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Fantasy Football Week 1: Who to pick for Arsenal fixture?

By James Fudge

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Pedro of Chelsea holds off Leroy Sane of Manchester City during the FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Pedro of Chelsea holds off Leroy Sane of Manchester City during the FA Community Shield between Manchester City and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
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The time has come when football fans rush to their phones or laptops to check their fantasy football teams or make a last minute swap. Making sure they have the right formula to triumph in this year’s edition.

With the transfer deadline ending prior to the season starting, participants have a pretty good idea who will be in their starting eleven throughout the opening month, at least.

Friday has now become the new football night with a takeaway and a few alcoholic beverages to potentially watch your favourite team. Unfortunately, it is the red side of Manchester that has been chosen to set this season’s fireworks alight.

As a result, the deadline for the Premier League’s fantasy football is 19:00 UK time today, so make sure your team has been finalised prior to this evening’s kick-off.

Manchester City play Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, in a fixture where it is good enough to be the highlight of any weekend, let alone the season opener. The Cityzens will know it will be a tricky opener as nothing is yet known of Unai Emery’s Arsenal side; a potentially different prospect to the one under Arsene Wenger.

I predict goals in this game for both sides and there is only man who I trust to hit the back of the net. Sergio Aguero is my number one pick and valued at £11million, a sizeable chunk worthy of taking up my £100 million budget.

The Argentine forward started the Community Shield and I expect him to do so against Arsenal. He looked hungry against Chelsea and the forward took his chances well, even though he could have had a couple more goals to his name, the striker earned his starting position on Sunday.

Another player who impressed but not a first-team starter is Phil Foden. You may think I am taking an increased chance with this one, however, Pep Guardiola has stated in his press conferences that the Englishman is ready for the first team and will get chances.

I predict Kevin De Bruyne will be on the bench and will likely replace the 18-year old with a sizeable chunk of the second half left to play. Plenty of enough time on the pitch to create chances, and hopefully assists, that will profit not only my FF team but also the club’s start to their title defence.

His value at £5.0 million impacted the decision in favour of another strong choice, Bernardo Silva, with the Portuguese international missing out on selection this week.

When we last met the red of North London on 1 March following the Carabao Cup win over the same team, one player particularly impressed. He set up one and scored another and played a big part in blowing Arsenal away in that one-sided first half.

Leroy Sane was faultless in large chunks of that game and I’m predicting the German youngster to repeat the same trick. Emery’s team is not likely to be as open as last season but Sane’s quality is expected to exploit the back four yet again.

Next. Historic title defences do not end well for City. dark

Picking my captain was a tough decision between Aguero and Sane but I had to chose the City highest ever goalscorer, purely on the fact, I expect more goals from him. Goals lead to points, points leads to bragging rights!

My Team: K Schmeichel (Leicester City), V Van Dijk (Liverpool), A Robertson (Liverpool), N Ake (Bournemouth), L Sane (Manchester City), P Foden (Manchester City), R Sessegnon (Fulham), Jahanbakhsh (Brighton), S Aguero (Manchester City), P Emerick-Aubameyang (Arsenal), W Zaha (Crystal Palace).