DREAM TEAM managers are counting down the days until the new campaign gets underway.
And to provide a helping hand, The Sun have taken a closer look at each of last season’s top teams in detail.
Arsenal are on today’s menu as Mikel Arteta’s enthralling young side look to go one better in the Premier League, while also making their long-awaited return to the Champions League.
Here, we’ve assembled their best players, bargain options and potential flops.
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BEST PLAYERS
Where to start? Arsenal’s squad is stacked with creative talent and devastating attacking assets.
As you would imagine, the Gunners are extremely popular among Dream Team managers given their opening league fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Fulham.
Bukayo Saka (£6m) is an absolute lock for many bosses, and has already amassed an ownership of 37.2% – it’s not difficult to see why.
The winger would have finished the 2022/23 campaign with 263 points had the new scoring system been implemented last year.
As things stand, he remains Arsenal’s designated penalty-taker and has proven himself almost immune to rotation under Arteta having featured in all 38 league matches last season.
Gabriel Jesus (£5.5m) is a class act when fit but it’s been reported that the Brazilian will miss the first few weeks of the season through injury – so stay clear for now.
Martin Odegaard (£5m) is proving to be a popular pick with an ownership of 22.9%, many gaffers are predicting another standout campaign.
The 24-year-old scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 45 appearances last season and as club captain he’s a nailed-on starter.
Honourable mention must go to Gabriel (£4.5m) who would have produced over 200 points in the new scoring system last season – another outfield asset guaranteed nearly every minute.
POTENTIAL BARGAINS
Is Leandro Trossard (£3m) being overlooked by the fantasy community?
The risks attached are obvious with plenty of competition in the pecking order but he has already shown his worth in north London since his January transfer.
The Belgium international starred in the creative department in particular, providing ten assists in 22 appearances.
He’s started three of Arsenal’s four pre-season friendlies and notched three goals and an assist – a sign of what’s to come?
Only 4% of managers have taken the punt on Trossard at this stage.
It’s fairly risky, but Kai Havertz (£3.5m) has the potential to deliver huge hauls for a fairly low outlay in an Arsenal shirt this season.
The German clearly has an abundance of talent but failed to fulfil his billing in a disjoined Chelsea side when deployed in an unfamiliar centre-forward role.
Now at the Emirates, Havertz could thrive in an attacking midfield role, where he’s scored 32 goals and provided 29 assists during his career.
Early signs look good with the 24-year-old notching goals against Barcelona and MLS All-Stars in pre-season – one to monitor closely.
POTENTIAL FLOPS
It’s not necessarily easy to predict anyone flopping in this Arsenal side, especially given how rampant they were at times last season – but, a bigger squad causes selection question marks.
Mikel Arteta now has an abundance of options in defence, and most are capable of playing in more than one position.
New recruit Jurrien Timber (£3.5m) has played the majority of his career as a central defender, but can play in either full-back role and has done so during pre-season.
It’s a similar story for versatile duo Takehiro Tomiyasu (£2.5m) and Jakub Kiwior (£2.5m).
That could leave Ben White (£4.5m) as a rotation risk.
The England international was brilliant last season but it wouldn’t be a surprise if had to share his minutes with Timber and possibly even William Saliba (£3.5m).
He still looks set for healthy season but there may be better options in his price range.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
