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. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    What happened to the penalties from the first days of the premier league..holding onto players ... Refs have chickened out

    1. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Good times, trying to get the penalty taker from each team in your fpl side!

      1. JÆKS ⭐
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        And also going with Vardy over Mahrez because Vardy was supposed to be on penalties...

  2. Speédy
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    No friend cs fiasco this time, clean 72 mins

  3. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Sanchez fail!

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      19 mins played.......

      1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        21 mins now

  4. GE
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Plan 1) or 2)? 🙂

    1)
    GW34: Walcott and Diomande -> Towsend and Benteke (-4)
    GW35: Siggy -> Sane
    GW36: Benteke -> Gabbiadini

    (0.8 itb after these moves)

    2)
    GW34: Save
    GW35: Siggy -> Sane
    GW36: Baines and Diomande -> Yoshida and Gabbiadini

    (0.4 itb after these moves)

    Current team:

    (1FT, 1.4 itb)

    Heaton
    Valencia/Baines/Gibson
    Sanchez/Alli/Siggy/Walcott/Tadic
    Ibra/Kane

    Bench: Jaku, Chambers, Robertson, Diomande

  5. jmcclory123
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    This is miserable to watch as an Arsenal fan

    1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      And wonderful for everyone else

      Wenger in

      1. jmcclory123
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        The actual football being played isn't enjoyable for anyone to watch

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          I'm loving it

          Cmon Boro

  6. Kalou
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Played wc this gw ....Stones,Fabio, Valdes, Ibrahimovic....Love this game!

    1. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      World record WC fail

    2. vectorman
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Unlucky though you'll be told you're a rubbish FPL manager any minute now..

      1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
        • 12 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        *crap

        1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          😆

        2. vectorman
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          There's going to be a lot of this sadly going forward..

          1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 11 months ago

            Only messing

            1. vectorman
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 11 months ago

              No probs, I was a pee'd off initially with the Walcott Mustafi situation but what can you do hey. Happens to us all

      2. Kalou
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Am not great like you guys but not bad either between 10k and 20k last 5 years!

        1. vectorman
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          Yeah don't worry about it, really nothing you can do about it really.. And that's a decent record

  7. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    It feels like the Arsenal players kind of want to lose. A la Chelsea last season and Leicester this season

    1. jmcclory123
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Definitely feels like it

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Sanchez watched too much of Hazard yesterday!

  8. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    If Sanchez fails I'm selling him for Towsend lol.

    1. Guvnor
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Ramirez is looking good too

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Mental move. Can't imagine anyone making it.

    3. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      A bit too much don't ya think

    4. tm245
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      This is the least appealing GW he has for the rest of the season, imo. Wouldn't read much into it.

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Have WC.

        Performances and under lying stats are barely acceptable for his price. FPL output none existent.

  9. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    The Ox has the ability to be a proper right wing back

    1. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      at Liverpool

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        he can do a good job at a team like Chelsea

    2. Oven Glover
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Navas rb over Ox rb any day

    3. Woy of the Wovers
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Not too right wing...

    4. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      He's no Kyle Walker

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Sanchez next foul is a YC

  11. rivercityransom
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    arsenal players look like they just realized that a 3-5-2 formation is actually a thing

    1. JÆKS ⭐
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Funny actually, their 2 CB are out, and then Wenger decides to play with 3 CB 😀

      1. The Rock
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Only really Mustafi that's missing. You're hardly counting Mertesacker?

        1. JÆKS ⭐
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 11 months ago

          Oh yea didn't notice Koscielny was playing 😀

  12. My Name Is Prince
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    What's with Valdes?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Training injury.

    2. Konig Luther
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      didn't recovery from injury

  13. Mr Arsenal
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Arsenal used to play such good football.

    I'd rather watch West Brom these days, much better technically.

  14. George James
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    If Arsenal and Sanchez continue to look poor....

    Sanchez / Barnes / Brunt ➡️ Ibra / Townsend / Friend -8

    Have exact funds for this

    1. JustPark
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Rashford instead of Ibra?

    2. Ospina Colada
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Sanchez out when Leicester (H) next game?

  15. Sergeant Garcia
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Barragan outsprinted Sanchez there

  16. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Why is Sanchez playing so wide? Monreal should be providing the width.

    1. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      3-4-3

  17. Ed
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    What does Xhaka actually do?

    1. Speédy
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Red cards

    2. The Rock
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Passes to the other team.

  18. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    de Roon disallowed offside goal.

  19. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Unlucky De Roon owners

  20. Jigger & Pony
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    De Roon goal

    disallowed

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    De Roon was a few feet away from being essential

  22. Sterling is £11Mill..…
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Oh I just saw Giroud he is on the pitch

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Was technically off the pitch when they zoomed in on him.

  23. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Half these Arsenal players are definitely just going through the motions

  24. jmcclory123
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Boro goal...

    Offside

  25. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Arsenal are terrible.

  26. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    What are de Roon owners doing in the double? Playing him?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Might buy him and play. Should score within 2 games.

      1. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Really TM? How many he scored this season?

      2. Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Seriously? Should score? I'd be over the moon with one assist!

    2. Sjaugen
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Still haven't decided

  27. tm245
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    If you're not watching, everyone knew he was offside and gave up marking him. Nothing play.

  28. Diva
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Sanchez -> De Roon for free?

    😉 😀

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      I might for funds.

  29. jmcclory123
    • 10 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Oxlade Chamberlain is one of the only players trying, pity he's lacking a little in actual quality

  30. Danno - Emre Canada
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 11 months ago

    Streaming failure in the hills of Sri Lanka so relying on you guys for commentary, be a bit more professional please

    1. dark91
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Boro are wearing red and Arsenal yellow, and there are 22 players on the pitch

    2. JJO
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Oh my God what a chance that was...
      Great chance for Arsenal players to complete 3 passes in a row was ruined by that interception...

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Hahaha I'll change the channel please

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        I've actually just watched the first minute of that

    3. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      Goal kick to Arsenal, Cech taking.

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 11 months ago

        Cheers. Far too serious though

    4. Sterling is £11Mill..…
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 11 months ago

      This so lame, whenever I make a point of watching teams like Arsenal or Liverpool its always an incredibly boring game. Feel so sorry for their fans having to put up with this, week in week out.