Does Saka price make Odegaard the go-to Arsenal pick?

The Scout on why Gunners captain could be a popular alternative to Saka in opening squads..

The contrasting costs of Bukayo Saka (£10.0m) and Martin Odegaard (£8.5m) could impact how managers invest in Arsenal’s attack in their opening Fantasy Premier League squads.

Saka climbs by £1.5m from the start of 2023/24 after he recorded his second successive 200+ point season. 

Along with Mohamed Salah (£12.5m) and Cole Palmer (£10.5m), the England star is now one of the most expensive midfielders in the game. Added to the massive £15.0m valuation of Erling Haaland, it’s fair to say that managers will need to seek out value to help strike a balance across their squads.

 

Certainly, Saka’s exertions with England in EURO 2024 – where he started all seven of their matches and played 637 minutes – suggest he could be among a host of key Fantasy assets who will be afforded a late return to training by their clubs ahead of the new campaign. 

Odegaard’s lack of international commitments indicates he could be more influential than Saka in the opening Gameweeks if the latter is eased back into action.

Although he was overshadowed by his team-mate in 2023/24 Fantasy, the Norwegian still delivered a respectable 186 points thanks to eight goals and 11 assists. Odegaard is also likely to be on penalties when Saka is not on the pitch.

Other Arsenal options

Elsewhere for the Gunners, Declan Rice’s (£6.5m) form in the second half of last season indicates he could be popular pick in the mid-price midfielder category. He supplied eight of his nine assists, and scored four of his seven goals, from Gameweek 21 onwards. 

At the back, goalkeeper David Raya is unlikely to be popular at his new cost of £5.5m. As shown by Everton’s Jordan Pickford (£5.0m) last season, when he was priced at £4.5m, finding a cut-price No 1 who offers plenty of save points and bonus point potential is the best way to seek out value between the posts.

Raya’s rise also indicates managers should anticipate a jump in cost for Arsenal’s key defenders on the back of their league-high 18 clean sheets in 2023/24.

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