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”.

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  1. Eddie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Just coming to the game. Why was Saka subbed? Any injury concern?

    1. seanie3
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      crap

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

    Auba might be good now in stretched game

  3. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Attempts on goal Ars 14 Spurs 1

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

    I have actually run out of things to say about Lacazette.

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

      Have you said Beardy McBeardface yet?

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

    I despise Spurs

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

    Captain Harry pain

  7. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Jose and his lack of style or positivity deserve less than nothing from this. Can only imagine how frustrating it is for Spurs fans.

    1. Free Hat
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Or spurs strikers

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

    Triple up Spurs. LOL!

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

    Have a feeling auba has a point to prove if he comes on

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

      Arteta has a point to prove too - they can do without auba

  10. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Spurs been good going forward recently. Big game and Jose reverts back to type.

    Coward.

  11. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Spurs are a hard team to predict. Can have abject performances like this and then can demolish teams on a good day.

  12. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kane captainers stunned!

  13. Jindaljain
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kane will do 2-2

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

    Doherty absolutely ruined his career with this Spurs. Was a good fit at Wolves, perfect system for his style of play. Chasing the money. Cant blame him though

    1. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Not a very good RB is he

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

        Being exposed big time here.

    2. Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Can't blame him but really surprised by both clubs. From Spurs perspective he isn't a Mou type player or a typical RB. From Wolves point of view 15mil wasn't much for a player so important to their style.

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        They have missed him massively

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Did he want to leave?

      Sale of Jota and Doherty suggests that Fosun may not be willing to put up the money like they have in the past.

      1. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        The money they got for Jota was immense.. he just got off to a flying start.

        15m for Doc is pretty massive value as well

  15. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Vardy to Kane and Gundo to Bale (c) for a -8 has worked out spectacularly.

    1. All Hail K
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      We've all been there. I feel for you brother.

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

    Typical kane wtf have we done

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

      Typical mourinho and typical spurs

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

    Standard Lamela YC

  18. Party time
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Cone on you gooners!

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

      🙁

    • Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Need auto-sub Soucek masterclass later 😆

      1. The Knights Template
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        He scored against them last time.

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

          One of his many goals I actually had in my XI

    • Collie01
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Lamela customary YC

    • Jindaljain
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Son & Bale were same today

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

      Really strange performance by Spurs
      Arsenal dominant

      1. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Impotent

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

        It's strange. Evidence supported from subbing out Bale.

      3. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Effort vs no effort

    • lewis1290
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      lamela C :))))

    • not_astarte
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      bamford injury, son injury. God what is happening to my team?

      1. Make United Great Again
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Time to end the season early I think

    • Jindaljain
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Mourinho team performance vs Arsenal is strange or he is missing Wenger today

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

      Spurs fans gonna turn on Jose if they lose this. You're excused if you lose, yet put up an attacking display in a NLD.

      1. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        This.

    • SB007
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      60’with 2 to play.

      Auba
      Bamf
      Antonio

      In for next week

    • Lieutenant Frank Columbo
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Gutless. Where is Jose’s ambition? Why is he so scared ... bizarre.

    • Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Should've had an assist there Kane. Beautiful cross.

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

        If Son or Bale where still on the pitch.