Brighton FPL Gameweek 7: Arsenal hate Maupay & we know that means…
Derby games are always big events in the Premier League and the rivalry between Crystal Palace and the Albion is one of the biggest. As saw as Selhurst, one Brighton player in particular who loves playing against clubs who hate him is Neal Maupay, and that makes him a hot pick as the Seagulls host Arsenal in FPL gameweek 7.
Maupay has beef with the Gunners going back to his winning goal at the Emirates in December 2019 and even better was to come when Arsenal lost 2-1 at the Amex in the return fixture.
On an extraordinary afternoon, Maupay injured Bernd Leno, scored a last minute winner, ended up being strangled by Mattéo Guendouzi at the final whistle (who has not played for the Gunners since) and then told Arsenal they needed to learn some humility in a post-match interview.
Maupay (£6.5 million) will be out to wind up the Gunners support at the Amex, just as he did the home faithful at Selhurst Park on Monday night when his stoppage time equaliser in Palace 1-1 Brighton ensured that Brighton remained unbeaten on the road so far this season.
The French striker earned nine points for those efforts in gameweek 6, meaning that he has now returned 16 from the last two gameweeks, the second-highest total for forwards in that period.
Maupay also registered two big chances from the Palace game and the 2-1 win over Leicester – only Cristiano Ronaldo (£13.7 million), Jamie Vardy (£10.4 million) and Raul Jimenez (£7.5 million) have more amongst forwards, with three each.
As a result of this form over the past two gameweeks and a decent performance against former club Brentford in the month’s opening fixture, Maupay is one of the leading contenders for the WAB September Player of the Month vote.
However, Maupay is not the only Brighton player that it makes sense for Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers to invest in ahead of Arsenal visiting Sussex.
Pascal Gross (£6.0 million) was third for crossing across the gameweek with 10 attempts, three of which were successful – and that despite the fact he was playing as a central midfielder at Selhurst Park.
Gross is also top for expected assists (xA) across the Brighton team so far this season, as well as being fourth for expected goal involvement (xGI) with 0.79.
At just 0.4 percent owned, Gross could be a great differential heading into the Seagulls’ next two fixtures versus Arsenal and Norwich City – two sides who have hardly been convincing so far.
Leandro Trossard (£6.4 million) could also prove to be a good differential with 1.3 percent ownership as many managers do still not seem to have twigged that Graham Potter is using him as a striker this season whilst FPL have him listed as a midfielder.
Trossard is top for goal attempts throughout the Brighton squad with 12, as well as being second for xGI with 1.09 and top for penalty area touches with 28 – four more than second placed Maupay.
Captain Fantastic
With Liverpool and Manchester City facing each other this weekend, many FPL managers will be looking to the blue of Chelsea when it comes to the captain’s armband.
Whilst Romelu Lukaku (£11.6 million) has failed to return in the last two games, Chelsea’s fixtures take a turn for the better this week.
Lukaku faces a Southampton side who are still waiting for their first win of the season. The Saints have conceded seven goals so far and have only kept two clean sheets.
With Lukaku’s reputation as a flat-track bully, the Belgian looks likely to be the most popular captain pick for gameweek 7.
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