Dugout Discussion

Foden makes first league start of season as De Bruyne takes up advanced role

The penultimate match of Gameweek 17 kicks off at 16:30 GMT, as Manchester City head to the Emirates to take on Arsenal.

Without the injured David Silva (£7.6m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.7m), Pep Guardiola has sprung a surprise by naming Phil Foden (£5.1m) in his starting XI for the first time in the Premier League this season.

With midfield anchors Ilkay Gundogan (£5.2m) and Rodri (£5.4m) in the visitors’ line-up, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.2m) looks to be playing in a more advanced role behind Foden, Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m).

Nicolas Otamendi (£5.0m) and Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m) also come into the side from the team that was defeated in the Manchester derby, with Angelino (£4.7m) and the sidelined John Stones (£5.3m) making way.

Bernardo Silva (£7.9m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.3m) are only amongst the substitutes.

Freddie Ljungberg has made two enforced changes to the side that beat West Ham last Monday, with Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) and Matteo Guendouzi (£4.5m) coming in for the injured Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) and Granit Xhaka (£5.1m).

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) is again among the substitutes as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) leads the line for the Gunners.

Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) makes his seventh straight Premier League start.

At the risk of jinxing it, there ought to be goals in this fixture: Arsenal and City are without a league clean sheet in eight and six matches respectively.

Bernd Leno (£5.0m) has made more saves than any other Fantasy Premier League goalkeeper this season.

City have scored at least two goals in each of the last seven league meetings with the Gunners.

Fantasy managers have been deserting the premium players from these two clubs recently: De Bruyne, Sterling and Aubameyang were three of the four most-sold FPL assets of Gameweek 17.


Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Chambers, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Torreira, Pepe, Özil, Martinelli, Aubameyang.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Mendy, Gundogan, Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus.

1,617 Comments Post a Comment
  1. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Needed this from KDB last week when he was my captain. Falling between the gaps all the time.

  2. Jullepuu
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    This Arsenal side is even more embarrassing than I thought..wow

  3. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    OMG

  4. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    2 more KDB 😀

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

    KDB post

  6. Smurf
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Wonder strike nearly got KDB his hattrick.

  7. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Imagine selling KDB for son

    1. Neves say Never
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I don’t need to ... :(. I said beginning of year - KDB season keeper. Idiot lol

  8. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KDDBBBBBB HITT THE POSTT

  9. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    CARRA HAHAH

  10. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Can you imagine if that went in. Wtf

  11. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KDB you rude boy

  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Performance of the season

  13. TheDragon
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Anyone sell KDB this week?

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Loads

    2. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nobody could be that stupid surely.

      1. Neves say Never
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Me me I am!!!

  14. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Almost a hatrick

    1. SHOOTER MCGINN
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Surely a matter of time against this defence and KDB having such a good game.

  15. Pras (FPL)
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    So cloooose

  16. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Wow what a shot

  17. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ohhh KDB post !!!!!

    Nearly a first half Hattie

  18. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Arsenal are horrific at the back

  19. Tasty Jerk
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I remember on Saturday the "sell KDB" thought did briefly come up, but then thinking it would be mad to sell when facing this Arsenal defence 🙂

    1. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      you don't deserve to own him.

  20. Samurai Blue
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Oh my KDB

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Worldie Leno

  22. Stoic
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KDB on drugs

  23. Meinhoff
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Don't own any City players, but please god let it be a 7-0 demolition. I just hate this Arsenal side

  24. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Carragher has just orgasmed

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      is that verb?

  25. Pompel
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Currently sitting with Mané, Son, Alli and KDB. Tough decision who to sell on wild card - need one of those £6-7'ish mids to maximise bang for the buck

  26. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    KDB is a big game player. Go and check out his record against the big 6.

    1. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Which is fine except Arsenal are no longer anywhere near bring in the ‘big six’ these days.

  27. Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgri…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Didn't have KDB early season. Had Sterling, and KDB Aguero killed me.
    I swore once I got him in he would stay.
    Sellers were asking for it with Arsenals defence.

  28. Scoring freely
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ginger haired step child has effectively put me out of the cup with his highest score of the season. **** you Arsenal

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      So out of character for Arsenal

    2. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      bye bye cup

  29. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    What a save Leno!!

  30. Podge
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    That unbelievably is KDBs first brace in the prem

    1. Pumpkinhead
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      SELLERS PUNISHED.

    2. Scoring freely
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah figures that my cup opponent has him. 🙄