Dugout Discussion

Lacazette on the bench as Emery sticks with a three-man defence

Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur in a 14:05 GMT kick-off at the Emirates in what will be Unai Emery’s first taste of a north London derby.

The Gunners are unbeaten in the league since Gameweek 2, while Spurs are on a five-match winning run away from home in the top flight.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.6m) – the most-sold FPL forward of this round of fixtures – has recovered from the groin injury that forced him to miss last Sunday’s win over Bournemouth but is only among the substitutes, with Emery naming the same team that defeated the Cherries on the south coast.

That means Arsenal will once again line up in a 3-4-2-1, with Hector Bellerin (£5.4m) and Sead Kolasinac (£4.9m) deployed as wing-backs, and Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) and Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£6.7m) supporting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) in attack.

Mesut Ozil (£8.2m) is not in the match-day squad, with Arsenal reporting that the German midfielder is suffering with a back spasm.

Mauricio Pochettino has made only one change from the side that defeated Chelsea in Gameweek 13, with Juan Foyth (£5.0m) replacing Jan Vertonghen (£5.9m) in defence.

That means starts for Dele Alli (£8.9m), Son Heung-min (£8.3m) and Christian Eriksen (£9.2m), as well as Harry Kane (£12.3m) in attack.

Kieran Trippier (£6.1m), as expected, is missing through injury.

Despite their unbeaten run, Arsenal haven’t kept a clean sheet since the 2-0 win over Watford in Gameweek 7.

Goals haven’t been a problem for the Gunners, though: Emery’s troops have scored at least two goals in ten of their 13 league fixtures this season.

This is Spurs’ ninth away league fixture of the season and most of Kane’s attacking returns (five goals, two assists) have come on the road.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Sokratis, Holding, Mustafi; Bellerin, Xhaka, Torreira, Kolasinac; Iwobi, Mkhitaryan; Aubameyang.

Spurs XI: Lloris; Aurier, Foyth, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Sissoko; Eriksen, Dele, Son; Kane.

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1,579 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Auba a better option than Kane now then?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Honestly considering that. 1.4 cheaper, so only need to use the 1 FT

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

        Indeed, think i’m gonna go for Auba, but will he be benched next game?

        1. KGFC
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          No chance with Utd next!

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

            Very true haha!

    2. dennis the menace
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Yes

    3. TAT
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Auba has always been a better striker. Kane has the benefit of a well formed attack around him.

    4. Dynamic Duos
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      O Both, I might drum this into you by deadline lol 🙂

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

        Haha! It’s certainly an option

    5. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Seem to be many better options than Kane at the moment. Monitor. His form may improve.

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

        Yeah i agree, have to go where the form is hot though i guess in auba

  2. Silecro
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Salah, Kun, Arnie > Sterling, Laca, Kane, yes or no?

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I’d pass on Kane.

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Gold fish memory

        1. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Kane can’t rely on “diving” pens. When his form improves I’ll consider him. Until then, not for me.

    2. Ross From Friends
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      question: do you decide these things as soon as a goal goes in for a player? asking for a friend

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Lolll

  3. Samwise the Brave
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    How is Sissoko still on but Son and Alli go off.

    Awful management.

    1. dennis the menace
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Son so tired from diving

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Poch would play 11 from Argentina if they had 11!

  4. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Kinda hard to justify Kane in over Auba now...?

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      No sh*t Sherlock

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Mmhmm. Gives me no Spurs, though.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Depends on if you're point chasing or looking forward.

      1. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        So who do you deem better going forward?

    3. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Soton! Done

  5. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Laca very close to 7 point and ofc i sold him for Aguero.

  6. Jimmers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Arsene who?

  7. mrwinner
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    FPL takes a backseat when you watch matches like these

    1. dvdguy
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      this game will be replayed over and over for years to come

  8. bangers and M*A*S*H
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Advice needed please

    a) Alonso and Lovren
    b) Luiz and VVD

    1. Ross From Friends
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Lovren not in the squad today....what a shame 🙁

    2. CROCosta
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      i got lovren for taa in gw10, worst move of the season

  9. seewhyaxe
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Wow Erik in bps

  10. Dr. Rog
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    feels like we'll get to celebrate St. Totteringhams day this season

  11. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Kun to Auba done

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      So tempting

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

      Did you really do that Chucky? Just now?

  12. Yellin' in my Ear
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Maybe it's kun to Auba required, away at United next and we know they can't defend...

  13. TaiwanHC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    This is making the future so difficult.

  14. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Laca & Auba anyone? 😯

    1. TAT
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Considering it!

    2. dennis the menace
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Have Laca, and have 2FT, seriously considering Kun to Auba

    3. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Can do Arnie Aguero Haz to auba laca sane for -4 may go for it

  15. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Kane has been invisible in the second half but already looks so exhausted! What's wrong with him??

    1. Numb
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A lot of work in that midfield role

    2. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Sth with his breathing I heard

    3. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He's English

      1. AlissonBecker fell alone
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        This

    4. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      not doping anymore 😉

      1. KGFC
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Hehe 😀

  16. Dr. Rog
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    #WengerOUT

  17. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Arsenal will smash United for 6 next GW and exact revenge for the 8-1 humiliation and lead to Mourinho's end.

    1. ⭐ ABHISHEK - THE CURIOUS …
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Or Mourinho will win against Arsenal 1-0

      Felliani goal

    2. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah not a bad game to have Aubameyang for

      And then three delicious fixtures

      Dont think I will go for Kane

    3. Zilla
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      lol

  18. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Still think Kane is a better choice over Aubameyang?

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Nope

  19. Nabs Kebabs
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Emery is a phenomenal manager. Wenger was a philospher, an intelligent yet extremely naive and stubborn man. Emery is a tactician, with extreme attention to detail. A far organised yet adaptable manager who gets the best out of players. Great time to be an Arsenal supporter.

  20. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    So Rose for Davies is how Poch uses his last sub. Nice.

  21. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Childish Gambino on.

    *Fan girls*

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Racist.

      1. Fred54
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Shut it Diesel.

  22. J T
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Well impressed with Emery, that change of shape and personnel at half time. Then 3 goals in 30 minutes!

  23. Konig Luther
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Spurs doing his job... now no one will bring their players, and they will remain differentials.

  24. french holiday
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Just did the transfer...Kun out for Auba

  25. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hmm Aubameyang

  26. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Foyth is possibly the worst defender I have seen get a game in the PL.

    1. Pieterke30
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Ever heard of Younes Kaboul?

    2. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Zat Knight is waving at you.

    3. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Harsh

    4. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Andre Santos says hello

    5. dvdguy
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Matic playing as CB says hi

  27. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    who to get to cover Spurs fixtures? I dont want Kane, still looks lazy, deep, useless, expensive

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Has to be Dier then if its cover you want.

    2. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Son looks like the best Spurs cover at the moment.

      1. Taegugk Warrior
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        How about rotation...? Is he first choice now...?

        1. dvdguy
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Rotation plus off to Asian cup in Jan.

  28. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Still Wengers team/players....he should get the plaudits for this victory....

  29. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Gooooo gunners!!!

  30. Bouncebackability
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Hmm.

    Kane has touched the ball once all game.

    But Saints and the armband with a bounceback performance?

    Auba at OT