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. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I had Auba for the first 6 or 7 weeks. Not going back. Laca can mess him up.

    Also it’s just a pen

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

      Same position, same view. He tempts though

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

        Yeah I can see the appeal still. Obviously did at the start of the season. Can also see the pitfalls

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

      This

    3. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Same, I switched him to Lacazette after 7 weeks, just before his 2 braces in a row 😀

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

    Interesting

  3. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Wenger out

  4. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Kane & Auba locked in for WC I think...

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yeah, I was looking at that...

    2. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Sounds like a scene from gloryhole.com

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        😆

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          😉

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

    Mike Dean hating Arse supporters will as always conveniently forget that the decision was completely correct.

  6. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    The main thing I like about Auba is that he is not Kane. 🙂

  7. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Son shot saved

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

    Auba 1
    Kane 0

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

    Is Kolasinac's position under threat from anyone? Just thinking he could be a great cheap differential...

    1. jg7u
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Whats the situation with Monreal?

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

        Not sure but yes once he is back, Kola goes back to the bench

    2. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      In threat from Monreal when he's back, and from a potential formation change in the future. Safe enough for now.

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

        Yeah true, thanks!

  10. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Aguero > Aubameyang is looking more likely...

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

      It’s a penalty ..

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

      Do it before HT to get Auba's points!

      1. Sandy Ravage
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Absolutely chaos

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Stick to the footie Bemba, other sites are debating Brexit

  12. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Haz to Sane will be an easy transfer.
    2 assists since i got him GW9.
    Useless!

  13. Marvin of all he surveys
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Spurs are rocking.

  14. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Poor finishing Auba

  15. NestorC
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Not sure should I keep or sell Hazard after todays match.

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Ditch
      He's useless

      1. NestorC
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers

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

    Spurs looking terrible. They need to change something tactically. Even if it is Son dropping back to provide cover. Survive the storm.

  17. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    auba close

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

      He didn’t even have a shot. He hit his ass

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      It was poorly taken...

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

    Late rant.
    Started Pat, benched Fabs.

    🙁

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

      Me too big hug

    2. bialk
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Same

      1. bialk
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Kane goal

  19. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Replay of Vert's brain fart for the pen;
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3JkCCQ2EFY

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      😛

  20. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Welcome to my team again, Aubameyang!

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

    Tear up your plans for Spurs players!

  22. bialk
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    First time I see Obama playing.

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

      How old are you? He was running for the office just a few years ago.

  23. L'Aeroplanino
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    with Lacazette returning Auba is no good on the left

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

      Auba is actually often better on the left.

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

    Not sure why Neville is having a go at Foyth. Aurier gave away the free kick because he let the ball through his legs and Vertonghen was the one handballing.

    1. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Gary or Phil? If Phil, just ignore....

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

        Gary on Sky commentary

        1. Jafooli
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Also just ignore....

  25. Valar(Keith)
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Think it's David silva and aubameyang in for me.. Dilva sure to start midweek and vs Chelsea and then they have 7 day gaps between matches till 22nd December so can't see him not starting the next 4 tbh

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

      I think the same about Mahrez. Good punt if you have transfers in hand or a WC to play.

  26. AzzaroMax99
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Chelsea bonus points are final?

  27. Ask Yourself
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Finished work now. Knew Kante would be able to cover hazard easy

    1. Marvin of all he surveys
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      You work on a Sunday? You have my sympathy.

      1. Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Retail brother just part time so I can survive x

  28. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    My plan was bringing in lots of Spurs and Arsenal players on WC next GW. Can’t say I’m too excited about it now.

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

      It's been 17 minutes.......

  29. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    bye bye Kane, keep Kun now

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Its 20 mins in

  30. Rsforstar
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Auba is still the top scorer even tho he usually playing on the left. Imagine he keeps his place upfront. Super tempting