Dugout Discussion

Son and Lucas return to Spurs XI as Saka is benched for north London derby

Two clubs in contrasting form meet in the 187th north London derby this afternoon.

Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is at 16:30 BST.

Spurs produced a limp display on Thursday night, failing to register a single shot on target in a 0-0 draw with struggling Bournemouth.

That came a week after a poor showing at Bramall Lane, although the Lilywhites are unbeaten on home soil in three post-restart matches.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have taken 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four fixtures, conceding only one goal along the way.

Jose Mourinho has made three changes from the side which drew at the Vitality Stadium.

The pacier Davinson Sanchez (£5.3m) returns at centre-back in place of Jan Vertonghen (£5.2m), while Son Heung-min (£9.6m) and Lucas Moura (£7.0m) are recalled on the flanks in place of Erik Lamela (£5.7m) and Steven Bergwijn (£7.1m).

Harry Kane (£10.9m) leads the line yet again, while Serge Aurier (£5.1m) starts once more at right-back.

There’s just the one change for Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) only among the substitutes and Nicolas Pepe (£8.9m) taking his place on the right flank.

Mesut Ozil (£7.0m) is once again omitted from the matchday squad, while Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m) misses out through suspension.

Son and Kane were both jettisoned by over 100,000 FPL managers ahead of Gameweek 35+.

Of all the players in today’s two matchday squads, Saka was the most transferred in, with almost 75,000 Fantasy bosses recruiting the teenager.

These sides drew 2-2 when they last met in Gameweek 4, although both clubs have changed head coaches since then.

Kane and Son both registered attacking returns in that match, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) on target for the Gunners.


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Lucas, Son, Kane.

Arsenal XI: Martinez, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Tierney, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

1,285 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    I hope this is a bore draw. Would be perfect for my team.

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Nah gotta aim for a 1-1

      Mustafi and Winks goal

    2. BNMC
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      1-1 with obscure scorers

  2. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Martinez on for a haul

  3. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Oh the benching headache. I've got this wrong last couple weeks... so help please!

    Bench one of:
    A) Martial (CRY a)
    B) Foden (BOU h)
    C) Willian (NOR h)
    D) Vardy (SHU h)
    E) Greenwood (CRY a)
    F) Jimi (BUR a)

    Bench two of:
    W) Digne (AVL h)
    X) TAA (ARS a)
    Y) Boly (BUR a)
    Z) Egan (LEI a)

    Currently benching EYZ

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      F or B, depending on Pep pressers

      ZY

    2. LIARS POKER
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I would bench Jiminez, Egan and Digne

      No point benching Vardy/Egan if you're not going to play the other

    3. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      FXY

  4. LIARS POKER
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Mane+Jimenez to Pulisic+Ings for a -4?

    Could be silly losing them for a hit but also could easily pay off. If one transfer to be prioritized?

    1. Ian J
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Pulisic is only good for one game
      Do you think you’ll get the 4 points back over next 2/3 games?
      If so yes
      I don’t think so

  5. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Auba......slice

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Poor by his standards...

  6. QUEN
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Let me see your FH team 🙂

    Kepa
    Azp aurier Digne
    Kdb Sterling richarlison Bruno Willian
    Jesus Ings

    Not sure on Everton or sterling’s minutes

    1. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      It's dangerous to treat Villa like they are Norwich. Wouldn't be surprised if Everton lose 1-0.

    2. Chucky
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      6
      9 2 12
      4 1 5 8 15
      6 13

  7. Shankly611
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    KDB and Sterling since the restart

    v ARS: both started
    v BUR: both benched
    v CHE: both started
    v NEW (FA cup): both started
    v LIV: both started
    v SOU: KDB benched, Sterling first XI
    v NEW: KDB first XI, Sterling benched
    v BHA: both started

    At least one of them was benched against every easy opponent (apart from the FA Cup where Guardiola fields his strongest XI) and apart from Brighton which was last GW. I think there's no chance whatsoever both start next GW in the second easy game in a row.

    Guardiola will definitely field his strongest XI in the FA Cup this weekend, so that would mean both KDB and Sterling start. If KDB was to start against Bournemouth, that would make it 4 games in a row for him which I find completely unbelievable. Sterling, on the other hand, had a breather against Newcastle and has a higher chance of starting.

    If you're free hitting, I definitely recommend to avoid KDB, while Sterling is 50-50 with Jesus to start imo.

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      KdB got taken off early last game though. I think there's a good chance he starts again and is taken off early purely because City want to win and they look so much better with him than without.

      Sterling will start too imo.

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Yeh my guess would be both start and both taken off early

        1. Tempestic
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          Foden Jesus Sterling front 3?

    2. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Kdb has a rest vs Newcastle?

      1. Tempestic
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 9 months ago

        Sorry Southampton. But I miss read mb

        1. Shankly611
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 9 months ago

          He had a rest there, but if he was to start against Bournemouth and against Arsenal in the FA Cup, that would mean he started 4 games in 11 days which I don't find believable.

  8. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Seriously considering a -8?

    Mahrez Salah and DCL to Sterling Pullisic and Ings?
    Madness would need to bench Vardy of Greenwood tho. Thoughts?

    1. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Salah will play, Sterling probably won't

    2. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I took a pretty crazy -8 for this GW - KDB, Salah and Kane to Mane, Sterling and Vardy. They can work. One reason I took it though is because I was reasonably certain Sterling would start, and this is not the case for this coming GW.

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I’m keen on Sterling too but worry about his minutes

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Xhaka could have played auba through there

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      At least he didn't blast into the stands as usual

  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    LacaGoal

  11. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    OMG lacazette

  12. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Laca G

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Top bin

  13. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    laca screamer

  14. Debauchy
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Get innnn

  15. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What a strike

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Lacatalent great goal

  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aurier assist

  18. BENOIT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Worldie

  19. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    😯

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      I miss the big eyes on this emoji...

  20. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Laca
    Xhaka
    Boom

  21. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    WTF Lacazette

  22. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aurier assist

    Nice

  23. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Lacazette could be the new Greenwood

  24. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Nice one, Aurier 🙂

  25. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    LACAZETTEEEEEE

  26. tucaoneo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Please stay positive Aurier.

  27. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    What a goal

  28. YoungPretender
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Will wait until GW is over, but which looks best for free?

    A) Mane & Jimi > Sterling & Ings
    B) Rashford & Jimi > Jesus & Ings

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      B

  29. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aurier CS wiped. Beautiful...

    1. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 9 months ago

      Yesssss

  30. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 9 months ago

    Aurier cleanie gone, can't write this game-week..

    Phenomenal strike but so frustrating.