{"id":1162918,"date":"2026-08-22T11:11:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T11:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1162918\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T11:11:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T11:11:35","slug":"fpl-notes-bruno-g-injury-latest-tzolis-sharp-odegaard-rhythm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1162918\/","title":{"rendered":"FPL notes: Bruno G injury latest, Tzolis sharp + Odegaard \u201crhythm\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kai Havertz<\/strong> (\u00a37.5m), Bukayo Saka<\/strong> (\u00a39.5m) and Martin Odegaard<\/strong> (\u00a36.5m) all scored in the Gameweek 1 curtain-raiser on Friday, as Arsenal coasted to a comfortable 3-0 win over Coventry City.<\/p>\n

Here are our Scout Notes from the game, with stats from our FPL Toolkit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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TZOLIS WATCH<\/p>\n

Christos Tzolis<\/strong> (\u00a36.5m) banked six points for his 25% ownership on Friday, but it could easily have been more.<\/p>\n

In a comfortable night\u2019s work for Arsenal, the Greek winger was directly involved in seven shots (four of his own, three created for others).<\/p>\n

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Above: Arsenal\u2019s leading players for shots in Gameweek 1<\/p>\n

Tzolis, who was one of Arsenal\u2019s standout players in pre-season, was full of industry and invention from the outset.<\/p>\n

Although none of his shots found the back of the net, he did supply an assist when Saka swept home from close range after Coventry \u2018keeper Carl Rushworth<\/strong> (\u00a34.5m) failed to grasp his low cross.<\/p>\n

Tzolis won\u2019t face the Sky Blues every week. However, given the departure of Leandro Trossard and the uncertain future of Gabriel Martinelli<\/strong> (\u00a36.5m), who wasn\u2019t in the matchday squad here, his prospects look positive.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI love that a player who has only been with us a few weeks gets this kind of energy whenever he\u2019s on the ball, and I think he\u2019s earned it. I think the way he has performed the last few games has been phenomenal; what he transmits as a player \u2013 so direct, constantly incisive and wants to make things happen. He has an incredible variety of actions in the last 30 metres to decide and make the right decisions \u2013 even when the spaces are really small. I\u2019m really impressed with him.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta on Christos Tzolis<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

ODEGAARD HAUL, FULL-BACKS ADVANCED<\/p>\n

As for Odegaard, he ran the show for Arsenal and looked equally sharp.<\/p>\n

His performance in the Community Shield last week had hinted at what was ahead. But it felt like he stepped up another level here, with his right-sided partnership with Ben White<\/strong> (\u00a35.5m) and Saka really catching the eye.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the goal. Last season was a big struggle for me. I had too many injuries and a lot of weird situations and bad luck. I could never find a rhythm \u2014 it\u2019s hard when you\u2019re going in and out [of the team], and sometimes you\u2019re playing not 100% fit. It was hard but I feel good now. My body is good, I had a good summer, a good World Cup, a good pre-season and I\u2019m feeling 100% which always helps. I feel great.\u201d \u2013 Martin Odegaard<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Odegaard and White, who assisted the Norwegian\u2019s second-half strike, both earned bonus and 11 points each.<\/p>\n

White took up some really advanced positions, just like Riccardo Calafiori<\/strong> (\u00a35.5m) on the other side. <\/p>\n

Both full-backs banked assists, with the Italians coming from a crisp pass into Havertz after some poor Coventry defending.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s in relation to the opponent\u2019s behaviour, to try to cause them problems so they\u2019re hard for the opponents to handle, they are a big threat in the opponent\u2019s box so we need to use them.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta on his full-backs positioning<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Above: Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori\u2019s touch heatmaps in Gameweek 1<\/p>\n

ARTETA ON BRUNO G<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta made two alterations to his side from last week\u2019s win over Manchester City: Declan Rice<\/strong> (\u00a37.5m) and Saka in for Bruno Guimaraes<\/strong> (\u00a37.0m) and Noni Madueke<\/strong> (\u00a36.5m).<\/p>\n

Guimaraes missed out completely after coming off at half-time in Cardiff with a groin issue.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe expect him not to be out for weeks. Let\u2019s see how he evolves this week \u2013 he wanted to carry on and that\u2019s when you start to understand the character of the player, but I don\u2019t expect that to be a big issue.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta on Bruno Guimaraes<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Despite their truncated pre-seasons, Rice and Saka looked really lively and lasted 67 minutes before they were both handed partial breathers by Arteta.<\/p>\n

Notably, they took all of Arsenal\u2019s corners, with Tzolis not involved.<\/p>\n

Prior to kick-off, new \u00a355m arrival Ezri Konsa<\/strong> (\u00a34.5m) was introduced on the pitch. He now looks set to be in contention for next Monday\u2019s trip to former club Aston Villa.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDepth and quality. Obviously, we were extremely short in the defensive line with the injuries of Wilo [Saliba] and Jurrien [Timber]. We only have four, sometimes five, players in the defensive line, so it was a huge risk to take so we were trying to recruit.\u201d \u2013 Mikel Arteta on Ezri Konsa<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

COVENTRY ERRORS, AWONIYI DEBUT<\/p>\n

In the end, it turned into a bit of a training exercise for Arsenal. However, Coventry\u2019s poor defending certainly didn\u2019t help the visitors.<\/p>\n

Frank Lampard\u2019s men started reasonably well, but Milan van Ewijk<\/strong> (\u00a34.0m) and Rushworth both made costly errors in the first-half, as Arsenal raced into a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe goals we conceded were not great for us.\u201d \u2013 Frank Lampard<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Thankfully, they won\u2019t face Arsenal every week.<\/p>\n

Indeed, Coventry host fellow new boys Hull City next weekend, with heightened interest in that clash for Gameweek 2 Bench Boosters.<\/p>\n

Bobby Thomas<\/strong> (\u00a34.0m) was the busiest of the Coventry defenders on Friday. He was the only player from either side to bank defensive contribution (DefCon) points:<\/p>\n

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Coventry hardly laid a glove on Arsenal, having generated only 0.2 expected goals (xG).<\/p>\n

Jack Rudoni<\/strong> (\u00a35.0m), a late substitute as he returns to full fitness, probably had the visitors\u2019 best opportunity, but his weak header went straight at David Raya<\/strong> (\u00a36.0m).<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ellis Simms<\/strong> (\u00a35.0m) kept his place up top. However, another substitute, Taiwo Awoniyi<\/strong> (\u00a35.5m), caused more problems upon his introduction. You\u2019d assume he\u2019ll be a starter sooner or later.<\/p>\n

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