Dugout Discussion

Dugout Discussion – Middlesbrough vs Arsenal

After Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic managed a single point between them at Old Trafford yesterday, all eyes are on Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal roll up to the Riverside in tonight’s final Gameweek fixture.

Recently shuffled onto the left flank, a run of three matches without a goal has knocked our confidence in the Chilean ahead of the Gunners’ double Gameweeks 36 and 37.

Indeed, only 5.9% have handed Sanchez the armband as he attempts to reclaim his spot as top scoring player in Fantasy Premier League, having been knocked off his perch by Romelu Lukaku at the weekend.

Tonight’s team selection looks to have handed Sanchez a change of role. To everyone’s surprise, Arsene Wenger appears to have set up with a 3-4-2-1 formation or even a 3-4-1-2, with Sanchez perhaps joining Olivier Giroud up front – a concern perhaps for the 91,000+ who sold the Chilean ahead of Gameweek 33.

Tonight’s encounter also gives us the chance to run the rule over the hosts as they prepare for a potentially profitable double Gameweek 34 against Bournemouth and Sunderland.

Both Victor Valdes and Ben Gibson currently sit second for transfers in among keepers and defenders since Saturday’s deadline, though in the four matches under new manager Steve Agnew, Boro have been somewhat hot and cold – keeping two clean sheets and conceding at least three times in the other two.

Valdes misses out this evening with a rib problem sustained at Burnley last time out – an injury kept under wraps until tonight: Brad Guzan claims the keeper’s jersey.

Sitting six points from safety, the Teesside team are in desperate need of wins now. Having failed to score in six of their last eight, though, most will likely steer clear of the hosts’ attack unless they can punish the Gunners this evening.

Mark Mark created the beast. He's now looking to tame it.

4,192 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ziro
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Why is Coq stationed on the left wing? 😆

  2. Les Bleus
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez on for 1 BAP #EveryPointCounts

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      no chance

  3. Old Man
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    I have Sanchez but Sky must be looking at another match. Mom???

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      He deserves it. Done two of the most creative things in the game - the free kick and the set up for Ramsay. Not exactly been a great game. The two Arsenal goals have come from Alexis creativity.

    2. FrankieTheGent
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Scored one made one.
      Who else?

      1. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Nespresso. What else?

    3. Misery Loves Kompany
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Who else? Ox about the only other player who has had a decent game. Sanchez scored one and helped make one, in a 2-1 game that'll be MOTM an awful lot.

  4. Corona Macallan
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Suggest a transfer for next week out of these 2
    A. Pedro to Zaha
    B. Gabbi to Negredo

  5. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Bring on Walcott FFS

  6. FrankieTheGent
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    After GW35 they'll be 2 GWs left and Sanchez will have 4 games.
    Hold tight y'all.

    1. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      This

  7. invertebrate
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Don't bring Walcott on, don't bring Walcott on.

  8. Visionaries
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone getting rid of Sanchez now? So goddam expensive.
    Anyone know if he's likely to get bonus points?

  9. Somalion
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Honestly think Ox and Traore should retrain as sprinters.

    1. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Traore boy is brutal.

      1. Somalion
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Dreadful.

        And that's after years of Barcelona academy training. Honestly think without that he wouldn't be a pro player.

  10. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Views?
    Origi to benteke maybe?

    Jaku(heaton).
    Alonso-bavies-Holgate(pieters, MAGUIRE)
    Alli-hazard-firmino-siggy(tarroll)
    Lukaku-Kane(c)-origi

  11. Torres76
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Alli, Son, King, Zaha, Coutinho

    Can't see me spending the extra and getting Sanchez for Coutinho

  12. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Im a sanchez owner but apart from the freekick that gotta be one of his worst performances

    Agree? Gave the ball away a lot and seems ineffective on the wings

  13. RealSocialDads
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A. Rojo and Townsend
    B. Gibson and Zaha

    Already have Chambers

  14. Magic Bean
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    That just about justified my Sanchez transfer out last week. Not too bad as a non owner

  15. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    #WengerIn

  16. Lawrø
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    @TM, what was the safety score as of last night? 🙂

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      49

      1. Lawrø
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Eek, might scrape it... loads of autosubs though

        1. Lawrø
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Thanks by the way!

  17. EmreCan Hustle
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Ox trying to impress Klopp.

    1. Somalion
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      By showing off his terrible decision making?

  18. We Will Klopp you
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Adama Traore is such a poor footballer, no football brain and perhaps I'd go as far as saying no brain whatsoever with some of the decisions he makes.

    1. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Must have learnt football with Moreno

      1. We Will Klopp you
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        This, both would be beyond useless if they didn't have pace considering that they're useless now

  19. George Sillett
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Lucky for Wenger that Boro are hell bent on being relegated.

  20. Top 210 Club
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Thank you Wally! 6 points for Bailly

    1. vectorman
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      6 points for Negredo and whatever BPS he gets.. Congrats us both and cheers Wally 🙂

  21. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Cmon Gibson... one goal plzzz

  22. Crow
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    We had a few weeks with those late 90+ minute pens and were happy with it... think we set the bar too high no? I don't think I'll sell after that?

  23. tm245
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    A win is a win.

  24. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Lovely, job done with getting 3 points against The Boro, on to Wembley on Sunday now!

  25. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    No chance Sanchez holds onto that bap surely. Lost the ball about a thousand times

    1. Lawrø
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      *checks Mark's team*

      1. Lawrø
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        He'll get all three 😉

  26. Fowler23
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    What's the news on Valdes ?

    1. walkman666
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Check tweets

  27. Jazz!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Aww how cute is Alexis

  28. Margarido
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez owner here.
    Have seen enough.
    Seling this week.

    The Only problem is choosing who to bench.

  29. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Give Alexis a BAP for that!

  30. KingNidge
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Think i'll give Arsenal fan TV a miss tonight