Dugout Discussion
14 March 2021 1772 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
Share:

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

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

  1. Forza Papac
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Xhaka probably feeling outdone by Lamela.

  2. The VAR Team
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kane has been really poor and looks frustrated. Will be lucky to keep his 2 pointer at this rate

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

      Should be on 1pt. Lucky not to get a YC

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Should’ve been booked already but he’s Harry Kane

  3. Bushwhacker
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Yet another dire game of football. You can see how tired they all are by watching the passes.

    1. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yep

      Burnley have actually looked the best team so far this week - if you ignore Leicester not having anyone to play against

  4. NATSTER
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Oh Harry

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

    Clear offside.

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

      Great header though.

  6. Cilly Bonnolly
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    F**k. Could really use a Kane goal too.

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

    Lovely header but Spurs and especially Jose deserve that offside.

  8. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    surely I have to keep Saka one more gw?

    no FH left

    1. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Be daft to get rid of someone who has a fixture.

  9. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Leno lucky there. What the hell was he doing?

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

      Found out again. Starting to feel less philosophical about Martinez leaving. Happy with Leno, but would be happier with Emi.

  10. EDUARDO DA SILVA
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    If Kane wasn’t English no one would like him, dirty player and don't speak language.

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

      what?

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

      Hahaha he speaks non-language, like the white noise of a Hoover

    3. BeaversWithAttitude
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He's a bit of a meathead when he talks, but a bit personal, no? Lol.

  11. DycheDycheBaby
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Blank confirmed for Kane then.

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

      Was confirmed 10 mins in

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

    Wound, here is the salt.

  13. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    They need to start paying people to watch this.

  14. The Ilfordian
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    One hour until the next Soucek masterclass starts

  15. Gross Blank Point
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    On 26 so far, heading for my lowest ever score lol

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      How many left?

      1. Gross Blank Point
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        2 Shaw and Bruno

        1. Botman and Robben
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          You are good

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

      I'll be cheering on WH i'm afraid as Coufal is appearing off my bench. You should be fine. I think my lowest has proabably been 31 from memory. Couple of 36's earlier this season.

      1. Gross Blank Point
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Had 3 x 43's this season but I think the worst ever was a 34 haha

  16. james 101
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    So. A little help?

    What would you do with this team / 1FT?

    Martinez
    Cresswell Dallas Targett
    Son* Lingard Bale
    Watkins Kane

    (Pope Cancello Stones DCL Gundo Bruno)

    1FT. £1.5m in the bank

    1. Tea for the Tielemans
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Grealish

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

    i predict a late Kane goal

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

      No chance

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

      Almost!

  18. Keep Calm and Play On
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Spurs don’t deserve a win, but I do feel like we deserve a Kane goal...any compromise? Come on Kane and David Luiz each bang one in

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

      Really, hasn't looked at all like deserving a goal...

      1. Keep Calm and Play On
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I never said he deserves one lol we do for the massive BGW punches we’ve taken this week

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

        only from 85 minutes lol. DCL or Vardy always better options, got to go with the fixture in this game

  19. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal playing worse vs 10 than they did vs 11

  20. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Luke Shaw save my GW please

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

      He will. Unfortunately opted for AWB myself, thinking he was more nailed.

  21. Don Kloppeone
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Kane (C) + Son + no Bruno

    Pump the red arrows into my veins!!

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

    @samuelluckhurst
    #mufc: Henderson, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Greenwood, Fernandes, James, Rashford

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

      Bruno haul incoming

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

    No Auba today.

  24. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Been a poor FPL week, but the football quality has been dire too. Most teams look burnt out.

    No even like we can convert to more defensive FPL teams, goals are still be scored but very few.

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

      This, form taking a bit of a turn going into the final stretch

    2. Moderately content penguin
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Rather sighing at any couple of months of this

      It's only going to get worse

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

    No Auba tonight it seems

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

    ⚽ Team News 📰
    MAN UTD : Henderson, Shaw, Lindelof, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, Greenwood, James
    Subs: Grant, Bishop, Bailly, Diallo, Telles, Matic, Williams, Tuanzebe, Shoretire

    WEST HAM : Fabianski, Coufal, Cresswell, Dawson, Diop, Johnson, Rice, Noble, Soucek, Bowen, Antonio
    Subs: Martin, Trott, Balbuena, Benrahma, Lanzini, Ibsen, Odubeko, Coventry

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

      Bowen up top in a 532?

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

      I'm sure I went to school with both Grant Bishop and Martin Trott

    3. A-L
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Brave Man U playing with 10 men

  27. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Rashford it? Interesting.

    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      *fit

  28. The 12th Man
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    No Auba. Hello Dallas points.

  29. La Roja
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Sort it out Bruno (c)

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

    Wow.. Kane blank is only good for my rank, who knew. As a Kane owner that is.

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

      EO is over 100% in Top 10k. Plus lots of Gundo(c), Auba(c), KDB(c) etc that will have Kane(VC).

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      of course it is, his EO% is above 100%

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

        Thought being in 10k myself it wouldn't matter that much.