Dugout Discussion

The Dugout Discussion – Chelsea vs Arsenal

As mid-season encounters go, this is as crunchy as they get.

Arsenal make the trip to Stamford Bridge knowing that, should they falter, their own title bid would likely be irreversibly de-railed. Meanwhile, a victory for Chelsea would surely come as the latest evidence that they are truly champions elect.

For Fantasy managers, there is also plenty at stake.

Alexis Sanchez starts in the central striker role and in 36.5% of squads, having returned a goal or an assist in ten of his last eleven Gameweeks. In opposition, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard also remain hugely popular assets, despite the alarming recent regression from the latter. The Belgian has supplied just three assists in his last five, with a single goal in eight Gameweeks – a penalty against Bournemouth back in December.

With Marcos Alonso also a key asset, there will be mixed emotions heading into this clash for the neutral, with a high-scoring contest perhaps the optimum outcome for many.

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

1,681 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Shirokov(c)
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso is the best FPL defensive pick since Baines 2012.

    1. Ógie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I agree

    2. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      *goalman

    3. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Yup

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

      Coleman was the mutts nuts 2 seasons ago

      1. Shirokov(c)
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, was a great pick too. Baines on every set piece and do attacking in a good solid Moyes side was king though.

      2. Rolls-Royce
        • 10 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        This. Had him since gw1

    5. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      He's no James Milner though

    6. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Just can't drop him now regardless of the fixture, easily the most essential defender this year.

  2. S.Agueroooooo
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Brought in funes mori and benched him for alonso 🙂

    1. nkhoughton
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Playing both

  3. Sif
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Straight from the training ground that corner...

    1. itwaswritten
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Fun fact: SIF backwards is FIS and it means fart in Swedish.

      1. Sif
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Mr Fart to you

  4. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Red arrow incoming

    1. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      11 Arsenal players in your team?

  5. Jigger & Pony
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Good half, can see Arsenal scoring today...

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      hope so, Sanchez double even though i also own Alonso and Costa

  6. F4L
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Two observations from that half:

    Welbz needs to be brought on for Ozil
    Haz is quality, but not in FPL terms atm

    1. Jigger & Pony
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Always looking for a foul though

  7. Back on the horse
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Dodged a bullet here, cheers guys

    http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/14991887

  8. Athletic Dildao
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hazard really is a joy to watch.

    1. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Always passes the eye test, the stat test isn't so great

    2. FPL Maldini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Great to watch but very rarely explodes in the points

  9. Shirokov(c)
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Proper game of football, don't mind those United/Liverpool borefests that Sky hype up to be the be all and end all of football.

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

    Alonso is a god. Haven't loved a FPL pick this much since Suarez that season.

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      The clean sheets are just a bonus! Or is that the goals?

  11. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso is my favourite FPL player this season.

    Kane my least favourite

    1. My Name Is Prince
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Same for me 🙂

    2. ILOVEBAPS
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Lord Heaton is mine.

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yes, but is now the time to get rid? Away games, Chelsea and a blank coming up.

  12. Netley Lucas
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    1-0 may look close, and Arsenal have had some good chances... but there's a gulf in class between these sides, and it's big.

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      i don't see it that big. Arsenal are a quality side

      1. ILOVEBAPS
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Couple of times Chelsea have opened them up very quickly only to fluff it with a poor touch at the death. I can see Costa scoring next half with a Haz assist.

  13. FrankieTheGent
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Alonso first sub 'cos I'm an idiot.
    Any chance any of these don't start?

    Coleman/ van Aanholt/ Brunt
    Tadic / Lallana / Eriksen / Phillips
    Lukaku / Ibrahimovic

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Doubt it

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      No

    3. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I think youre out of luck

    4. The Enlightener
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Tadic your only hope if any of those.

    5. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Tadic if you're lucky...everyone else is nailed

    6. Greenbackbøøg…
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Tadic maybe

    7. JogaSemmedo
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I've got Kun (C). Alli (VC) and Alonso first on the bench.

  14. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Choosing azpi over alonso has killed my season

    1. ILOVEBAPS
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Choosing Rose over Walker has hurt me.

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Don't be so dramatic. He's got like 10 less points this season.

    3. Smurf
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      That six points difference is massive.

      Thing is Cahill is outscoring then both.

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

      Both are quality picks but I don't know why anyone would choose Azpi over Alonso. Alonso is a massive threat going forward unlike Azpi.

  15. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Ozil and Walcott off. Welbeck and Giroud on - go 4-4-2.

    1. F4L
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      just put Wally up top instead of Giroud

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Arsenal most likely to score from a header. Walcott likely to get caught offside.

  16. Shirokov(c)
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I think the most astonishing thing is the 11% ownership tbh

    1. Ha.
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Not for long

      1. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        The blanks are prompting a lot of strange decisions though

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Low TV teams can't afford him.

    3. FPL Maldini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      People just can't afford him anymore.

      I love it haha

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

      Him + Brunt. The ultimate (apparently diferential) defense.

      1. Shirokov(c)
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Got Brunty in this week. Should've had him earlier

    5. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      30% where it counts.

      1. Jazz!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Still surprisingly low. + A fair few benched

        1. Les Bleus
          • 12 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          30% started

          1. Jazz!
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            7 years, 4 months ago

            Ah right. I'll take that though, 7 in 10 didn't start/don't own 😀

            1. Les Bleus
              • 12 Years
              7 years, 4 months ago

              I personally think 30% is quite high 😛

      2. Les Bleus
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        This. I only care about top 10k not those in the 2 million (no offense to any on here)

      3. Numb
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Not for me, I'm not in the top 10k

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

          Probably 30% in top 100K

    6. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      he is expensive, and you cant own him and another premium defender without compromising Mid or Forward

    7. Make United Great Again
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Just makes it even better. Tough for many to afford him now.

  17. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    If Chelsea win today I think it is all but over for the title race to be honest

    1. CloudSky
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Even if they dont.

      1. Lav
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        This

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

      Definetly

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Not yet. But no European football makes a big difference. Expect Liverpool to start their charge soon.

    4. The Enlightener
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Only City with any real hope it looks, but that hope is pretty small looking right now.

    5. Sweetboi
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Not in this league

  18. Jinswick
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea just about did enough to deserve a 1 goal lead, but fairly close half for me. Kante is an absolute beast. No changes required and we need to start taking our chances. Hmmm. Possibly Welbeck on for Iwobi.

    1. Jazz!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      They could've got a lot more than 1.

      1. Jazz!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        And Chelsea demolished them that half ...

      2. Sweetboi
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        We could've got more than 1 as well tbh.

      3. Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Yep, but we had 2-3 decent chances as well.

        1. Jazz!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          7 years, 4 months ago

          Hmm fair enough. I just think Chelsea have been better in all areas of the pitch so far.

    2. Shirokov(c)
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Agree with everything said here.

    3. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Disagree. If Ozil and Walcott do not perform their defensive duties then Pedro, Hazard, Alonso and Moses will continue to dominate. Given you are a goal down you need to switch to 4-4-2. But Ox and Coquelin in central midfield have to sit deeper to protect the back four. Take off Ozil and Walcott and bring on Giroud and Welbeck.

  19. Syd.
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Not that this means anything but the HT BPS are

    Alonso (16)
    Pedro (13)
    Matic (12)
    Coquelin (12)

    1. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Nope. Doesn't mean anything 😉

  20. makaveli123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Bellerin is not so lucky this season.

    1. Deus
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Poor boy

    2. Celt Abroad
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Nor bellerin owners

  21. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    I went for Eriksen (C) today. Probably wasn't the most popular choice but I fancy him to do something later on.

    1. makaveli123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Decent pick that!

      1. The Royal Robin
        • 8 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        Cheers pal.

    2. Lav
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Alli(c)

    3. Les Bleus
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Let's hope so. I didn't even captain him.

    4. ILOVEBAPS
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      I was so close too. I chickened out at the last minute.

    5. Moyeschester
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      On the same boat.

  22. SALVA
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Any leaked liverpool line up?

  23. FPL Maldini
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    If this stays like this and Spurs don't win later it is game over really

    1. Dr Dream
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Already is IMO. How many more games do Chelsea need to lose than their rivals now?...three?....Not gonna happen.

  24. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
    • 15 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Hopefully Mark Hughes has a fantasy football team and has Alonso first on the bench.
    Let's be honest Mr Hughes Pieters could do with a rest.

  25. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    You'd think that Alonso is the only person who will get any points this weekend 😀

  26. Optimus.
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    It's been a tough few days for Arsenal and Hull up next..

    1. Syd.
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Hull will be on a high after their 3-1 win today

      1. Optimus.
        • 13 Years
        7 years, 4 months ago

        ohhhh 😐 Wouldnt surprise me actually

  27. Deus
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Have Alonso, Arsenal fan. Mixed bag.

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

    Any chance Holebas is benched?

    1. makaveli123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      They did win without him..

    2. Optimus.
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Probably when he's looking like getting a 2nd YC

  29. The Royal Robin
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone fancy Shane Long to continue his scoring form today?

    1. Lecky Legs FC
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 4 months ago

      Me looks to be getting his chance with Austin out & Rodriguez not providing anything at the moment.

  30. Hurricane Gilbert
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 4 months ago

    Chelsea deserves the lead although that was a horrible call by the ref