Dugout Discussion

Mkhitaryan benched as Lacazette gets his first start of the season

The first of three matches this afternoon kicks off at 13:30 BST, as Cardiff City entertain Arsenal.

The visitors’ starting XI represents bad news for those who own the most in-demand FPL player on show in South Wales: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£7.2m) is only among the substitutes this afternoon. The Armenian features in more than one in five Fantasy squads and was the only Arsenal midfielder or forward to have played all 270 minutes of Premier League action this season.

Mkhitaryan recorded a goal, an assist and two bonus points in his side’s previous away league fixture at Chelsea in Gameweek 2.

Despite a tumble in ownership after three matches without an attacking return, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) is actually the fourth-most-popular captaincy choice of Gameweek 4 – though that only equates to just over 3% of all FPL managers.

Over 148,000 managers lost faith with the Gabonese striker this week and cashed in on his premium price tag.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) gets his first start of the season today, which presumably means Aubameyang will move out to the left flank to accommodate the Frenchman. Mesut Ozil (£8.3m) returns from illness to take Mkhitaryan’s place, with Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) also dropping out.

The hosts have registered two clean sheets in as many matches, with Neil Etheridge (£4.6m) currently the highest-scoring goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League following those back-to-back shut-outs and a brace of penalty saves.

The Philippines international is also the most-owned City player in FPL, sitting in over 6% of our squads.

There is further disappointment for those hoping for a start for Lee Peltier (£4.0m) – the Bluebirds’ most-owned outfield player – who is only among the substitutes this afternoon.

Neil Warnock has made three changes to his side, all in attack: Bobby Reid (£5.4m), Danny Ward (£4.5m) and the fit-again Junior Hoilett (£5.3m) come into the starting XI.

Cardiff City XI (4-4-2): Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Arter, Ralls, Hoilett; Reid, Ward.

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Cech; Bellerin, Monreal, Mustafi, Sokratis; Ramsey, Xhaka, Guendouzi; Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

Become a Member and access our data

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

2,514 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    And still glad i don’t own Auba, hopefully his owners keep now 🙂

    1. MikeBravo
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Yes Auba, yes!

      1. MikeBravo
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Save me a WC!

    2. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      I’m glad this will prevent further drops. Can chill during the break now.

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        True 🙂

  2. tvz32
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 9 months ago

    Will Mkhi come on now that ars is leading?

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      There’s no way of knowing that

    2. AndyCook
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Think he still will when you look at who is on the bench

    3. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Mark knew ....

      1. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Knew that an 11.0 striker would score against the worst team in the league? Genius.

        1. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          All this Mark ass licking is cringe worthy.

      2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Yer his rank backs that up

    4. Finnish Fish
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      FINALLY my dear friend! Aubamabloodclaatyang

    5. Fantastisk
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Aguero -> Auba for a -4?

      1. Klein
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Hit it. Hit it

    6. FC Barkerlona
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      As it stands 3 BAPS for winning goal too. Such a shame lol

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Lovely

    7. Stevie B
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      B. Silva owners what you will do with him? Transfer out (for who) or leave in the team?

      Thank you!

    8. Ady87
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Bennett on for Mkhi if he stays benched. Only 5 points but better than a kick in the nads.

      1. Dannyb
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Unless Mhki comes on and scores of course.....

      2. Desperately Seeking Dusan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Given the average at the end of yesterday was 34 and only 48 or so for the top 10k that’s 10% of the total! Handy 5 pts!

    9. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Aubameyang (34)
      Mustafi (29)
      Xhaka (24)
      Camarasa (23)
      Bennett (22)

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Brilliant

    10. Red Star Toro
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Keep Mkhi on the bench Unai!!!

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Not this ever

    11. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Aguero to Auba for a hit?......... lol

      1. Podge
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Only for -8

    12. Mic
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Arsenal fans singing youre fkn shiet lmao rich

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        They are though

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

        Otherwise known as "The Ballad of Ozil"

        1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Lol

    13. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Embarassing that Arsenal fans still sing the song they "we're by far the greatest team the world has ever seen"

      Just about beating a pretty lame Cardiff team

      1. Fantastisk
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Yes it's not like football fans to sing songs that aren't 100% factual.

        1. Richd
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          This 🙂

      2. Richd
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        It’s a pretty common song throughout the football league. Even teams like fleetwood will sing it

        1. Differentiator
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          But Fleetwood are world class

          1. Richd
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Joey Barton’s world class fleetwood

        2. JamieC180
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          When Fleetwood sing it there's more than a hint of irony, though. Not so much with Arsenal.

          1. Richd
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Seriously. I dunno a team that doesn’t sing this. I’ve done 62 of the 92.

          2. Desperately Seeking Dusan
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Nah, it’s just a traditional song. Think it goes back to Don Howe games.

            We’re not going to sing about winning Wenger Cups (not that we win them anymore anyway)

        3. Fantastisk
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I'm wondering if Differentiator has ever been to a match...

    14. JamieC180
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Incredible how quickly a player goes from 100% must-ditch to completely indispensable. Long live FPL.

      1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        It’s embarassing.

    15. Fantastisk
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      Arsenal going to open Cardiff up like a tin of beans now.

    16. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 9 months ago

      An 11.0 striker scored vs Cardiff. What's the big deal?

      1. yakirh
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Very low avg this week, goal is a lot

      2. Maddi Son
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 9 months ago

        Really poor logic there fella.

      3. AndyCook
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Well Aguero has had three blanks and everyone loves him

          1. AndyCook
              5 years, 9 months ago

              Sorry two, three without a goal

              1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 12 Years
                5 years, 9 months ago

                Lol, it’s so true. Yet Mane last week was a “definite ditch” last week after a blank. The hysteria of the crowd.

        • Ruth_NZ
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Where is Fkhitaryan?

          1. FlockofSeagulls
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            You misspelled Welbeck. 🙂

        • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Auba actually looks a bargain if laca and him continue to start games

          1. Smurf
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Why? He hasn't hardly been involved in this game. And that's coming from an owner.

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

            Bargain @ 10.9M
            Hmm

          3. Camzy
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            *Facepalm. He's looked awful all game shunted out wide. Scores one decent goal and all of a sudden he's a bargain?! lol

          4. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            FAR from anything remotely bargain like

          5. Dr. Ante Pavlovic
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            After one goal lol

          6. Gnu
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            😆
            Love it, comedy gold.

          7. FlockofSeagulls
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            I'd rather one of this generations Cole & Yorke in Deeney or Gray.

        • shirtless
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Wambamthankyoumam

          1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Just another notch on his bedpost

        • Ask Yourself
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Xhakellow

        • Silecro
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          How would you get Alonso in this team?

          Ederson/4.0
          Robbo/Mendy/PvA/Boly/Peltier
          Salah/Mane/Walcott/Mkhi/4.5
          Wilson/Kun/Zaha

          0.0 itb

          REALLY not keen on pressing the button just yet

          1. GianniBanani
            • 5 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            I would downgrade Mkhi or Wally

        • GianniBanani
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Aguero for Aguero for -8?

          1. The Mighty Hippo
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            not sure if it's worth it

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

            only for -16

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

            I wouldn't sell Aguero, especially not for Aguero

          4. Andy Mac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            Only if its for Auba and then back to Aguero so you are priced out and have to sell Salah for a 12.7 mid...

        • Ask Yourself
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Please Mkhi my rival has a Cedric 12 pointer on the bench

          1. Dannyb
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 9 months ago

            He's 100% coming on.

        • Dannyb
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          I used to like Arsenal, now I can't stand them. The whole club mentality and the board just really irks me.

        • Mic
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Pen surely!!!

        • Lucackadoodledoo
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Arsenal make Cardiff look half decent.

        • Sandy Ravage
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Mkhi + Arnie > Pedro + Auba (-4)

        • ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          OMG ward

        • SB007
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          Experiement to rid of Salah to help with Haz and Aub is now on.

          This is a 4 week play.

          Bps to Auba.

        • tiger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 9 months ago

          2-2