Arsenal club-record signing among Fanteam fantasy football tips

The first international break of the season is finally over and with it, domestic football returns. It’s important to make a winning start to fantasy football following the hiatus and in doing so, you could win big on Fanteam.  

We are entering the Weekly Monster with a prize pool of €50,000, but there are only 2777 places available, so be sure to get involved early or risk missing out! 

There are nine games to pick from, and below are our tips for the weekend’s action. 

Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham) - 8.6m 

Jan Vertonghen made just his first Premier League start of the season last time out, playing the full 90 minutes in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. Back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs will hope to land just their second top-flight win of the season ahead of their Champions League return next week. 

The Belgian is set to continue at the heart of the backline alongside compatriot Toby Alderweireld and now that the transfer window has closed, head coach Mauricio Pochettino can focus on the coming months as Spurs aim to kickstart their campaign starting with Saturday’s welcome of Crystal Palace. 

The Eagles have been difficult to break down this season having conceded fewer goals (2) than any other Premier League side this term, but in turn; only Watford (2) have netted fewer goals than Roy Hodgson’s side (3). Spurs have won their last four home league meetings with Palace and haven’t conceded in their last league five encounters against their London counterparts in N17. 

Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal) - 11.4m 

It’s only a matter of time before Nicolas Pepe breaks his Premier League duck having shown glimpses of his potential against Burnley, Liverpool and Tottenham. Arsenal will be looking to make it an unhappy return to Watford for Quique Sanchez Flores on Sunday and as one of two teams yet to win a Premier League match this season, the Hornets will find it easier said than done to beat the Gunners this weekend. 

Watford have conceded eight goals in their four games this season, only two teams have shipped more, and have lost their last three top-flight meetings with Arsenal without netting. Gunners boss Unai Emery may opt to use Pepe on the frontline if he adopts an approach that utilises pace in the final third, but even if the club-record capture starts from the right, he can exploit one of Watford’s statistically calculated WhoScored weaknesses of ‘defending against attacks down the wings’. 

Pepe has completed more dribbles (15) than any other Premier League player this season and if he has the space to run at the Watford backline, then the former Lille man has what it takes to bag his first league goal for his new side. 

Raul Jimenez (Wolves) - 8.2m 

Watford aren’t the only side yet to win a Premier League match this season, with Wolves faltering in their quest to close the gap on the top six. Europa League commitments has stunted their progress, but after the domestic break, Nuno Espirto Santo will hope to oversee a first league victory of the campaign at Chelsea’s expense. 

Only promoted side Norwich (10) have conceded more goals than Chelsea (9) in England’s top tier this term, with the Blues far from solid at the back under Frank Lampard. Indeed, Wolves, and particularly Raul Jimenez, can capitalise upon a leaky backline on Saturday. Six of the Mexican’s eight Wolves goals this term may have come in the Europa League, but then Jimenez has scored in his last two league outings. 

All five of Chelsea’s WhoScored weaknesses are focused on defending and as one of the forwards in your Fanteam side, Jimenez is a more affordable option that promises big points. The 28-year-old netted in Wolves’ two meetings with Chelsea last term, so he is one to add to your XI.