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. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Sanchez at home to a captain-less mid-table team is border line essential!

  2. Kloppen Schloppen
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    just tuning in here. Sanchez goal? Someone care to explain how it has finally come about?

    1. Jazz!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Free kick

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

      Free kick 25 yards top bins

    3. andy85wsm
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Free kick edge of the area

      Nice free kick but Guzan left so much space open.

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

      central freekick after foul on Xhaka

    5. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Good defending from Barragan to deny him another.

      1. Kloppen Schloppen
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Thank you all.

        Now for a few more just to punish the non believers

    6. Wrong Captain Choice - Ag i…
      • 15 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Did nothing the whole game and scored a good free kick.
      One of the few shots on goal in the game

  3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    just got in lads..............is it too late for me to go SANCHEEEZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!! 😀

    1. Kloppen Schloppen
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Just in too!

      ALEXIIIIIISSSSS SANCHEEEEEZ

    2. FPL Puppy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Scream as much as you want 😀

    3. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      same here ALEXISSSSSSS

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

    Just came behind the couch, heard Sanchez scored

    Back behind it I go.

  5. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Thought Sanchez was more of a differential this week but only up around 4k places according to FFFIX. Disappointed.

    1. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Green is a green
      I'm just hoping I can get to top 100k by end of season.

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

      Top 10k effective ownership is 42%. Overall effective ownership is 30%.

      1. Van der Faart
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Didn't realise it was that much. Fair enough then.

  6. Sterling is £11Mill..…
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Wenger to announce his two year contract extension after this big win

  7. the snazzy viking
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    COME ON NEGREDO

  8. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Can I have just four more Alexis? You owe me for previous blanks.

    1. FPL Puppy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      😆

    2. Hibbo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I'm catching you up in Irish Contingent!

      1. Godot - Fashanu Zealand
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        I know, the gap is steadily closing! The leader is miles ahead, we have a battle on our hands to catch up to him

  9. FPL Puppy
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Bottomed.

    Got exact money to do;

    Llorente -> Ibra
    Brunt -> Friend

    For -4. Yes? No?

    Other choice is Brunt -> Gibson, Llorente -> Benteke.

    Team
    Foster, Heaton
    Alonso, Valencia, Yoshida, Brunt, Robertson
    Alli, Sanchez, Eriksen, Zaha, De Roon
    Lukaku, Kane, Llorente

    1. davies
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Yes

    2. Injury Prone o_O Gooner.
      • 14 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Lol exactly the same position will be doing the same.. I think. 🙂

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

    Ox started playing well because Gabriel has been pushing forward from RCB. Ozil isn't moving out wide enough (unlike Alexis on the left side) to create space for Ox to attack. Would like to see Ozil taken off and Walcott on.

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

    Anyone familiar with Middlesbrough? Judging by the players play time it seems like only Gibson and Valdes are "nailed". I'm torn between getting Friend, Fabiol, Barragan or Chambers

    1. Sif
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Since Aitor left they're thrown a different formation at the wall each week to see if anything sticks.

      1. Adriano
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Ah, cheers for the response. It seems like a risky triple up. The Bou performance will certainly dictate who plays next.

    2. Individual
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Have Barragan. Has played every game for Agnew.

      1. Adriano
        • 11 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        Great observation. I really fancy a triple up on their defence

  12. davies
    • 9 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Friend off the bench for Alonso instead of Maguire

    Stupid mistake tbh

  13. Junior ⚽
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Alexis Sanchez Baby!
    Alexis Sanchez ohhhh!
    © Leicester

  14. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I took Sanchez out to fund Kane and Benteke so this is still a net win for me AT THE MOMENT. No more please Alexis, behave now!

    1. Guvnor
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Hahah same here. Kane making me a profit. For now...

  15. hogree
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    What's the verdict on Friend? Reckon he'll get both games in the DGW?

  16. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenal have been crap, Sanchez has been crap. Get a grip

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Boro have been more poorer than Arsenal.

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

      Step 1 is accepting that the fear exists

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      a goals a goal WR and much needed for my sh*te team

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

      He in your team? Currently out of mine.

    5. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Yeh, in open play I've not been impressed, hopefully he can prove us wrong but playing out wide in this uncreative team is worrying.

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

    Syd happy so far as a Sanchez(c). One more goal and he will probably get max BAPS too.

  18. ZAMUNDA
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    What's the status of Calum Chambers in DGW 34? #InjuryUpdate

    1. AF90
      • 11 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Isn't he ineligible tonight as on loan from Arsenal?

      1. Injury Prone o_O Gooner.
        • 14 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        correct

        1. ZAMUNDA
          • 7 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          I mean next GW not this one against Arsenal.

  19. jmcclory123
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Is that English Jamie Carragher is speaking?

  20. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    They should have a camera from the Goalies perspective

  21. drughi
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Valdes would have saved that freekick

  22. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone doing early transfers!

    1. jmcclory123
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Nope, need to see what happens Thursday with United

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

      Ideally waiting till Thursday, depends how quick Ibra rises!

    3. FPL Puppy
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      I maybe have to... Got exact cash and Ibra might rise tonight 🙁

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

      Slammed in Benteke already

  23. AF90
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Walker (possible rest in GW34 after cup semi & DGW37? -> Gibson

    McCauley -> Friend/Chambers

    Or save transfer & stay away from MID defence?

  24. Vlad
    • 7 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    just came home.. whats going on? why is guzan on the goal ?

    1. Pigeon
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Valdes injured, should be fit for the dgw

      1. Vlad
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        tnx and tnx God he'll be fine for the dgw.. I was on the verge of a heart attack

        1. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
          • 10 Years
          7 years, 2 months ago

          yeah something as earth shattering as this could easily induce heart failure

    2. Sonic Huth
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Valdes dead

    3. jmcclory123
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Valdes injured

      Arsenal been poo

      Sanchez scored a free kick

      1. Vlad
        • 7 Years
        7 years, 2 months ago

        at least Sanchez can still score a free kick!

    4. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Valdez had Sanchez in his FPL team as captain and conveniently got injured in training

  25. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    we were around 3 mins away from a very different half time set of comments. this is still a shell of an Arsenal side of last season

  26. pablo discobar
    • 14 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    I own Hennesey, Valencia, Zaha, Ibra - Have 2 free`s.

    Want to do Nyom to Gibson and one other Utd player in either a defender or Pogba/Miki (Still have wildcard). No idea who I would sell/Bench

    I am seriously thinking about captaining a single gameweek player rather than a DGW? Thoughts on this? Cout, Sanchez, Lukaku?

    Planned lineup

    GK Hennesey
    DEF Valencia, Vert, Gibson
    MID Alli, Cout, Sanchez, Zaha
    FWD Ibra, Kane, Lukaku

    Subs (Jaku), De Roon (DGW, but would you drop one of those mids?!), Pieters, Bertrand

    1. Jolly Good
      • 8 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      would you really not captain ibra? i'm planning to TC him.... he has had his rest

  27. Jolly Good
    • 8 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    if money is not an issue, which defender would you get for next week? utd or boro? boro seem to have better fixtures

    1. Yav
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      Utd

  28. Desperately Seeking Dusan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Don't think people should get ahead of themselves with Sanchez... he's up against BORO, a Boro who lost their first choice keeper and Fabio, who, however crap he is, is still part of their first choice defensive line up.

  29. AF90
    • 11 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Triple Captain Sanchez GW36 confirmed for me.

  30. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 years, 2 months ago

    Let's go Alexis, 2 more plus assist.

    1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 years, 2 months ago

      This is a sign! Thank you lord.