Dugout Discussion

Chilwell and James start for Chelsea after Lampard’s “doubtful” comments

Ben Chilwell (£6.1m) and Reece James (£5.2m) both start for Chelsea despite Frank Lampard’s pessimistic prognosis in his pre-match press conference.

The former Derby County manager labelled each first-choice full-back as “doubtful” for the Gameweek 15 meeting with Arsenal and the following game.

However, it now looks as if those comments could be considered as ‘mind games’ by the sceptics among us as Lampard is able to name a strong XI.

The team sheet will be of significant frustration to those who sold Chilwell and James, the former the most shipped-out Fantasy asset for Gameweek 15.

Timo Werner (£9.3m) and Christian Pulisic (£8.2m) line-up either side of Tammy Abraham (£7.2m) while Olivier Giroud (£6.7m) sits on the bench.

In the opposite dugout is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m) back from his calf problem as a substitute for Arsenal.

To match Cheslea’s 4-3-3 system, Mikel Arteta has gone with a back-four consisting of Kieran Tierney (£5.3m), Pablo Mari (£4.4m), Rob Holding (£4.4m) and Hector Bellerín (£5.1m).

Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) has overcome the issue that forced him off against Manchester City to start on the flanks of attacking midfield, Bukayo Saka (£5.1m) on the opposite side and Alexandre Lacazette (£8.2m) up-front.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Tierney, Mari, Holding, Bellerín; Elneny, Xhaka; Martinelli, Smith Rowe, Saka; Lacazette.

Chelsea XI: E Mendy; Chilwell, T Silva, Zouma, R James; Mount, Kanté, Kovacic; Werner, Abraham, Pulisic.

1,930 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Laca, Xhaka, Saka. What's next? Frank sacka?

    1. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Arsenal playing tika taka

      1. HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Once in year you get lucky

  2. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Arsenal look so good with Martinelli and Saka in the first 11

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

      Almost any Gunner would have told you that.

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

      Arsenal look so good without David Luiz, Willian, and Pepe.

      1. HonestBlatter
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This

      2. jimmyabs1987
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        And Auba!?

    3. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I do hate seeing Willian in any starting line-up

  3. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Abraham still on 😀

    1. Riverside Red
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      How about an update on your rank

  4. Slitherene
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    When does the 5 YC's reset?

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

      After 19 games.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      After 19 team games completed.

  5. Bruce Lee
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Abraham useless... so many good crosses from CHO, James and Kante - yet he is nowhere to be found

  6. Begbie.
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Welcome to my team Martinelli

    1. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Could be a lovely pick for GW18.

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Saka

  7. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Mendy denies a Matrinelli goal

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Lampard should have been backed in the summer if Chelsea wanted to take the next step.

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Low quality bait.

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hahahaha

  9. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Well, RIP to those that did Martinez -> Mendy after the AVL game was called off a few weeks back.

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

      Or to Johnstone.

      1. Railwayman
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        This 😀

    2. S.Kuqi
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Fpl at its finest

    3. Bilbao Baggins
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Or to Meslier haha my second worst mistake this season.

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry man.

  10. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Under the radar blank needed, Martinelli!

    1. Buck The Trent
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      This

  11. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Joe Willock on to Lock the points

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      For Chelsea?

      1. Sim Simma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 3 months ago

        ock

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

    Willock on
    Smith-Rowe off

    Well played by Smith-Rowe. Put in a shift.

  13. DGW blindness is for Kinnea…
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Arsenal players putting themselves in the GW18 shop window

    1. Rinseboy
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      defo good for the FH crew. Migth even get Auba by then!

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      I got Holding for James this GW.

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

    Could actually buy Arsenal players on the FH now, lol. Good cheapies.

    1. Bruce Lee
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Martinellliiiiiii

    2. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Saka and Martinelli will be gold

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

      Auba Saka and Martinelli

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

      Tierney also

  15. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea's last 4 games before this one:

    Drew with Krasnodar
    Lost against Everton
    Lost against Wolves
    Extremely lucky win against West Ham

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

      We're in terrible form. Firing blanks.

  16. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Martinelli gw18? Is he sure starter now?

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

      Can't tell after 2 appearances but I've been waiting to get him in since last season (when he got a surprise long term injury midweek & had to rot 3rd on my bench! )

    2. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Hell yeah

  17. Make United Great Again
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    They called Chelsea title contenders.

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      My post above! Buying big does not always guarantee trophies.

    2. EmreCan Hustle
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      And Everton

  18. Chucky
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Fat Frank is useless...

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

      Your best ever player.

    2. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      He really is. Disappointing considering his huge IQ. Klopp really put the kibosh on him.

  19. Je suis le chat
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Great to see the young players starting for Arsenal. Hope Arteta sticks with them and leaves Ozil and his like on the scrapheap.

  20. Chenku╰☆╮
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Frank is a master tactician..

  21. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Chelsea are so bad

    Vs arsenal 2020
    - draw at home vs 10 men
    - lost fa cup final
    - being thrashed

  22. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Wilson rested

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

    It's funny that this game has further strengthened my desire to FH18. Arsenal have Palace at home in GW18. What was once a no-go zone is looking like value!

    1. George Agdgdgwngo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Yep load up on holding Marty and co

    2. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Remember we had a little discussion about Holding and you suggested I should get Taylor instead. I actually got Holding. Pure gut feel. Hahaha!

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

        Nice one. If you were planning for GW18, it's looking fine.

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 3 months ago

          Yes I was. Plus his fixtures are good leading up to 18.

  24. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Pepe coming on

    1. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 3 months ago

      Martinelli off

  25. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    One more arsenal

  26. yalala
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Frank should sub himself on

  27. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Pepe inc.

    Advantage Chelsea!

  28. Bartowski
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Raphina or Martinelli as the cheap enabler I need?

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

      Martinelli if you're planning for 18, Raphinha if you're going for 19.

  29. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    What is wrong with Oliver? He’s been so biased this second half. Unprofessional.

  30. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 3 months ago

    Surely Azpi starts Monday?