Fantasy Premier League

Pepe can offer early all-round FPL value

By The Scout 2 Aug 2019
Nicolas Pepe, Arsenal

The Scout explains why Arsenal's club-record signing can be a Fantasy gem as one of the new additions to the game

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Now he is finally an Arsenal player, Nicolas Pepe is also available in Fantasy Premier League.

The new club-record signing is one of five new additions to the game and can be included in managers' FPL squads for £9.5m.

And he could be a Fantasy gem in his debut season.

Set to star

The winger enjoyed an outstanding 2018/19 campaign for Lille.

Pepe scored 22 goals and supplied a further 11 assists over his 38 Ligue 1 appearances.

The underlying statistics suggest his all-round contribution can have a major impact on Arsenal.

From his position on the right flank, he averaged a shot every 28.2 minutes last term.

The Ivory Coast international fired 61 shots on target. Among FPL players, only last season's top points scorer, Mohamed Salah (£12.5m), could better that with 64.

Pepe also created 16 big chances, a tally bettered by only two players in FPL and level with Salah.

It is worth bearing in mind, however, that penalties played a big part in Pepe's output.

Nine of his 22 goals came from the spot. But, he won five of those penalties.

Only Wilfried Zaha (£7.0m), with six, won more in FPL in 2018/19.

So even if he does not take them for Arsenal, Pepe's trickery in the opposition box can earn him assists from converted spot-kicks.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) was Arsenal's first-choice penalty-taker last term, scoring four from five.

Does he make your squad?

At a cost of £9.5m, Pepe's potential for both goals and assists is sure to turn the heads of FPL managers.

And his opening run of fixtures could soon make him a must-have midfielder.

In the first 16 Gameweeks, Arsenal face only three of last season's top-six sides.

FPL players added 2 August 2019
Midfielders

Marvelous Nakamba (AVL) £4.5m
Joe Willock (ARS) £5.0m
Reiss Nelson (ARS) £5.5m
Arnaut Danjuma (BOU) £6.0m
Nicolas Pepe (ARS) £9.5m

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