Dugout Discussion

Aubameyang set for more central role as Lacazette and Nketiah are benched

The penultimate Premier League match of the day sees Leeds United play host to Arsenal at Elland Road.

Kick-off is at 16:30 GMT.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.7m) – who hasn’t found the back of the net from open play in over two months – will be aiming to add to his paltry 2020/21 goal tally against a Leeds side that had the joint-worst defensive record in the division heading into this weekend.

And Mikel Arteta’s team selection may give him an additional boost, with the Gabon international set to lead the line given that Alexandre Lacazette (£8.4m) and Eddie Nketiah (£5.6m) are both among the substitutes.

Arteta has hoodwinked us before with his teamsheets, of course, notably when deploying Willian (£7.7m) as a false nine against Manchester City, but his pre-match comments to Sky Sports suggest there is no such deception this time:

I mentioned that it is one of the options we have. We think we have a squad who score goals, a lot with Auba in his natural position on the left, so we will modify that depending on the opponent and the games.

Lacazette’s benching is one of four changes that the Arsenal boss has made from Gameweek 8.

Two of the alterations are enforced, with Thomas Partey (£5.0m) absent with a thigh injury and Mohamed Elneny (£4.4m) self-isolating after a positive coronavirus test.

Dani Ceballos (£4.9m), Nicolas Pepe (£7.6m), Joe Willock (£4.8m) and Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) are the players recalled, with Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) only a substitute after his exertions for England over the international break.

Marcelo Bielsa makes two changes to the Leeds starting line-up following their thrashing at Crystal Palace.

Brazilian Raphinha (£5.4m) makes his first Premier League start, with Helder Costa (£5.6m) omitted.

Kalvin Phillips (£4.9m) is back from a shoulder injury, meanwhile, with Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) the makeweight to accommodate his return.

Rodrigo (£5.7m) is available after his recent stint in self-isolation but is only among the substitutes.

Patrick Bamford (£6.1m) is by some distance the most-owned player in this fixture, sitting in more than one in three FPL squads.

That figure rises to 41.5% in the top 10k.

Bamford has actually blanked in his last three home fixtures although did rack up a 14-point haul at Elland Road in Gameweek 2.


Leeds United XI: Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Alioski, Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerín, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Willock, Willian, Aubameyang.

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1,131 Comments Post a Comment
  1. aborg
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dallas had a good chance to score if it was not for Leno’s brilliant save

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      "Close" only counts for horseshoes, hand grenades and nuclear war.

  2. That Was Easy!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Jimmy > DCL easiest transfer ever for me?

    Fabs
    Cancelo Robbo Konsa Mitchell
    Sterling (C) Son Bruno Grealish
    Jimmy Bamford

    Steer; Maupay, Zouma, Alzate...1FT, .8 itb

    Other move would be Maupay > Wilson

    1. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      This week I brought in Grealish, Cancelo and Sterling on a -4...what a royal fail that was.

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Cancelo saved me from Lamptey.

        1. That Was Easy!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          That’s a nice spin on it.

  3. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    3 - Alioski (33)
    2 - Leno (26)
    1 - Koch, Cooper (24)

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Alioski getting bps for getting headbutted?

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        getting an opponent red carded +10 bps

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        no

  4. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bamford's going to blank isn't he....

    1. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bit tough to make anything right now for him, but he’s had some shots.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      More likely than not

    3. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      As I said before you can't rely on him
      Very unpredictable

  5. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Seriously, in which aspect Wenger was worse than all his successors?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He wasn't.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Who says Wenger was worse?

      1. Lucky Z
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Lots of fans thought that once Wenger is out we will play for PL win seeing the problem in him.

    3. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Arsene is a Premier League legend. They even named the team after him

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

      He wasn't for the first 12-13 years. After that he let a rot slide in. Standards slipped culminating with Arsenal not qualifying for the CL. That rot continued under Emery.

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

      He was clearly better. Arsenal supporters are getting what they deserve after how they treated him

      1. Lucky Z
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        this

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

        Plastic United fan alert.

        1. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Arsenal supporters cant handle the truth. Disgraceful how Wenger was treated

          1. Debauchy
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            Agree

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

    I really feel for those who knee-jerk Willian in after GW1.

  7. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Any Leicester midfielder worth consideration? Or shall we just watch the game first?

    1. That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Think Maddison would be very sneaky.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah, that's just what I was thinking, even though he has no real form.

        1. That Was Easy!
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Madds seems to get slow when he’s played a lot and I think with him being fresh he could have a strong return to form.

      2. Jarnathan
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I agree. He's a brilliant player. So why hasnt he been in the starting 11?

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Best to watch. Under could be great value but he's not starting yet.

      Maddison maybe, but I think it's Vardy or a defender that you want.

      1. Rupert The Horse
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Vardy is a no brainier, its just whether I double or triple up.

  8. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ayling failing

  9. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    The most 2020 FPL thing to happen is if this game finishes 0-0

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Arsenal games finishing 0-0 really isnt surprising.

  10. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ayling so close

  11. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ayling subbed off

  12. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ayling CS locked

  13. JBG
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Great touch Ayling, Ronaldinho esque.

  14. Baron Penguin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Brought in double Leeds defence two weeks ago, shipped 4 both times I played Ayling & Dallas. Only played Dallas this week, put Lamptey in instead. Also did Son to Ziyech (c) and had Watkins waiting to take a pen! I’ll move above 4.5 million at some point...

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

      FPL aye.

  15. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sub Bellerin pls

  16. Hattrick Harry
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    After change Ayling -> Rodrigo also Dallas is now RB

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yes what a relief

  17. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I will play Dallas next game
    then I check Kilman plays this Arsenal team next umm

  18. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dallas back to RB due to Rodrigo

    1. Hattrick Harry
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No, due Ayling off

  19. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    My over 2.5 goals net is going down from the toilet, isnt it?

    1. I SPEAK ENGELS AND DRINK GI…
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bet*

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can't see any more than 2.4 in this game

    3. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      2.5 goals in a Arsenal match? Lol, now that's hilarious.

  20. subhojit123
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I saw a lot of posts suggesting to transfer out ziyech.couple of weeks back he was a must have.what am I missing?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      He blanked

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yesterday he was a must have.

    3. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If players don't return every week, they are old news

  21. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    0-0 written all over it.

    Back to the 1970s with these two.

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

      Was the top knot in fashion then?

      1. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        "He's got a pineapple, on his head..."

  22. Steve The Spud
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Vardy has had 5 shots at home this season

    1. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      When Vardy shoots, he usually scores

  23. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Free kick in Pepe territory

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

    Why is Alioski on 35bps? Do you get bonus for getting players sent off?

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yes somebody said +10 baps for it

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        You'll believe anything.

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Haha

    1. CheesyZoot
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      LOL

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

      FPL_Saucepan and FPL_IndustrialGlueGun tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn't listen.

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        😀

      2. Gnu
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Hahaha

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

      Who did they change it from?

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

      13.5k gullible people follow this person for FPL advice. LOL

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Look at all the FPL Donuts congratulating them for this stupid pick.

        Baaaaa!

        1. Flair
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          This comment is incredible

          "I think its quality punting, rolling the dice on a high pressing team, on a player with low ownership.

          The reward could be huge.

          TC on a high % owned player (the better options) isn't always as effective as many think."

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

      Dunno what stats he crunched, Aubameyang's stats are horrendous. Keane & Bartley have better xAttPts than Auba...

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Non-penalty, I should say. Still poor with penalties, players like Lookman & Tielemans beat him.

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

      The giveaway sign is always the 'FPL' before the name.
      That shouts out "non-elite"

    7. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      The season has been harsh on the professionals

  25. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I predict Alioski assist Bamford goal

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Into the Leeds net 😛

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Bamford owner spotted.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        And Alioski fan don't forget 🙂

  26. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Vardy party tonight? Who's with us? Let's get itttt ladssss

    1. The Gambler.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No

      1. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Who's gonna stop him? James Milnaaa?

  27. The Gambler.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sold Salah for KDB to save playing Ayling

    FPL in a nutshell

  28. JELLYFISH
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Come on arris

  29. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rodrigo hits the bar