Dugout Discussion
12 August 2018 4682 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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There were a few surprise selections in Unai Emery and Pep Guardiola’s starting XIs ahead of this afternoon’s 16:00 BST encounter between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates.

The headline news was perhaps Raheem Sterling‘s (£11.0m) inclusion in the City line-up, although Guardiola had teased the prospect of that possibility in his press conference on Friday.

Leroy Sane (£9.5m) is the fall-guy in the Sky Blues’ line-up, to the chagrin of the 14.3% of FPL managers who own the wide-midfielder.

Kevin De Bruyne (£10.0m), another late returner after his World Cup exertions, starts on the bench for the reigning Premier League champions this afternoon.

The rest of Guardiola’s starting XI is perhaps as expected, with Sergio Aguero (£11.0m) leading the line and Riyad Mahrez (£9.0m) handed his City league debut.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.5m) always looked at some risk of being benched for the visit of City and the French forward indeed starts among Arsenal’s substitutes, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) fielded as the spearhead of the Gunners’ attack.

Though not likely to cause many ructions in the Fantasy community, Matteo Guendouzi (£4.5m) – who admittedly has had a fine pre-season for Emery’s side – has been preferred to the more experienced Lucas Torreira (£5.0m) in the engine room. Aaron Ramsey (£7.5m) also gets a start for the Gunners.

Nacho Monreal (£5.5m) has failed to prove his fitness, so FPL midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.5m) deputises at left-back.

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ramsey; Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang

Manchester City XI (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Laporte, Mendy; Fernandinho, Gundogan; Bernardo, Mahrez, Sterling; Aguero
4,682 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Aguero wins fk., Sokratis YC.

  2. Ginkapo FPL
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Experience from Sokratis there

  3. DAZZ
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Is bernardo silva even on the pitch? Has he touched the ball?

    1. Ghost Gooner
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Making decent runs but not being passed to

  4. Limbo
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Mahrez pls

  5. Rainer
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Well done, Cech!

  6. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Cech with a double save!

  7. The Enlightener
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    The door slammed shut there on Laporte.....badump-tshhh

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Heyyyy

    2. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      😆

  8. G-Whizz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    OMG Cech!

  9. OldBenKenobi
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Going Davies, TAA + KdB
    over
    Mendy, Robertson + Mahrez
    has killed me this week 🙁

  10. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Walker destroying Arsenal's left side.

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      best full back in the league for some time now

    2. Rainer
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Easy when Mkhi just stays up.

  11. TomSaints
    • 8 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Look at the city players movement compared to Arsenal defence. Always seem a step ahead / faster to react

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Pep

      1. TomSaints
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        I know, but in the slow motion replay after that Cech save. It was just so obvious

    2. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Kun making Sokratis look so slow he might be old enough to be the original Greek one from a few hundred years BC

      1. Chorlton 76
        • 8 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        🙂

  12. Totalfootball
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    How to fit Sterling in if you have the likes of aguero salah Mane ?!

    1. Guy Demel
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      You realistically cannot.

    2. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Ditch kun

      1. Totalfootball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        Maybe this

    3. Cofinho
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      No way, mahrez sane even kdb cheaper options

      1. Totalfootball
        • 9 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        But Sterling looks the deal

    4. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Bank loan.

    5. Dsmythy
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Just keep Aguero.

  13. Cofinho
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Cant believe that walked have played as CB at WC

    1. Cofinho
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Walker***

    2. Limbo
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Problem that for England. Trippier / Walker our best defenders

      1. Cofinho
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        But imo walker is a better

  14. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Walkers pace is blistering

    1. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Yes it is

    2. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Surely quickest in the league?

      1. Rotation's Alter Ego
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 15 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        Would love to see a race between him and Sane

      2. KadMan
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        Bellerin is faster

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Mkhi not getting anywhere near him...leaving Maitland-Niles to it!

    4. Once,Twice,ThreeTimesFellai…
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Express train

  15. Ghost Gooner
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Guenduzi out of his depth here. HT sub for Torreira

  16. TOBY1
    • 9 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Walker was the perfect signing for city.

    1. XabiAlonso
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      If only he could defend

  17. Wilshere Knowledge
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Maybe next year will be our year then. 😀

  18. TheSteel
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Could see a Jesus sub here around 60

  19. Differential C (Mark)
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Nothing like boosting a teenage player's confidence and warming him to your fans then playing him as CM vs Man City
    What was Emery thinking, I'll never know.

    1. Speédy
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Best player in preseason,deserved the start. Fans love him already.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        Im a fan of Guendouzi too, but.playing vs City is just cruel.

  20. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Did Munday get Lacazette in the end?

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Think so, Monday bloody Munday..

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        Tell me why! I don't like Mundays. Tell me why! I don't like Mundays. I wanna shoot the whole day down.

    2. Rainer
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Hardly?

    3. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      I can confirm that FPL expert Munday did get Lacazette. Also might get jam off the bench.

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/a/team/2032/event/1

  21. Captain Vantastic™
    • 14 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Mahrez slowing the play down. Take him off Pep

    1. MTPockets
      8 years, 26 days ago

      righto

  22. banskt
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Laporte taking Otamendi's role. Goals incoming from corners.

  23. Debauchy
    • 13 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Stay quite please Kun , get it all next week

  24. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    4-5-1 with a cheap forward hmmmm...

  25. Ted Bovis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Wife thinks im odd when I cover my mouth to speak to her...like a prem manager.

    1. Cofinho
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Hahahahahahahha man

    2. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      😆

    3. Ross From Friends
      • 8 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      hahahahahahahaahaha my life

  26. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Emery looks greasy

    1. banskt
      • 13 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Maitland-Niles and Guendouzi. Really?

  27. Once,Twice,ThreeTimesFellai…
    • 11 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Ok so template for year is 3xPool, 3xCity, 3x Palace. Plus maybe Rich and Neves. Easy. Wake me up in May

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      CP weren't that impressive imo but whatever

      1. Richd
        • 14 Years
        8 years, 26 days ago

        Agree.

        They let a lot of shots in. Just lucky they were playing a very poor team imo.

        1. F4L
          • 11 Years
          8 years, 26 days ago

          haha. Reading's season has started as expected

    2. Oven Glover
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Pool looked good against the unsettled Hammers. Their upcoming fixtures don’t.

    3. Limbo
      • 16 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Palace playing Liverpool GW2. Tune’s going to change fast after they concede a few.

    4. Planet Head
      • 9 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Went for 3 city, 3 palace but only 2 Liverpool this week. Error 🙁

    5. Once,Twice,ThreeTimesFellai…
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Only saying in jest - except for the Pool and City part. Thinking that Ederson is a waste of a city spot the way Mendy keeps popiing up in no.10 position today!

  28. Xabi
    • 15 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    test

  29. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    Any chance KDB doesn't get subbed on? 🙁

    1. Granville
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Very unlikley

    2. Oven Glover
      • 11 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Still a massive gw for you. Well played!

    3. Clintymints
      • 17 Years
      8 years, 26 days ago

      Afraid not

  30. Sharkytect
    • 12 Years
    8 years, 26 days ago

    On the sky game it says all my players other than those playing today are on 0 points. Why?