FPL Tips: Which African players need to be in your Fantasy Premier League GW1 squad?

Following the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal need a new goalscoring force, and the duo of Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus look set to step into their shoes.

Jesus is the most popular player on the new FPL—he’s currently owned by a remarkable 76.1 percent of gamers—but could Nketiah be a smart pick as well?

Capable of playing as a centre-forward or cutting in from a wide area, he’s cheaper than Jesus—at 7.0—and has a point to prove as he looks to prove he can be Arsenal’s leading man.

Nketiah was also Arsenal’s star man during preseason—scoring five goals—and can hit the ground running given the Gunners’ relatively easy start to the campaign.

Newly announced by Cameroon—and surely with an eye on representing the Indomitable Lions at the World Cup—Mbeumo enjoyed an encouraging maiden season in the Premier League.

As long as Brentford can avoid second-season syndrome, they have the quality and now the experience to kick on, and Mbeumo should build on his 11 goal contributions last term.

He’s shone in preseason—scoring three goals—and can hit the ground running.

Another player who’s impressed during the build-up to the campaign is Zaha, who’s netted four for Crystal Palace as they’ve warmed up for 22-23.

Counting against the 29-year-old, who is entering the last year of his contract, is the Eagles’ difficult start to the season, as they meet Arsenal at home, and both Liverpool and Manchester City away in their opening four games.

However, could this play into Zaha’s hands?

The Ivory Coast wideman often excels on the break, and against teams who will push up and try and impose themselves against the Eagles, he could enjoy considerable space on the counter.

Salah led the Premier League both for goals scored and assists last season, and he remains an absolute ‘must have’ for FPL players.

Some may argue that the Egypt superstar’s form dipped dramatically since the Pharaohs’ defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations final, but it’s surely too soon to write Salah off.

Even without Sadio Mane, he again looked like a lethal presence during the Community Shield, and will yet again terrorise Premier League defences this term.

Everyone’s pretty pessimistic about Leicester City this season, with the Foxes—the only team in Europe’s big five leagues not to have made a transfer—being accused of ‘standing still’.

However, Brendan Rodgers may be quietly confident that—with Wilfred Ndidi and Wesley Fofana returning from injury—they will be stronger than they were last term.

Jamie Vardy was still the Foxes’ leading man last season, netting 15 goals, but at 35, he surely can’t keep maintaining these levels indefinitely.

Could Daka, entering his second season in England, step up and contribute more goals?

A 6.0 price point makes him a cheaper option than some of the other strikers on the game, and if he explodes into action, he could be a valuable differential.

Another 6.0 striker, Awoniyi looks likely to be Nottingham Forest’s best bets for goals this season, and will surely be their focal point during the Premier League campaign.

He scored 15 goals for Union Berlin last season, registering just under a goal every other game, and if he can bring this form to the PL, then his value should skyrocket this season.