Saturday Dugout Discussion

With an earlier than originally scheduled game at the Emirates about to get under way, the Dugout Discussion opens along with it. It’s a game of significant importance for us fantasy managers where, if our Captain’s Poll is to be believed, 68% have their armband on the seemingly free-scoring Robin van Persie. The good news is that he starts for Arsenal against Blackburn, amid rumours of a potential rest. Here are the full line-ups…

Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, van Persie.

Blackburn XI: Robinson, Lowe, Dann, Givet, Martin Olsson, Hoilett, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Dunn, Pedersen, Modeste.

Again, the headline news is that captain-fantastic Robin van Persie starts for the Gunners, with Francis Coquelin and Tomas Rosicky also starting at the expense of Bacary Sagna and Aaron Ramsey.

The visitors, who beat Arsenal in the reverse fixture this season, still can’t call upon the services of the banned Yakubu, and David Goodwille is only well enough to make the substitutes bench. Anthony Modeste starts upfront.

We’ve then got five 3pm games to look forward to, before ending the day at the Etihad to see if Manchester City can overcome Fulham.

As always, you can follow all the action as it happens in our Dugout Discussion chatroom, which can be accessed right here.