Dugout Discussion

FPL focus on Arsenal in first favourable fixture of 2018/19

All eyes turn to Arsenal and their home meeting with West Ham this afternoon in the first favourable fixture of the season for Unai Emery’s men.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£7.1m), signed by 450,000+ managers and now in 19 percent of teams, retained his place in the side while the 16.3 percent owned Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) leads the line once again.

As expected, Mesut Özil (£8.4m) misses out through illness and is replaced by Aaron Ramsey (£7.4m), while Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) is named on the bench for the third week running.

Marko Arnautovic (£7.0m) reclaims his monopoly on the West Ham centre-forward role with Javier Hernandez (£6.5m) dropped down to the bench.

Bournemouth are unchanged for the third match in succession with Callum Wilson (£6.1m) and Josh King (£6.4m) once again the front pairing, with Ryan Fraser (£5.6m) deployed on the left of midfield.

Ben Hamer (£4.0m) keeps his place in the Huddersfield net while Lee Peltier (£4.0m) was absent from the Cardiff line-up for a second week running, although this time he was named on the bench instead of missing out all-together.

Our Spot the Differential lead pick Danny Ings (£5.5m) gets a second start in a row for Southampton while Shane Long (£5.0m) comes in for Charlie Austin (£6.0m).

Meanwhile, FPL defender Ricardo Pereira (£5.1m) looks to have returned to an attacking midfield role for Leciester.

ARSENAL XI (4-3-3): Cech; Monreal, Mustafi, Sokratis, Bellerin; Guendouzi, Xhaka, Ramsey; Iwobi, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan

WEST HAM XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Masuaku, Balbuena, Diop, Fredericks; Sanchez, Wilshere; Anderson, Antonio, Snodgrass; Arnautovic

BOURNEMOUTH XI (4-4-2): Begovic; Daniels, S Cook, Aké, A Smith; Fraser, Surman, Gosling, Brooks; King, Wilson.

EVERTON XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Baines, Keane, Holgate, Coleman; Gueye, Davies; Richarlison, Sigurdsson, Walcott; Tosun.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN XI (4-5-1): Hamer, Kongolo, Zanka, Schindler, Haderjonaj; Diahkaby, Hogg, Billing, Mooy, Van La Parra; Mounie.

CARDIFF CITY XI (4-3-3): Etheridge; Bennett, Bamba, Morrison, Manga; Ralls, Camarasa, Arter; Murphy, Zohore, Mendez-Laing.

SOUTHAMPTON XI (4-4-2): McCarthy; Bertrand, Hoedt, Vestergaard, Cedric; Redmond, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Elyounoussi; Long, Ings

LEICESTER CITY XI (4-4-1-1): Schmeichel; Chilwell, Maguire, Evans, Pereira; Gray, Ndidi, Mendy, Albrighton; Maddison; Iheanacho.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

3,013 Comments Post a Comment
  1. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    It’s the 7th time Ozil have been I’ll since January

    Pathetic

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      ill*

    2. French Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Kasper

  2. French Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Come on Mkhi

    1. In FPHell
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I will if he gets 2 assists and a goal

  3. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Be interesting to see the Man City team for next game week!

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Who would people predict? Sane and Mahrez didn’t exactly look great from the bench

    2. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      *every week

    3. Dušan Citizen
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Kun TC

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

      Sure Pep will tell us now in the post-match interview to stop all the false information!

    5. F4L
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      he might go back to 2 up top

    6. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I have a hunch Aguero might not start

      1. threeputt
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        but I doubt it will stop me owning him

      2. jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Why on Earth would you say that? He could have had another hattie today but it wasn't to be for City, fist name on Pep's team sheet I reckon!

        1. threeputt
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          bacause it's Pep and Pep does what he wants

          1. jia you
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Jesus is so far behind Aguero, Pep would be mad to drop Kun plus he's a beast at home v weak opposition! Thinking of TC myself 🙂

  4. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Arsenal about to activate some wildcards.

  5. Vlad Tepes
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    What do you think about Arsenal vs West Ham?? Score prediction?

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      2-2

    2. Sting in the Tail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      2-3

    3. cheekumz
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3 - 2

    4. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3-1

      Auba hatty

    5. F4L
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      2-1

    6. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3-0

    7. R.C
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Arnie and Auba hattie

    8. Licky
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3-1

    9. lugs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      4-0

    10. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      4:2

    11. Jack Sparrow
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      1-2. Arsenal asset owners soon to be disappointed.

    12. tsm
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      2-1

      Mkhitaryan goal and assist
      Aubo goal
      Guendozi assist

    13. threeputt
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      1-2

    14. 1569Tippins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      4-1

    15. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3-1

    16. Homo Neanderthalensis
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      3-0 to Arsenal

      Aubameyang x2
      Guendouzi x1

  6. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Robbie from AFTV said Ozil and Emery had a bust up and have fallen out. Player dropped not ill.

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I wouldn’t be surprised with that

      1. Licky
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah.

    2. Dušan Citizen
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Was about time some dropp him.

    3. Zoostation
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Ozil if anyone left has not noticed is garbage.

    4. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      My mate told me about this fall out yesterday, apparently Ozil stormed off on the training pitch

  7. Dušan Citizen
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/18721609

    I was right, but I didn't expect such a theft.

    1. My Name Is Pepu
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Daylight robbery

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        And I thought Atkinson was one of the best English referees.

        1. My Name Is Pepu
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          He had a shocker TBH

          And no one's gonna talk about this because it's City at the recieving end.

          1. Dušan Citizen
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Exactly!

            And this is why Liverpool and United are against VAR. With this refereeing, they still have some tiny chances for the title. Otherwise, not a single one.

            1. Zilla
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 8 months ago

              😆

        2. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          People wondered why English refs weren't at the World Cup. 😆

  8. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Auba (c) + Mkhitaryan owners unite

    Let's gooo

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Gl, anyone that asked if they should (c) Kun or Aubameyang, I advised them to (c) Aubameyang

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Sound advice mate 😉

    2. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Ello Chokra 🙂

  9. F4L
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Most exciting 3 o'clock game will be.....

    1. Jack Sparrow
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Sou - Lei. Ings masterclass.

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        If he lasts until the 2nd half

      2. F4L
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        here's hoping

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Huddersfield/Cardiff if you're into Championship football.

    3. 1569Tippins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Bou - Eve ... goals galore!

  10. Podge
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Mark did mention a random Boly goal didn’t he

    1. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Joe*

      1. My Name Is Pepu
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        I was busy counting the number of times he said 'magic beans' in that vid.

    2. Jack Sparrow
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Great. Tell us what else he said. Don't keep us on the edge of our seats.

      1. Podge
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Watch the dvd when it comes out, I wouldn’t want to ruin it on you.

    3. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      But I'm the one who started Boly today

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

        Team link please

        1. Cok3y5murf
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Nothing to see there. I had to start either him or Duffy vs Liverpool due to the suspension of AWB. Utter jam 🙂

  11. Licky
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Pereira still out on the right, sweeeet.

    1. lugs
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      essential 🙂

  12. the_arrows
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Had DSilva, Holebas and Bennet (bench) on WC. Switced to Fraser, TAA and PVA (bench) an hour before deadline. Dodged a bullet there with Silva's 1 pointer.

    1. Jack Sparrow
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Wouldn't give yourself a pat on the back based on 1 GW.

  13. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Just realized Torreira doesnt start.
    Shocking. Im not saying Emery's a failure already, but Im starting to question him. Everyone can see a Guendouzi+Torreira is the partnership that needs to be developed, an excellent QB-like long-passer and a midfield destroyer. Xhaka's decision making and woeful passing a liability, his belters not making up for his deficiencies.
    Just simply odd.

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Even Cech. Leno should start

    2. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      The guy has to phase out 20 years of work. Give him a break. If they're as good together as the fans think they will be, eventually Xhaka will be dropped.

      1. Differential C (Mark)
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Fair enough, it is a rebuliding season for Arsenal. But surely player selection shouldnt be affected. Again, not saying Emery has already failed and #EmeryOut and all that nonsense.

        1. Khark
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          #WengerIn

    3. mitro
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Arsenal got dominated in 2nd half when they took Xhaka off. They need someone to start the attacks.

  14. Dynamic Duos
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    5mins and the gwk really starts

  15. JustPark
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    1 more week for Laca then I'm done with him.

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Sell now

      1. bigwig
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        This

      2. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Will see how it ends. A goal and an assist might put me off.

  16. PB-THE-VET
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Maherez and neves ——> mkhit and rich

    No brainer? 2ft

    1. Jack Sparrow
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      I must be the only one who thinks those 2 to the right are terrible picks.

      1. Podge
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        You must, they’re great picks

        1. Jack Sparrow
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          If you say so.

  17. barracuda
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Come on Auba my son.

  18. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Mendy 2 bonus locked?

  19. R.C
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Only if I knew the Hammers back 4 before deadline I would've captained Auba!

  20. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Rock N Roll football on, see ya on the other side fellas

    https://player.absoluteradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/

  21. tm245
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Good format to the article to have all the starters listed, makes for an easy way to see the lineups in one place.

  22. GuillermoDickero
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 8 months ago

    Took out Boly this week for Steve Cook - great! Haha

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Could get an offside handball goal next week...

      • jia you
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        ...did the same and don't mind, Wolves will concede plenty!

    2. BabyB
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Any mods around?

      FFS members area has gundogan on 27bps but fpl have him on 28bps. Any possible issues with your data? Never seen a difference before.

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Seen that. Plenty of midfielders in the 'forward' tabs on stats tables too. A couple of issues this season.

      2. G-Whizz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Getting that looked into for you 🙂

        1. BabyB
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Ta

      3. RedLightning
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Gundogan may have gained an extra BPS point near the end of the match, or shortly after. It can sometimes take about twenty minutes for the FFS stats to catch up.

        1. BabyB
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          Wondered about that but still no changes to this on the members area several hours after.

          1. RedLightning
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 13 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Mat will have to investigate further then.

            1. BabyB
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 8 months ago

              did anything come of this?

              1. RedLightning
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 8 months ago

                Mat says he'll need a dump of OPTA numbers for comparison, and has forwarded a request for these to Mark.

              2. RedLightning
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 13 Years
                5 years, 8 months ago

                Mat says he's spent a good amount of time trying to track down the missing BP to no avail on this occasion. However, please do report all these discrepancies as we often need multiple instances of the same error to see a pattern which helps identify problems with the algorithm.

                1. Rotation's Alter Ego
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • Has Moderation Rights
                  • 12 Years
                  5 years, 8 months ago

                  Only checked the Leicester Southampton game, but Morgan, Pereira, Elyounoussi, Hoj, Ings are all wrong in members?

                  Or am I looking at the wrong thing?

                  1. RedLightning
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 13 Years
                    5 years, 8 months ago

                    They look wrong tp me. I have passed this on to Mat.

    3. barracuda
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Pep is sweet and nice in front of the camera but I really hope he gives to that team some hard talking. They were passionless today.

      1. Licious Lizard
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Agreed that they really lacked something today in their performances. I also agree that Pep is a two faced snake

    4. jia you
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Why do I let myself get wound up by the numerous trolls and posters on here that know nothing about football?
      I'm just gonna crack open a can and ignore the plebs 😉

      1. El Matador
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        The average age drops to about 5 on match days

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          true that mate!

    5. Dušan Citizen
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Mahrez doing wonders for my team. 3 points from 3 gws. 🙂

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Consistency is key!

        1. Dušan Citizen
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          I am very grateful to him, but will get David now 🙂

    6. The Cisco Kid
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 8 months ago

      Did anyone else hear Joe say he was starting Boly with the hope that he “might score a goal or something”?

      Consider this my petition to rename him “Jammy Joe”—especially after that goal. How many upvotes would it require to institute a mandatory name change? 50? 100? Let’s make our voices heard!

      1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Shameless 😛

      2. MTPockets
          5 years, 8 months ago

          No he'd never do that.

        • alastair
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          He's kept him on the bench and is now hoping Shaw doesn't play

        • #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          2nd in his bench didn’t start him

          1. PDM TOP 1,000 any Season Le…
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Good Bench strength just in case Shaw is a no-show 😉

      3. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Oh yes, Ricardo... Mmmmmm

        1. Zilla
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 8 months ago

          RW?

          1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 8 months ago

            Yep

      4. gaurava1216
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Predictions today?
        Arsenal Win
        BMouth Draw
        H'field win
        Southampton Draw
        Liverpool win

      5. jtreble
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 8 months ago

        Mahrez will point but probably won’t play enough to justify his price.