Team News

The Weekend Team News

Theo Walcott will undergo a late fitness test as Arsenal make their way to Sunderland tomorrow lunchtime. Scott Dann is back in contention as Palace entertain Liverpool, whilst Junior Stanislas remains a doubt as Bournemouth travel to ‘Boro.

Theo Walcott is set to be assessed later today with a “very minor” hamstring problem, according to Arsene Wenger. Santi Cazorla and Nacho Monreal also require late tests, though Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud are back in contention. Lucas Perez is out for six-to-eight weeks with an ankle injury.

Andrew Surman has recovered from illness ahead of Bournemouth’s clash with Middlesbrough. Eddie Howe has admitted he will make “a late call” over the availability of Junior Stanislas, who missed out last week with a calf complaint.

Hull’s Adama Diomande has been charged with violent conduct, following an incident in their midweek cup win over Bristol City. The club have until this evening to reply, with the Norwegian facing three matches on the sidelines if found guilty. Mike Phelan is already without the services of Robert Snodgrass, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury.

Slaven Bilic revealed West Ham “have a few knocks” ahead of their trip to Everton but went on to say “all those who played (in midweek) should all be fit and available for Sunday”. The Hammers boss also confirmed that Andre Ayew is “very close” being able to start after returning from injury in the 2-1 cup win over Chelsea.

Andre Gray is available for Burnley’s trip to Man United after serving a four-match ban. Stephen Ward has recovered from a knock and Sean Dyche is optimstic on George Boyd’s fitness, though Steven Defour remains “touch and go” with a hamstring problem.

Jason Puncheon remains a “slight doubt” for Palace’s clash with Liverpool, though Alan Pardew has confirmed that Scott Dann is now available for selection.

Daryl Janmaat returns to the Watford squad for tomorrow’s visit of Hull. Isaac Success is expected to be ruled out until after the international break, whilst Craig Cathcart, Kenedy and Stefano Okaka all remain sidelined.

Ben Chilwell joins Nampalys Mendy on the injured list for Leicester’s trip to White Hart Lane. Matty James is still unavailable as he builds up his match fitness.

Geoff Cameron is a doubt for Stoke’s clash with Swansea on Monday evening due to a knee problem. Phil Bardsley is likely to miss out – he’s been granted compassionate leave following the death of his grandfather.

All this and more has now been updated in the Team News section ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. Keep an eye on our official Twitter Stream for breaking news – as the day unfolds, we will issue updates from Friday’s press conferences and refresh our Team News tab accordingly to keep you informed.

1,029 Comments Post a Comment
  1. ANON.
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Walcott + Williams to Firmino + Francis -4?

    1. Gazza2000
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      No

    2. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Yes.

    3. Blue&White85
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Stick with what you have.

    4. Stats Don\'t Lie
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      No

  2. Weasel51
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Need help

    Valencia Bellerin Evans Amat Marraipa
    Walcott Sanchez Snodgrass Leko Firmino
    Lukaku aguero Defoe
    1ft
    0.2 ITB

    What can I do here?

    Any help appreciated

    1. NRK
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      With Hull's current situation I might consider Deeney for Defoe.

  3. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    If wally doesn't start is there the possibility giroud starts up top with sanchez back in midfield?

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      Yeah

    2. Karan14
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      I think they will start with Sanchez up top and Ox replaces Walcott.

  4. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 7 months ago

    Looking forward to Walcott becoming a differential again

    1. FantaCity
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      *this

    2. Shano23
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 7 months ago

      U really think Walcott will pay off long term. I doubting it

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        I got him for 7.5 which is incredibly good value for the returns he provides. Tricky fixtures but Arsenal can score against anyone. I am still tempted to sell him though as I dont think he will play this week and I have a major feeling Delli Alli is going to go mad at home to Leicester

        1. Shano23
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Not doubting he was a great buy esp as u got him early. Was just questing if he would be good long term. Think i missed the boat with him

          1. Bubz
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            It could go either way. Another worry is that little injuries make Wally play much worse, and he goes off the boil easily. I have taken your advice on Deeney and brought him in for Benteke with one of my FTs. Feel a haul coming for Troy.

      2. Worzel Gummidge
          7 years, 7 months ago

          This English?

          1. ChristoBisto
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Worzel you're so grumpy!

          2. Shano23
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Lak

            1. Worzel Gummidge
                7 years, 7 months ago

                Least you managed 3 characters. Must have been hard work for your 2 braincells

        • Karan14
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Might become a differential you don't want to own for the next 3 matches atleast. Spurs & United ain't going to be easy with CL looming.

          1. Bubz
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Utd just lost to Chelsea 4-0 and London Derby, anything can happen

      3. Slartibartfast
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Might be a silly question, but in the Member's Area when I'm making a table, I presume the Goal Involvement % only includes goals scored while a player was on the pitch, right?

      4. Iceball
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        A) Panic transfer Walcott->Coutinho for a hit
        B) Chill, play Walcott, Smith 1st on bench might have to come in

        1. ANON.
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          B

        2. FantaCity
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          B

        3. Gazza2000
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          B

        4. Alnair
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Easy B if you have good cover.

      5. Bolivian Seaman
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        You forgot to put ocprodigy's game as a hot topic. he did it last night. Please flag this

      6. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Very confused guys...

        Please help!

        My Midfield is currently: Walcott/ Firminio/ Antonio/ Sanchez/ Capoue

        A) Use free Transfer walcott OUT----Mata IN (then Bench Either Capoue or Antonio)
        B) SAVE: Bench Walcott play Capoue (Hull h) and Antonio (Eve A)

        1. Gazza2000
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          B

      7. l@sp0
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Play 1 out of:

        A) Austin (CHE)

        B) Capoue (HUL)

        1. Bubz
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          A

          1. l@sp0
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Thanks for the reply. Was thinking Chelsea 3-4-3 is working well defensively so Southampton will have a hard time scoring. And Hull City is just a wreckage waiting to get plundered by any team nowadays. What's your reasoning?

            1. Bubz
              • 10 Years
              7 years, 7 months ago

              Just because Austin has some of the best stats of any forward at the moment

        2. Gazza2000
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          A

        3. Slartibartfast
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          A

      8. papabouba
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        2 FTs this week 0.0 ITB

        Sterling & Son out?

        replaced by Hazard & Redmond?

        no other pressing issues apart from John Stones at the back 😐

        1. Gazza2000
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Get rid of Stones first

        2. bojack
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          I own Redmond but I wouldn't be looking to buy now. Hasn't got great fixtures coming up short to medium term compared to others in the mid-price bracket.

          1. papabouba
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            cheers. just done stones > morgan. hazard and redmond can wait another week

      9. camarozz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Will i go for my usual Friday treat of a greasy breakfast roll or eat the boring ham & cheese sandwiches my good wife made me??
        There is a dog nearby so can get rid of the evidence.

      10. umerlfc
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        From a scale of 1 to 10, what do you think are the chances of:

        A) Stoke keeping a clean sheet against Swansea

        B) Redmond scoring against Chelsea

        1. Stats Don\'t Lie
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          7
          2

        2. FIRMANHO
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          A). Tough to call with new Swans manager
          B). Slim

        3. Netley Lucas
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          A - 3.5
          B - 2.5

      11. Totti
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        gtg?
        Boruc
        walker coleman holebas
        sanchez firmino coutinho allen
        aguero lukaku deeney
        Pickford snod evans amat
        1 ft and 1 in the bank

      12. Ian Davis
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Look good moves?

        Walcott/Benteke > Redmond/Lukaku

        1. StalkingDwarf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          I'd do it.

        2. FIRMANHO
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Hold onto Benteke for LFC game. Loves scoring against them & Palace have a good record vs them.

      13. Cruz88
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Just need to decide who to captain:

        a) Sanchez
        b) Coutinho

        On Cout at moment

        1. Stats Don\'t Lie
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          B

        2. El-Kloppico
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Can't know how the arrival of Giroud might affect Alexis.
          Can also affect him positively, who knows.

      14. davies
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Hmm.. With possibly no Wally & Cazorla it could mean Sanchez back into midfield with Giroud up top..

        Anyone taken the armband off him?

        1. FIRMANHO
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Have swapped to Kun just now. Not sure if I like it...

        2. Get up ya bum
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Sure could, or perez.
          No he is arguably better as inside forward

          1. Bubz
            • 10 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Perez is injured isnt he?

            1. Christina.
              • 14 Years
              7 years, 7 months ago

              jip

      15. FIRMANHO
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Play one of Capoue, Amat, Mirallas, Lovren

        1. Totti
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          capoue

      16. Netley Lucas
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        667' - G4 A3 = 7 = 095' : Coutinho
        626' - G3 A3 = 6 = 104' : Lallana
        710' - G3 A3 = 6 = 118' : Firmino
        718' - G4 A2 = 6 = 119' : Mane
        703' - G4 A1 = 5 = 140' : Milner

        1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Huh?

        2. Karan14
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Firmino has been extremely unlucky at times I'm sure he will better Lallana over the coming weeks.

        3. Totti
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          sorry what us this ?
          don't understand 🙂

          1. Totti
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            is

          2. Netley Lucas
            • 8 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Minutes per goal or assist.

        4. Z
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Minutes played - Goals - Assists - Goal involvement - minutes per goal involvement - Player'

        5. EL_Duderino
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Can see why going Llana makes a lot of sense at 7.1m

      17. Z
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Wally, Snoddy and Cameron injuries

        Amat and A. Smith to come off the bench for Walcott and Cameron...

        Should I take the risk or take a hit a hit on removing Snodgrass?

      18. Cheeseoid
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        3 match ban for Diomande. That bench of mine is looking pretty weak

        1. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Good h2h rival has/had him. And Walcott....taken a -4 already...

        2. StalkingDwarf
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Hull's own bench also looking quite thin.

      19. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Half happy with this team for the first time this season, that means a total score of 20 is on the cards.

        Who to captain? Im keen for a left field punt.

        Schmeichel
        Valencia / Pieters / Friend
        Sanchez / Redmond / Coutinho / Firmino
        Aguero / Deeney / Lukaku

        (Jaku / Capoue / Evans / Kinglsey)

        1. JabbaWookiee
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Why not go for Deeney? He's currently got the armband for me

          1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
            • 7 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Hasn't done too much recently.

            1. JabbaWookiee
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              7 years, 7 months ago

              True - but it's Hull at home and he's as good a punt as any. I'm getting rid after this week regardless so may as well give him one last hoorah

      20. Yome
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        So Santi may not play tomorrow, this will impact Arsenal as they struggled against Boro.
        I don't think I will captain Sanchez then.

      21. some witty pun
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Walcott quote fixed, cheers FFS

      22. Krul Runnings
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Have wally and starting. Correct bench order?

        Amat Evans Fletcher

        Not worried about amat cameo and hearing rumours this morning that he MIGHT come back in for van der Hoorn.

      23. ktk_interista
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        With Walcott probably out of tomorrow's game and Cazorla also a doubt, if I had Sanchez I'd be wary of captaining him. Cazorla's absence impacts the creativity of the team. Sanchez has also formed quite a partnership with Walcott and many of his assists are for Walcott. If those 2 are missing, Sanchez might not be the best captain for this week. Lukaku and Aguero are looking better to me now.

        1. Yome
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Yes definitely, I am with you on this. I switched the armband to Deeney

        2. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Or he could do it all himself and score a hatrick.

          1. Yome
            • 12 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            yeah right, he is no Messi or Ronaldo.

        3. BB-8
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          You might be right. Theo out does concern me. Might not be too many goals. Maybe just a 2-0. But Everton aren't scoring goals for fun either..

          1. ktk_interista
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            7 years, 7 months ago

            Coutinho or Firmino could be a smart differential captain. I am leaning back towards Kun now with City's record against the baggies.

        4. Assisting the assister
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Wavering between Lukaku and Deeney myself

      24. bojack
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Anyone else considering getting rid of Sanchez during the international break or am I being daft?

        Could really use those funds elsewhere.

        1. some witty pun
          • 11 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          makes sense if he blanks tomorrow

        2. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          When is international break. I might use WC then.

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

          I am getting rid next week.

      25. Disco Stu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Bony and Antonio to

        A. Rashford and Sterling

        B. Allen and Lukaku

        C. Do nothing

        1. ⚽️ Dingo ⚽️
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          C

      26. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Since when does Sanchez rely on Cazorla to get returns? Sanchez could be playing against Sunderland with the Arsenal reserves and still score a brace.

        1. bojack
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          I thought this.

          I'm sticking with him as my captain.

        2. Christina.
          • 14 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          1 SiB in last 2.

          Bellerin has more.

        3. BB-8
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          It's more of the whole team being more fluid when Santi plays. I'm happy enough if Ox plays instead of Theo but if Giroud starts up front it doesn't bode well for Sanchez's prospects

        4. super zlatan
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Still thinking of going with Lukaku captain.

          Tricky though. Sanchez is explosive.

        5. ktk_interista
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          Arsenal's overall play suffers without Cazorla and Walcott. Probability of scoring 3 goals or more decreases dramatically imo.

      27. RAFA THE GAFFA
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        2FTs:

        A. Williams+Wally > Pieters+Court
        B. Wally > Arnie (save 1FT)
        C. Williams > Pieters (save 1FT)
        D. Capoue > De room (save 1FT and make 0.5mil)

        1. Champione
          • 8 Years
          7 years, 7 months ago

          A

      28. Boss Hogg
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 7 months ago

        Play ONE of:

        Allen
        Austin
        Pieters
        Smith

        ???