the return on recent injury of tribal guests from the first team. Remarkable absence was Declan Rice(6.5m), Jurrien Hout (£ 5.8 million), Bukayo from (£ 9.8 million), Turn (£ 7.5 million) and Riccardo Calafuri (£ 5.7 million), although only the Italian defender could not get along.

It is noticeable that Mikel Arteta, after having built a much larger team with so much force, is happier to rotate his players than last season. Now the Arsenal coach has no trouble resting Saka, Rice and Timber, who were such main pillars of the first team last season.

“Today we decided to change six players, I think it was, because I want everyone to really be involved and felt part of it, and it was great and we also had the feeling that we were physically descended because we played a real intense match in Newcastle a few days ago. Those who came in, they held up the level and that is great.”
– Mikel Arteta on rotation

It is clear that Arteta does not want to see his players fall with the kind of long-term injuries that their title-tilt sustained last season. He wants everyone to be suitable for the long term, which is great news for Arsenal-Fans-but not so much for FPL managers, who might sweat more about line-up announcements in the future.

The above names are at least nicely equipped for Gamweek 7.

Great Martin Odegaard

A player who will regularly appear in that XIS is Ødegaard. Most of the season kept outside by a recurring shoulder injury, it was a frustrating time for the Arsenal captain, but his cameo against Newcastle in Gameweek 6 and his 90 minutes on Wednesday against Olympiacos were excellent. He played a number of sharp steps that cut through the heart of the Greek champions and may have had three assists on another day instead of one. He also had a golden double chance to score, but was first refused by an excellent save and then a final gasp intervention from a coverage defender.

“He has all the license in the world to move forward, Martin, and to play with that freedom and especially to play with that level of threat, not only with the passes, but also the way he took the ball, wore the ball, made runs and arrived in really dangerous areas.

“I think today he has endured three people to score a goal, he should also have scored a goal, so great to have him back, he played a number of very good minutes in Newcastle to help us win the game, and I think he was phenomenal today.
– Mikel Arteta on Martin Ødegaard

At death, an assist for Saka’s goal was the least Ødegaard.

Arteta supports Gyokees

Other positives for Arsenal was a second consecutive Champions League objective for Gabriel Theminies (£ 6.9 million), who then bounced up close Viktor (£ 9.0 million) had beaten the pole when the signing of the summer could have it. The Brazilian was indeed completely open to the goal when Ødegaard Root On another occasion, but again the Swede only had eyes for the goal.

Gyökeres gave the Greek defenders a scorching evening with his physicality and repeats behind the last man. He may not have scored, but the goals will certainly come to easier opponents in the coming weeks – especially since he is not particularly interested in collecting assists.

“What I feel is that he does every game better and better things, and today he was denied a few times on one of the blocks, and then he hit the post, but I think his performance was generally exceptional. Again, his work was really good, and yes, we want him to score goals, but if he doesn’t do that, at least because he does the team,” “”
– Mikel Arteta on Viktor Root

Saka and Eze both looked clear when they came up for the last 17 minutes or so and will definitely start this weekend.

Raya Stellar, Gabriel Concern

Arsenal also continues to look solid in the defense, with Gabriel (£ 6.2 million) and Saliba reunite in the middle, and David Raya (£ 5.6 million) ensure that they held a clean slate with a link of rescues, one of them an attempt in a world class to claw the shot of Daniel Podence from the upper corner. The Spaniard remains a worthy option as a set-and-forget goalkeeper.

The only negative of the night was the enforced replacement of Arsenal’s game week 6 match winner Gabriel, which was replaced by Cristhiane Mosquera (£ 5.4 million) in 75 minutes. Arteta then played it down, but will he be risked on Saturday after missing so much from last season?

“I think he’s going to be fine. He felt something, I think it’s a kick, I am not sure, in the first half, and he was a bit uncomfortable, and he was there against the second half. He could continue, but we decided not to take any risks because he played a lot of games, he also comes from a long -term injury and we have to take care of him.”
– Mikel Arteta on Gabriel Knock

HAAKAND ON AGAIN

Pep Guardiola was not nearly as liberal with his team selection for the journey from Manchester City to Monaco. The Spaniard only changed three players and brought in John Stones (£ 5.5 million), Rod (£ 6.4 million) and Bernardo Silva (£ 6.4 million) instead of Nico Gonzalez (£ 5.9 million), Savin (£ 6.9 million) and Matheus Nunes (£ 5.3 million).

Erling (£ 14.4 million) Haaland -Dingen put over it and scored two excellent goals to let those fantasy managers still do not question him. These are three goals in two Champions League matches to deal with his eight goals in six Premier League matches, and his six goals in two international competitions for Norway. Or 17 goals in 10 games in all competitions.

In reality, Haaland may have had a hat trick and, despite his goals, complained that the city had not earned it to win.

“We did something unnecessary in the second half. We didn’t play well enough, we didn’t deserve to win. We needed more energy. We had to get them more than in the first half, we dominated them much more. [scored the only goal] In the second half and I don’t think it’s good enough. “
– Erling Haaland about the performance of the city

Reijnders and Foden Threaten

In reality, City should have been out of sight in this competition. Both Phil Foot (£ 8.1 million) and Tijjani Reijnders (£ 5.6 million) hit the bar, while Reijnders sent two more shots wide and Nico O’Reilly (£ 4.9 million) forced a save from the keeper in the first half.

Reijnders remains incredible value for his budget price, because he is effectively playing as a second striker and is always present in the team, while Foden has also emerged from the shade and, although more expensive, looks back on his lively best.

“The game was very good in many ways and we will be better with many things and we will be better. We have created a number of great opportunities. We mainly found Phil in the first half and many players really played, really good and we created the opportunities and they defended so deep that it was not expected for the way in which they play.
Pep Guardiola on Phil Foden

However, the defenders turn out to be less convincing. City has only held three clean sheets in nine games in all matches (against Wolves, Man Utd and Huddersfield), so FPL managers who play their joker signs, may think about it twice Gianluigi Donnarumma (£ 5.6 million), Josko Guardiol (£ 5.8 million) or Ruben -Days (5.5 m).

Gvardiol and Nico O’Reilly (£ 4.9 million) produced at least two fantastic assists.

“In the second half we did not win those long balls and we were a bit too open in the middle. That is all I would say we could have done better. But we touch the post, the bar, those actions we have in the last pass for the last action – it was really good.”
– Pep Guardiola about the implementation of the city

Rodrigues

One of the reasons for the constant defensive issues of the city is the suitability of Rod (£ 6.4 million), who missed most of last season with an ACL injury. Last year’s balloon d’Or winner is still being reduced to full fitness and was resulting from the Burnley match in Gameweek 6 due to a knee problem. There was an alarm when he was withdrawn in the second half in Monaco, but Guardiola insisted that it was nothing serious.

“Now he is not injured, but the week before it was so demanding with United, Napoli and especially Arsenal and at the moment he cannot play three games in a week at top level – top intensity, those opponents demand. My feeling is not ready now because he needs time.

“This kind of injury is at least a year and then you have to be patient. Nico [Gonzalez] made an incredible game last game and improves day after day and [Mateo] Difficult[cic] will be quite similar. Tijjani [Reijnders] Can play there and see what happens. ‘
– Pep Guardiola on Rodri Fitness

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