Dugout Discussion
14 March 2021 1772 comments
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Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur is the third of four Premier League matches to take place on Sunday.

Kick-off in the north London derby is at 16:30 GMT.

Much of the pre-match coverage has centred around Mikel Arteta’s surprise decision to omit Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.4m) from his starting XI.

We have seen the Gabon international, among others, rested after his exertions in Europe in recent weeks but today’s benching is instead for “disciplinary reasons”, rather than influenced by fatigue.

Mikel Arteta said ahead of kick-off:

He was going to start the game. We had a disciplinary issue, we have drawn the line and we move on. He’s on the bench.

We have a process that we have to respect for every game, and that’s it.

Aubameyang is one of four changes that Arteta has made from the side that drew 1-1 with Burnley last weekend.

Calum Chambers (£4.5m), Willian (£7.5m) and Pablo Mari (£4.4m) also make way, as Alexandre Lacazette (£8.1m), Cedric (£4.6m), Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m) and Gabriel (£4.9m) are recalled.

As for Spurs, Tanguy Ndombele (£5.9m) in for Harry Winks (£5.1m) is the only change that Jose Mourinho has made from the Gameweek 27 win over Crystal Palace.

That means that Harry Kane (£11.4m) has recovered from the knock to the knee he took in Thursday’s win over Dinamo Zagreb.

The England international is reunited with Son Heung-min (£9.6m), Lucas Moura (£6.6m) and Gareth Bale (£9.5m) in a front four that looked potent against the Eagles last weekend.

Kane and Bale were the top two most popular purchases of Gameweek 28, following their double-digit hauls in the Lilywhites’ previous league outing.

The Spurs duo were transferred in by over one million managers combined in the run-up to Friday’s deadline.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Lacazette.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Doherty, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Ndombele, Lucas, Bale, Son, Kane.

GAMEWEEK 28 SO FAR…

.

Kelechi Iheanacho‘s (£5.6m) superb Fantasy Premier League form continued on Sunday as Leicester City thumped a Sheffield United side marooned at the foot of the Premier League table and starting life without Chris Wilder.

The Nigeria international hit a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over the managerless Blades, taking his total to five goals and 35 FPL points in his last three appearances.

Iheanacho has been flourishing alongside Jamie Vardy (£10.2m) since the budget FPL forward’s return to the Leicester starting XI in Gameweek 26, and has had over twice as many shots as the long-serving striker in that time.

No Fantasy forward has registered as many shots in the box or big chances as Iheanacho over the last three Gameweeks.

Vardy again failed to find the target on Sunday but was as much a part of the Foxes’ victory as his strike partner, supplying three assists – two of them sublime passes for Iheanacho before Ethan Ampadu (£4.3m) deflected in his off-target effort – en route to his first double-digit haul since Gameweek 14.

The fit-again Ayoze Perez (£6.0m) also got in on the act by finding the net on his return from injury.

This was not a match to gauge the offensive threat or defensive competence of Brendan Rodgers’ troops, however, as Sheffield United turned in a thoroughly abject display under caretaker boss Paul Heckingbottom.

The Blades managed just one shot on goal as the hosts cruised to what was their first clean sheet in six matches.

Owners of Ricardo Pereira (£5.9m) couldn’t enjoy the routine shut-out, however, as the Portuguese full-back was withdrawn at half-time because of “tightness in his hamstring”.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

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  1. dshv
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Son to bale(-4)

    Have 8 players for 29 ??

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        5 years, 1 month ago

        100%, do it right now

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Not now, after Europa!

      • Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        No brainer

    2. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      What a cr*p blank gw ahead. Can’t really bet on the two bottling big teams as their opponents are somehow better than them and the other games are typical bottom of the Prem impossible to predicters.

      1. Hooky
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I can't wait either.

      2. Pep bites Kun
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Run a diversified low-level risk FH?

    3. Bobby
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not hopeful for Harry returns here. It's been another long gameweek

    4. Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Saka subbed

    5. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Saka GW29 doubts begin too...

    6. Hooky
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Saka off now

    7. Kannbury
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Concerned for us with Saka off 🙁

      1. Catastrophe
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Strange to change anything at all, 2nd goal was coming

    8. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pepe on the right. Arsenal predictability doubled.

    9. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Later going to be nervy as Bruno (C), whole week riding on him

      1. Catastrophe
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Most would be very happy with that now!

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Penalty needed

        • MoSalad
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Same probably be benched the way this GW is going

      3. Catastrophe
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Saka punch.

        1. tbos83
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Very good

      4. Random Name
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        At least it's Pepe. If it was Willian that had come on then Arteta would've been fired on the spot

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Big willy has been doing well recently

          • Rainer
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Willian your top assister?

          • Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            I think we'll rarely see all three of Odegaard, ESR and Willian on the pitch at the same time.

        2. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Wonder if Jose gonna pull another trick again and have Son miraculously start next week!

          1. Rainer
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            It looked like he came off before any real damage may have been done.

            Europa should give a clue.

          2. Pep bites Kun
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            A gamble within a gamble?

        3. Digital-Real
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Saka injured?

          1. Sim Simma
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Rested

            1. BENOIT
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Ha

            2. Digital-Real
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              that's a strange decision, you'd have thought he'd be subbed off around 60mins for a rest?

          2. OverTinker
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            must be some injury

            1. Digital-Real
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              can only think that's the reason

        4. The Train Driver
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Saka and Son in this game lol

        5. fedolefan
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Let's get Auba on please.

        6. Sim Simma
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Salah to Son sellers will be punished big time

          1. Fudgy
            • 6 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            and salah non captain doubters

          2. Pep bites Kun
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Sounds like social media from the Renaissance period 🙂

        7. Salan
          • 16 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          GW29 is hard to play now. Few more new injuries, e.g. Bamford, Son etc. Also Arsenal players are heavily rotated, e.g. Laca, Auba, Pepe, Saka.

          Even you have a FH, it's not easy to build up a high scoring team.

          1. Rainer
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Triple Brighton defence, Captain Dunk!

            1. Pep bites Kun
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Now there's a strategy asking for trouble 🙂

          2. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            It’s a week best forgotten just like the whole season

          3. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Bamford hopefully ok - I read a dead leg earlier I think?

            1. Salan
              • 16 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              Not sure now. See any further updates in the coming days.

          4. Pep bites Kun
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            If you haven't dead ended your team into 29 and have FH, you have options

          5. Salan
            • 16 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            See. Bale also be subbed...

            No idea how to build up the gw29 team without FH

        8. OverTinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Damn - Rival has saka and he is off before picking up his yc

        9. FPL Scoop
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Triple Spurs attack including captain and I’m about to have 3 blanks. F this

          1. Benjustjamin
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Overkill

          2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Ditto

          3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Triple Spurs against a team that has been strong defensively?

        10. Isca Extremadura
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          At least Lingard won’t get injured !

          1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            There are still some training sessions 😉

          2. Rotation's Alter Ego
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Jinxed it now...

          3. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Fully rested Lingard (c) next week 😉

          4. Isca Extremadura
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Still time, come on Harry

        11. BrockLanders
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Kane has looked utterly useless here. Looks a non entity once Son goes off..

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Please jinx it more, it’s needed

        12. OPTA FPL
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bruno EO in top 10k?

          1. mezza
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            100%

          2. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            98.6%

            1. OPTA FPL
              • 14 Years
              5 years, 1 month ago

              lol

          3. DAZZ
            • 11 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            95ish

          4. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            106% post KDB + Gundo autosubs

          5. Rainer
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            93 ish with autosubs and VCs

        13. Digital-Real
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Pepe to score

        14. jason_ni
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Honestly wish there was no such thing as a captain in fpl, always seem to mess it up, and causes huge point swings if you get it wrong.

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Always agreed with this, captain and bps should just be scrapped

          2. OverTinker
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            shouldn't be over 1.5 for captain - double is too much luck

          3. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            It's needed for score differentiation when there are 8m players though
            Also would make it very easy just to copy a team otherwise

        15. OverTinker
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bruno to Son has been the most stupid decision I have ever made considering I am going to FH 29

          1. OverTinker
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 1 month ago

            and that was before his haul last gw

        16. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Can’t wait to get absolutely shafted by Bruno later

        17. _Ninja_
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bale off before 60

        18. Sim Simma
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bale being subbed . Ouch

        19. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
          • 15 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bale subbed

          Awful performance

        20. Rainer
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Bale sighting.