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. mrwinner
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Kane essential

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Possibly

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

      Definitely

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

      Cardiff 2.0.

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Paterson 2.0

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

      Kane hasn’t looked very good so far. Lots of game left though.

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

    It'd be nice if City & Chelsea were given cheap penalties like these

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

      And people screaming to get rid of haz will call him essential loll

  3. chaser123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Son actually likely to get a ban for that?

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

      Bloody well hope so!

    2. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Doubt it. Minimal contact but there was some.

    3. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Probably not, it’s not a clear enough dive

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

      No.

    5. lilmessipran
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Doubt it..he went down easy but there was contact imo

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

      No because there was contact

    7. Mr Bird
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He should do... no contact at all

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

      Didn’t look like contact. Scumbag, ppl go off at Neymar, need to start calling out these cheers ie) Maddison

  4. SirT83
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Bottomed last page.

    Patricio to Fabs
    Hazard to Sane
    Then Aguero to either Kane or Auba, cant choose.
    This for a - 4.
    Whats your preferance and why?

    If I went Auba I would also have 1.1 itb for later changes. Can't afford Sterling without getting rid of Salah, which I don't want to do, yet....

    1. MTPockets
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Kane. Nailed and good fixtures last for longer (although not sure I'm getting him personally vs a mid)

    2. Haz to be Eden- Top scoring…
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      WC??

      Foster Patricio
      Robbo Laporte Alonso Boly AWB
      Salah Hazard Fraser Richa Hojbjerg
      Aguero Arnie Success

      1. SirT83
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yes! Not that I dislike the team, but fixtures for some teams are turning. (Arsenal-Tottenham etc)
        And there are only 7 games left untill next WC arrives. Great opportunity for you to get value in the Christmas fixtures.

      2. Jekori
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        GK bad.
        Def Great
        Mid Bad, without City and only 2 big hitters.
        Attack Ok.

        If you have 2 FT's i'd get Fabianski in and Sané for Hazard. Maybe Kün to Kane if you can afford.
        If not i'd WC yeah

    3. FDMS All Starz
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      How did hazard look today?

      A) hazard to sterling

      Or

      B) Kun to Kane

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

        Both

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

        A is risky for next 2.Rethink A after next 2.B is a nobrainer I think

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

        Looked decent not his best but should have got 2 assists if not for morata but u have to take in to account morata is crap .So he is a hold for me unless u have 2 fts and have no other way to upgrade kun to kane

      4. SirT83
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        If think about Auba as well. He has been outscoring Kane this year, and eye test looks good.

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

      The defenders Holding the strikers kane.

      Operation Yewtree notified....

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

        Jafooli sighted... Yewtree moving in!

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

      Hazard > Son, Alli or Eriksen?

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

        Dele

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

        No point doing unless u are upgrading elsewhere

    6. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Defo making my transfers tonight before any price changes

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

        Aye same I think. Wait til after games though

        1. Eat my goal!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          For sure

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

      Arsenal just about Holding on here.

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

      This guy gets it.
      https://twitter.com/Ankaman616/status/1069227166926168065
      Exactly how I feel. An injury or something to Salah, or confirmation that one if them will be rested midweek would make dropping easier.

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

      There are a gazillion mods on here but none seem to ever be online during matches to clean up the racism.

      1. Marvin Moon
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        It got removed in the end mate.

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

        Too busy deleting lol posts....

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

        Lol@ someone and you’re gone in a flash thou

      4. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        It's gone. And I don't think we will be seeing Patch for a while.

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Long overdue

        2. On The Up
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          what was said?

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

      Auba misses a sitter.

    11. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Auba offside, but he didn't know and misses a sitter

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

      Loving Kolasinac's positioning 😮

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

        Wow yup.But will Emery stick to this system?

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

      Sterling Kane Aubameyang festively essential!

      1. Jules Rimet
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        oh yes

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

      Not sure if that was Auba or Morata....

    15. L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      auba miss

    16. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      If rivals Richarlison outscored my Mane then Im going to blow my top

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

        I'd cry

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

      Wow that was great play and Auba looked behind the ball to me?

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

        It's Dean and his team refereeing. If Spurs need help with the decisions they already got their man on the pitch.

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

        He was behind the ball. Commentators seem to have missed that too...

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

        Just offside.

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

      Anyone keeping Hazard???

      1. Egg noodle
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        His mum

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

          helpful...

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

          Noob

      2. AzzaroMax99
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I am. Priority is Kun to Kane for a hit, so Haz to Sterling can wait.

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

          problem is i need to lose haz or salah to fund that first move

          1. AzzaroMax99
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            Maybe downgrade Salah then. Not worth 13 mil imo.

    19. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      A) Aguero, Hazard & Masuaku -> Wilson, Sane & Sterling
      B) Aguero & Hazard -> Kane & Sane
      C) Aguero, Hazard & Robertson -> Kane, Sterling & TAA

      Cheers

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

      Drafting my GW16 WC team.

      When is Lacazette expected to be back starting?

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

        Midweek I'd imagine.

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

        Probably next GW, IMO.

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

      Wilson will outscore Kane next GW*

    22. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Eriksen looking very enticing at 9.2 all of a sudden - if he loses set pieces to Trippier he's a different player though

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

        He surely won't play every game if he has a chronic injury.

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

        Spurs mids no go for me till the barca game is done

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

      Wow is it true that all 7 of Haz's goals have come when Gru has been playing???

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

        True but it was also when he was in top physical condition and all Chelsea players were linking up well playing quick crisp football.Giroud better for hazard sure but not drastic as that stat says as sample size is not perfect

    24. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Kane winning goal BAPs?

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

        Its only HT.

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          After his hat trick sorry

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

      Is Anderson and Arnie overkill?

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

        I’m thinking of bringing him in for martial with Marko aswell

    26. Soapy
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Reckon Son starts midweek?

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

        Everyday mate.....

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

        Absolute lottery mate . Wouldn't bet on it

    27. Srv210
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Torreira looks like he is gonna be one of the best in the game if gets support of this poor arsenal defence ...brave player

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

        If he becomes on of the best he wont have to worry about playing with an Arsenal defence.