Which Brighton midfielder: Mitoma, Gross or March?
The FPL masses have selected Kaoru Mitoma, with the Japanese international currently sitting in 38.4% of teams. Although I currently have Mitoma in my draft, I can’t see a great deal of difference between the three options.
Pascal Gross was Brighton’s highest scoring midfielder last term & the departure of Alexis MacAllister will not only see him feature more in midfield, but it is probable he’ll also return to designated penalty taker.
Gross had the lowest xG of the three midfielders in this list; however was the only one who comfortably outscored his, whilst he was only one of the trio to be under their xA.
Solly March was superb for Brighton last term and was perhaps the unluckiest of the midfielders when it comes to returns, owners haven’t forgiven the game for their failure to award him a goal in a 2-2 draw at Leeds United.
For me March is the poorest in front of goal of the trio, although this is just eye test feel, I’ve no data to back this one up. He ended last season with an injury as well, often playing through an issue and unless I’ve missed some news, I’m uncertain whether he has the issue going into pre-season.
Atheistically, Mitoma for me is easily the best of the trio, but like March I get the impression he isn’t the best in front of goal. It took Mitoma until the 14th game of the previous campaign to earn his first start for Brighton; however once he was established in the first XI he didn’t look back.
He didn’t end the campaign in great form though, producing just a couple of assists and no goals in his last 11 league matches and there is a case to be made that defences started to work him out. However he ended the campaign with the best points per minute of any Brighton player despite performing below his xG.
Verdict: Mitoma, just.
Bruno vs. Rashford
It was an easy call last season with a massively under priced Marcus Rashford returning over 200 points with 24 goal contributions. This time around though we’ve a real decision on our hands, with Rashford the more expensive of the duo.
Bruno Fernandes comes in at just £8.5m this season, the lowest he has been priced since his debut campaign when he arrived in the 2020 January transfer window. Since then he has been as high as £12.0m and and it’s probable he’ll turn out to be a huge bargain this campaign.
Fernandes has enjoyed stellar FPL campaigns in recent memory, returning a massive 244 points in the 2020-21 season, scoring 18 goals and providing 14 assists. In the last two campaigns he hasn’t got close to these level of returns; however still managed over 150 points in both despite some indifferent performances from his side.
Fernandes narrowly under performed his xGI last term, whilst Rashford massively over performed his and I’ve just a little bit of doubt whether Rashford can reach those numbers he hit last season again. Fernandes is the designated penalty taker for United and should the season start tomorrow I’d go for the Portuguese midfielder ahead of Rashford.
Verdict: Bruno Fernandes
Which Arsenal attacking options?
In my current draft I have two of Arsenal’s attacking options in the form of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, but there is up to four Gunners who can realistically stake a claim for one of your midfield / forward spots.
Whilst I’m intrigued to see how Kai Havertz goes in an Arsenal shirt, he is very much a wait and see for now and I’m not classing him alongside the tried and tested options of Saka, Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard.
Interestingly all three of the midfield options I’m considering massively outperformed their xGI last term, with them all around 16-17, yet producing 23-26 actual returns.
Of the four, Martinelli’s minutes are most at risk with Leandro Trossard are excellent replacement, but the former Brighton man could equally come in for Saka or Jesus up front and it wouldn’t be a huge downgrade.
It appears probable that new signing Havertz will take the vacated midfield role of Granit Xhaka and I just wonder whether this could see Odegaard deployed slightly deeper for the Gunners.
Both are hypothetical situations and I’m just giving a little substance behind my reason for not selecting Martinelli and Odegaard just yet. With around a month till the season starts, this could easily change given their pre-season involvement though.
Verdict: Not sure there is a right answer here, but you’ve got to have at least two of the Gunners attackers
