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. dogtanion
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal fan absolutely hating this. Give me a 6 - 3 defeat any day .

    1. Old Schoolᴼˢ “disa…
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      NLD coming up... be patient

  2. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Did the fabio injury look like a serious one?

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

      Don't think anybody really knows what the injury was.

      1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        That is even worse if it the concussion protocol again - he will be out for 7 days at least

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

      It was a knee injury

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

      Definetly wasn't concussion. Looked like he twisted his knee.

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

    Arsenal or West Brom?

    1. jmcclory123
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      It could have been a lot different for Wenger if he hadn't have put so much faith in Giroud. Now he has the strike force of Giroud, Welbeck and Perez. None of these players would get in the current top 4 teams.

      1. Alan The Llama
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        I fear you are correct

      2. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Giroud could easily be a starter in a team like Chelsea, great physical strength, great first touch, hold up play. He does great for France, Arsenal have never played to his strengths.

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

    If i never knew who was playing ide say Arsenal were Watford:)

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

      Not one Arsenal player has a patch on Holebas!

      1. Sonic Huth
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Or Capoue

    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Bit harsh on Watford

  5. JÆKS ⭐
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Going to be 1 point short in my H2H league if Sanchez doesn't get anything. All this because of his double Manu defence, surely did not expect that

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

      I lost my head purely because I took a hit also having only 9 play didn't help compared to his 11

    2. BananaNose Maldonado
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      I'm going to lose by 3 to someone who went triple (Rojo, Bailly and Valencia). Crazy.

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

    What a dull game

  7. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    First time I make an early transfer in a long time (Valdes) and he gets injured. Hope he's fine and plays in the double gameweek fixtures. He was supposed to be my only double gameweek 34 player, if he isn't fit, I'll just play Grant and go without any DGW34 player 🙂

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

      Grant may be benched for Butland

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

        Geoff Shreeves is that you?

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

      hit it harder

  8. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Every time Sanchez is on the ball there are 3 players on him 🙁

    1. how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      The good players do have to cope with that!

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

      Stop Sanchez, stop Arsenal.

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

    May have to sell Valdes and Mustafi now, what a waste of transfers......

  10. jam
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Is De Gea a certain starter? Can't remember why he was dropped the other week.

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

      Minor injury

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

      Yeah he is. He doesnt play EL games but plays PL games. Was injured for 1 game back.

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

        ta chaps

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

    That was better from Ox

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

    Much better from Arsenal, using the width better

  13. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Wally nailed for the dgw,s 😎

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

    Alexis shot on target

  15. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez 1st shot

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

    Sanchez SOT?

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

    Sanchez SOT

  18. The Blackadder
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    What has happened to Arsenal? win, lose or draw, they used to be so good to watch, awful at the moment

  19. Business Cat
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    What happened to Valdes? Injured?

    (sorry, just tuned in)

    1. jmcclory123
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah

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

      Yeah Inj in training

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

      Fill the blank:

      Xhaka is ...............

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 1 month ago

        Crap hair cut model.

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

    Sanchez (weak) shot on target

  21. jmcclory123
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Ramsey plays considerably better for Wales than he does Arsenal

    1. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      Better players around him

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

      Spot on. He put it more effort in 90 mins against England than at anytime for Arsenal.

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

    OMG Sanchez shot

  23. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez SOT, OMG

  24. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Sanchez watch - SHOT ON TARGET

  25. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Ox is really useless..only thing going for him is pace

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

    Arsenal are really having a hard time figuring out Arsenal's formation.

  27. internal error
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    This game is pretty boring. One team looks like they belong in the Championship and the other team's Middlesborough

  28. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    You know it's kak when a player gets several SOT posts 🙂

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

      Haha true

  29. The Rock
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 1 month ago

    Boro actually look like scoring before Arsenal do and that's saying a lot.

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

    You'd think after losing at Palace Arsenal would be up for this game. What the hell is this

    1. jmcclory123
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 1 month ago

      60% of the players have mentally checked out for this season

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

      Keyword there is Arsenal