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. Eze Really?
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Good to go or -4 on Valdez?
    Valdez* Jaku
    Valencia Rojo Walker Maguire Yoshida
    Sane DeRoon Sanchez Zaha Alli
    Ibra Kaku Kane
    Doubts on BB now Valdez injured.

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Play Jaku if Valdez doubt, -4 waste.

  2. Winks Club
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    King or Zaha for GW34&GW35?

    1. Winks Club
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      or Townsend

    2. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      King. But ideally both.

      1. Winks Club
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Zaha has three games so was thinking that he might be the better option.

  3. BlueIncognito
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Defoe & Alexis to Zlatan & Firmino/Eriksen? Or any other mid under 8.9- I already have Coutinho and Alli

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

      Eriksen

  4. aleksios
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Llorente to Negredo or Rashford?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Negredo

  5. POGBOOM KEBABOOM
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Which combination looks better?

    A) Gibson Bailley and Zaha
    B) Gibson Bailley and Negredo
    C) Gibson Zaha and Negredo

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

      A

    2. Balance
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      C

  6. KUNingas
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Still dont know should I go for Kane or Ibra...

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Ibraaaaaaaa

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

        Ibra this week, Kane next?

    2. Winks Club
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Ibran ottaisin

    3. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I think Kane will outscore ibra despite dgw. Don't think ibra will start both.

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

        That is what im fearing..

  7. funnyoldgame
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Tempted to get rid of siggy but have a niggling feeling this is the week he'll get decent points. I'm also not convinced too many of the popular attacking dgw players will bring the rewards people are hoping.

    1. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      He has a very poor GW35 so I wouldn't play him anways - that's enough for me to get rid. Sick of him. Palace attackers have a great GW35.

      1. funnyoldgame
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        True. If I get rid this week it would probably be for a Townsend/zaha

        1. Over Midwicket
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          I'm ditching for Townsend. Looks great v Leicester and loves a BAP or two.

          1. funnyoldgame
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Bit of a diff too.

    2. KUNingas
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I got that feeling several weeks, nothing happened..

  8. funnyoldgame
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    You can be sure he'll get a haul the week I get rid, though.

  9. Roy Rovers
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Not happy with King benched. Would you do anything different?

    DDG
    PVA. Gibson. Valencia.
    Saha. Alli. Sane. Eriksen.
    Tekkers. Ibra. Negredo.

    Jak. King. Mcauley. Reid

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

      Looks good

    2. George James
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      King over sane

    3. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I would certainly bench Saha.

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        !!

      2. Rasping Drive
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        What, after his 4 goals against Burnley?

    4. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Do you have AOA chip left?

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        No used it.

        1. Roy Rovers
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          WW. TC & BB left though!!

    5. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      8 DGW players, blimey! Many hits?

      1. Roy Rovers
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Just the - 4.

        1. Rasping Drive
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Well played, I hope it works out for you.

  10. FPLAdmiral
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Treading water between 100-120k rank and could do with some advice chaps!

    1FT, 0m ITB. No WC left!

    (A) Baines > Bailly
    (B) Brunt > Yoshida
    (C) Save
    (D) Other

    Heaton
    Baines, B.Davies, Valencia
    Sanchez, Alli, King, Zaha
    Ibra (c), Kane, Lukaku

    (Jakup)(Snoddy, Brunt, M.Wilson)

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

      Nice team. I'd be more tempted by Baines > Gibson this week

    2. Meltens
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Good squad for the weekend, save and plan för gw36/37. Yoshida can come in next week barring injury/suspension as you wouldn't want to play him this week anyway.

  11. George James
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Who scored more over next 2 GW?

    A) Sanchez (LEI, tot)

    B) Lukaku (whu,CHE)

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

      50/50

    2. George James
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah it's a tough one isn't it. I thought Sanchez was poor last night bar free kick

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

        Yes it is. Sanchez could explode

        1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          So could Lukaku. All this "could" stuff is nonsense. De Roon could score a hattrick, think I'm gonna give him the captaincy?

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

            Haha true. Better changes Sanchez could score hatrick than De Roon though 😉

    3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      B

  12. Emiliano Sala
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Bellerin to rojo or bailly for -4 ?

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

      Bailly

  13. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Would it be madness to get rid of Sanchez (LEI) over Siggy (STK)? Have a WC so will get back Sanchez for 36.

    Sanchez and Arsenal are looking awwwwful whereas Siggy could easily get something v Stoke (then will ditch him for 35), his stats are still good.

    1. George James
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I'm on this

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Waste of a trade imo, unless you are planning to use the extra cash to upgrade somewhere else.

      1. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Would allow Barnes -> Ibra(c) for SUN in GW35 lol.

        1. Over Midwicket
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          SWA rather

          1. Rasping Drive
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            Well, he's one of the stronger choices that week for (c). Why not bring Ibra in this week, though?

    3. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      You just talked down siggy in my post 5 minutes ago. Is doubt setting in with you too 🙂

      1. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I've had a change of heart, maybe Siggy needs one last chance saloon..

        1. funnyoldgame
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Same here. I have bigger issues with llorente still in my team.

      2. Over Midwicket
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Also I'd bench him in 35 in favour of Ibra(c) before WCing in 36

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

    How does this look?

    DDG
    Vertonghen Chambers Naughton
    King Eriksen Alli Coutinho
    Vardy Zlatan Lukaku

    Pickford -- De Roon, Pieters, Kingsley

    1. BlueIncognito
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Possibly swap Zlatan to Kane and Eriksen to Firmino

    2. George James
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      De roon over vardy

  15. IEVGEN87
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    How does it look like? 2FT, 0.5itb, no WC. Willing to take -4:

    Kun+Son+Llorente > Kane+Zaha+Tekkers?!

    Will leave me this squad:
    Valdes (Grant)
    Valencia / Davies / Chambers (Mawson, Yoshi)
    Sanchez / Alli / Siggy / Zaha (De Roon)
    Kane / Kaku / Tekkers

    What do you think?

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

      Not a massive fan of zaha tekkers double up..

  16. Legomane
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Would it bother anyone owning Alli Eriksen Kane and Sanchez for next weeks North London Derby..? That's a lot of attackers in one potentially low scoring match! Currently own all except Kane, and wondering whether or not to pull that trigger...

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

      Instead of Ibra..

    2. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      A low scoring game for Arsenal, perhaps. Spurs look unstoppable at the moment.

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

        Concerned Chelsea's wobble will inspire a Spurs one..

    3. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I have all four plus Walcott and feel uneasy when I see Aguero (mid), King (sun), Gabbiadini (HUL), Ibra / Rashford (SWA), and Coutinho (wat) on the same week.

      I think I would offload one of Sanchez or Walcott this week despite LEI (H).

  17. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Grant*
    Walker Alonso Valencia
    Sanchez Dele Eriksen Coutinho
    Ibra(c) Kaku Benteke

    Jaku DeRoon Robertson Holgate

    What would you change ?
    I was on Grant to Valdes but I recon that I should wait for pressers ?
    (c) Ibra or maybe change to Benteke or SGW player ?

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

      Nice team. Yeah I would just change the keeper when we know more

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

        Thanks 😉 gk would be easy way to Boro here

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

          Similar issue with Davies Alonso Valencia...sqeezing in a boro def is tricky unless I shift Davies to free up a Spurs slot..not sure I could do Heaton > Valdes now...

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

            Yah this Davies mobe is the only I can see in your case

  18. TheTinman
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Jaku
    Alonso Valencia Davies
    Sanchez Siggy Son King
    Aguero Lukaku Carroll

    Pickford Barkley Holebas Amat

    0.4m itb 1FT

    What move should I go for this week?
    A) Davies to Gibson
    B) Aguero to Ibra
    C) Carroll to Negredo
    D) Jaku to Valdez (unlikely now)

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

      C looks pretty good imo

  19. ralfb
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Best alonso replacement?

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Clichy

    2. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I would keep.

      1. ralfb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I could play Williams as replacement I guess and wait a week

  20. Oven Glover
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Baines (5 games left, good fixtures) -> Bailly (7 games left, mixed fixtures) a no brainer?

    I'll of course wait until after the EL game.

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

      Not sure, hesitant over any Utd options at the mo

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

        Badly burned by pool europa last year

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

          Good point. I probably underestimated this EL involvement.

      2. Oven Glover
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Me too. I'm reluctant to do it.

  21. RoLiv
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Help Help Help!!! Whom to bench out of this.
    Current Team:

    Jaku(Wat H)

    Alonso(Sou H) Gibson(Bou A,Sun H) Valencia(Bur A,Manc A)

    Sanchez(Lei H) Zaha(Liv A,Tot H) Coutinho(Cry H) Alli(Cry A)

    Kane(Cry A)© Rashford(Bur A,City A) Lukaku(Whu A)

    Subs: Pickford(Mid A) King(Mid H) Davies(Cry A) Pieters(Swa A)

    1. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Wouldn't want to bench King but you kinda made that decision for yourself by bringing in Rashford.

    2. RoLiv
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yess..Now the only thing I can do is to hope Gibson get a clean sheet against Bournemouth and zaha scores vs spurs

  22. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    2FT, would you do this move?

    Sanchez + Siggy ➡ Firmino + Hazard

    1. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Nah

      1. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        What's the bad move here?

        1. Oven Glover
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Still have WC? Then go for it. You'll probably want Sanchez back for his doubles. Like both Haz & Firm even if Firm only has five games left.

          1. fedolefan
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 1 month ago

            No WC, but Arsenal just look really really bad. Want to revisit Sanchez when it comes to the doubles. May be out of the top 4 chase and could be going through the motions.

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

            I see your point about 5 vs 7 with Sanchez vs Firm.

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Umm... Tricky, Sanchez to Hazard is fine. Sigurdsson to Firmino can go either way

      1. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Struggling to see the upside with Sanchez and Siggy at the moment. May be Siggy to Firm can wait a week, but Bobby hauls when he's streaky.

    3. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I would. Could pay off massively.

      1. fedolefan
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Really tempted. Siggy is a transfer out anyway.

    4. Balance
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Nope!

  23. Don Look Back in Wenger
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sup guys, am on my WC . countless hours spent so yeah, any advice on this setup?

    Picky Henn
    Stephens Yoshida Rojo Gibson Holgate
    Sanchez Haz Son Erik Zaha
    Tekker/Negredo Ibra Kane

    GW34= bench erik
    GW35= Bench Negredo/Tekker

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

      Where'd you get all the dough :p?

      1. Don Look Back in Wenger
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        been saving it since gw 1 lol. 0itb though

        any advice?

  24. TAB
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Pickford
    Baines PVA Robertson
    Siggy Sanchez Alli Coutinho
    Lukaku Kane Llorente

    Foster Brunt Deroon Ake

    1 FT 1M ITB

    Help!

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

      Siggy -> Zaha or Llorente -> Benteke

    2. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Llorente to negrado?

  25. ralfb
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Worth getting ibra for kun as he didn't start against Chelsea?

    1. Rasping Drive
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I wouldn't. But wait until after the Anderlecht game. If United go through, then Rashford probably starts at Burnley

      1. ralfb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Thanks

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

    Is there a case for wildcarding now? Could get a few GW34 doubles in and have them replaced by 36?

    1. Balance
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      If your current team is fine then wc36 has greater value as (I) there aren't many dgw34 players that u will want to hold on to for dgw36-37 and (II) you will have more clarity on the run in between Chelsea Spurs and top4 race

  27. funnyoldgame
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Is this lot worth BenchBoosting?
    Heaton, baines Siggy King

    1. Meltens
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Who are you playing? Might be better to just play some of those instead.

      1. funnyoldgame
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        This will definitely be my bench. Just can't decide if it's worth BB. (No WC)

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

      Yes if you don't have a wildcard.

    3. Balance
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Tough, worth thinking about it.

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

      Who are the 4 playing defenders?

      1. funnyoldgame
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Alonso, chambers, walker val.

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

          I'd be tempted

        2. Meltens
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 1 month ago

          Chambers just coming back from injury might not play both games.
          Alonso probably will play but even so you're mostly relying on offensive points from him.

          I'd say play King for either Chambers or Alonso and leave the bench boost for now.

  28. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Just got the smallest red arrow I can remember: 3 ranks down 🙄

    1. funnyoldgame
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      That takes the sting out a bit

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

      Wow lol. I went down 697 places

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

    Valdes
    Bailly - Stones - Davies
    Sanchez - Coutinho - Eriksen - Zaha
    Ibra - Lukaku - Kane

    Pickford - De Roon - Yoshida - Barragan

    1 FT and 0,2 ITB

    I will be playing bench boost this round, as I still need to play my TC.

    And suggestions? And do we think Valdes will be fit?

  30. Pjanić At The Disco
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Which trio would you choose till the end of season?

    A: Kane + Lukaku + Hazard
    B: Eriksen + Aguero + Costa