Dugout Discussion
2 September 2018 2514 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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.

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2,514 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. CloudSky
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Does Emery not know he can make subs?

  2. Emiliano Sala
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Where is aurier?

  3. BIind Moth
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Miki cameo to finish off a decent week

  4. Digital-Real
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Surely if scoreline stays the same, Welbs comes on?

  5. Mic
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Why would Arsenal bring on Mkhi? They might bring on a defender.. Theyve just earned a hard fought point at Cardiff. Also lets not forget Cardiff are poor attacking wise, they wont get Arsenal every week.

    1. Mic
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Just dont get it... Emery really is clueless

    2. Klein
      8 years, 1 month ago

      What are you talking about buddy. They wont bring def when they are losing points to cardiff

  6. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Is having Tomkins, Zaha, Walcott and Mhikitaryan enough to need to Wildcard?

    1. Lukakwho
      8 years, 1 month ago

      no

    2. LÖrKingMuch
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No X 3

    3. The Mandalorian
      8 years, 1 month ago

      You need a keeper on that list 🙂

  7. Lukakwho
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Would you wildcard if you had all these players?

    Eriksen, Zaha, Mkhi, Kamara, Peltier, Bilva, Masuaku

    1. Hiddenpaw
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes - I just have

    2. Patch
      8 years, 1 month ago

      RIP

      1. Lukakwho
        8 years, 1 month ago

        that a yes?

    3. Mic
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yes for sure.

  8. Hiddenpaw
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 years, 1 month ago

    On WC who is the best 5.5 or below midfielder?
    A) Traore (Wolves)
    B) Seri (Fulham)
    C) Ghezzal (Leicester)
    D) Some other punt I’ve not considered

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Those are bad. Gray, Hendrick and Fraser are your main options.

    2. Mingo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Frazier?

    3. My Name Is Pepu
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Hughes IMO going under the radar

      1. RashFraud
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Have him. Seen him play. Not impressed. Thinking of dumping for Fraser myself

        1. My Name Is Pepu
          8 years, 1 month ago

          Does enough to get inside the box and put a couple of shots away. Fairly nailed, that's all I expect at that price.

    4. Botman and Robben
      8 years, 1 month ago

      D. Fraser

    5. manchesterisblue
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Seri is good for base bps, also has actual quality

  9. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Come on Unai. Mkhi cameo to ruin all those bench points pleeeeeeeease.....

    1. Point-one short
      8 years, 1 month ago

      This

  10. Merlin the Wraith
    8 years, 1 month ago

    What a load of hypocritical contrary posters this site engenders.. 5mins into game you want to put your players up in front of a firing squad for not performing & then whoa.. you're treating them as 'gods'. Lol@ you 'social media sad sheep'. Go on then mods.. ban me for the 'lol post' then

    1. Syd.
      8 years, 1 month ago

      It has always been like this but has good progressively worse over the last few years

    2. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Welcome to ffs

    3. Fantastisk
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Reported

    4. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Lol @ you getting riled up over a bunch of neckbeards with no influence over your life...

      1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
        8 years, 1 month ago

        In fairness you're right, but there's no simple solution

      2. FlockofSeagulls
        8 years, 1 month ago

        Much better. 😉

    5. International Richard
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Dear god

    6. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      It's taken you TWO years to notice!?

    7. Dannyb
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Wow, bad weekend mate?

    8. toystory2wasok
      8 years, 1 month ago

      incisive observation to make after 2 years on this website.

    9. Brap.
      8 years, 1 month ago

      The only thing more annoying than posts exaggerating how bad or good players are doing -- posts like yours exaggerating those exaggerating posts. "firing squad", "gods" -- no one said anything like that. Simmer down.

    10. Merlin the Wraith
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Cheers fellas! Just getting more & more hacked off with the juvenile behaviour/slagging off/trolling (including fake team posts) on this site. Not renewing membership anytime soon.

  11. Syd.
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal can stick their easy fixtures up their arse

    1. Mic
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Yup. Not interested.

  12. Coaly
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Ward is the next Jamie Vardy

  13. Pumpkinhead - I'm ITK …
    8 years, 1 month ago

    He's not coming on is he.

  14. Boomerang V
    8 years, 1 month ago

    OK here comes Mhki

  15. Differential C (Mark)
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Apart from the misses, Arter has been immense today. Hasnt stopped running.

    1. Brosstan
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Found it strange that BOU would let him go to a relegation rival

      1. Rsforstar
        8 years, 1 month ago

        lewis cook and new signing lerma is why, i guess

  16. Richd
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal bein this bad defensively does give merit to attacking options. I’ll hold Auba and Mkhi another week.

    1. Mic
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Haha no it doesnt. It makes them worse options

    2. TAT
      8 years, 1 month ago

      50/50 here. Difficult seeing Mitro, Hazard etc. getting steady points every week.

  17. tvz32
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Every Ars attempt to play put from the back has been laughable

  18. Digital-Real
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Vorm in goal, bye bye Spurs clean sheet

    1. Ha.
      8 years, 1 month ago

      This is hardly a shock...

  19. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Noooooooo Mhki sit down please

  20. Mic
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Omg.Bobby Reid is so bad

  21. Andy Mac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 years, 1 month ago

    I really want to WC my team but it keeps scoring me lots of points.....what to do.....aaarrgghhh.....

    1. Klein
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Damn thats horrible. Rage quit?

  22. Sir David White
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Bellerin is like a midfielder who doesn't get clean sheet points

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      Haha

  23. FlockofSeagulls
    8 years, 1 month ago

    This isn't the first time Arsenal have struggled against Barcelona.

  24. Syd.
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Laca goal

  25. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Lacazette

  26. RAFA THE GAFFA
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Laca is mint! First name on the sheet next week

  27. BrutalLogiC
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Do you own and want Mkhi to come on?

    1. Andy Mac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      8 years, 1 month ago

      No and yes!!

  28. Differential C (Mark)
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Laca goal, Torreira assist.

  29. Red Star Toro
    8 years, 1 month ago

    There you go

  30. Oven Glover
    8 years, 1 month ago

    Here comes Random Name...