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. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 3 months ago

    Bruno will punish us all now. Get ready

    1. Party time
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Of course he will. Another penalty goal & two assists

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      ESR is seriously talented

      Him and Saka are huge building blocks for Arsenal

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Those 2 turned the club around

    3. Kane and Ablett
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A poor game between two mid table teams won by a deflection and a dodgy pen, both sides need new management

      1. Warby84
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        100% penalty

    4. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      My FPL season is a flop! 🙁
      My club will be relegated! 🙁
      Gutted.

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

        Bad timing on the injury to Wilson

      2. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        You might stay up.

        Fulham not guaranteed to get out of this.

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

      Bruno(c) to score two jammy penalties please

    6. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Arsenal fans absolutely thrilled with consolidating 10th position in the table

      1. Scots Gooner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Yawn

      2. Debauchy
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Not about that mate it's about putting you boys back in place

      3. Moderately content penguin
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        They shouldn't get cocky yet

        Still just 4 above Palace - pretty much exactly where they have been all season 🙂

        1. Debauchy
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Who cares we know our place , getting there slowly

          1. Moderately content penguin
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            No one including me 🙂

    7. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      It's the same every time. Spurs look awful when they are ahead or the game is tied. And then when they go behind, all of a sudden they have tons of chances, threaten the goal even when down a man.

      Mourinho should just let them freaking attack.

      1. seanie3
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Not in his nature for some reason..

    8. Isca Extremadura
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      No Gundo or Auba, Leeds subs incoming

    9. seanie3
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Tierney fist pumping Sanchez, love to see it..

    10. Firminooooo
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Need Coufal to outscore Bruno(C).

    11. SM001
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      32 with Creswell and Soucek(from the bench) left. : /

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Good score this week, so far.

      2. Hybrid.power
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        25-4 here!

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

        Top 10k avg is 34 so far though Bruno could damage you

    12. Denis Tueart on the wing
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Just got back from work, why was Aubameyang not playing?

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        He was a naughty boy

        1. Denis Tueart on the wing
          • 16 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          what did he do?

          1. Bring the Cavalry
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Turned up late

            1. Denis Tueart on the wing
              • 16 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Ahh. tghanks

    13. Fudgy
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Did anyone else captain kane?

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        o/
        Yes - muggins.

        1. Fudgy
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Brutal bad luck for us

          1. JONALDINHO
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Don’t go on about luck when your getting Dunk off the bench

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

              Oh, that part is skill, only negative results are lucky

              Fudgy 101

          2. pablo discobar
            • 16 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Did you see his heat map? That's not bad luck

            1. Keep Calm and Play On
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              Well he hit the post...that’s a bit unlucky

      2. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Nope, nobody

      3. Forza Papac
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Sterling (c) Kane (vc)

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

        Yes

        1. Big_Andy_GAWA
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          I had the armband on Son all week, then changed to Sterling and then changed to Digne late on. 1/0/1. Incredible. 😆

    14. HonestBlatter
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Horrible gameweek again...KANE (C) ruined the last hope

    15. Forza Papac
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      xG
      Arsenal 1.78
      Spurs 0.69 (nice)

      1. Duke Silver ☑
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        😎

    16. Free Hat
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford one of the most flagged players that actually starts in fpl?

      1. michaelington
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        The lad was born with a limp

    17. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Genuinely never seen a player who cheats get away without it being mentioned by the media or people in general (other than arsenal fans) more than Kane. Horrid player.

      1. JONALDINHO
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Yes. He’s the star boy for the media

      2. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        OK calm down sparky

      3. Bring the Cavalry
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        He’s just a smart striker. The tackle was a strikers tackle but all his other tricks like backing into defenders etc are just smart even if they are dirty

        1. Tinkermania
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Smart tricks? Kane?

        2. JBG
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Not sure if you are serious? If that was Diego Costa people would be livid.

          1. Bring the Cavalry
            • 9 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            I am serious. It was a poor challenge but people are over reacting because they most likely had him captain. Costa is obviously a lot more aggressive than Kane

            1. Qaiss
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              When you watch Kane closely, he really isn’t that much better than Costa. Costa was just in the limelight a lot more, for it. Kane has done it so much but it’s never mentioned for obvious reasons.

      4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Despise him

      5. Tinkermania
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        English wonder boy!

      6. Keep Calm and Play On
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        It’s because he’s English...

        1. Tinkermania
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Just English? Imagine if he looked like Raheem? 😉

      7. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        He's just streetwise 😉

    18. gonzalocampos
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      What a week, 29 points with Salah, Shaw, Fernandes and Antonio to go. From 17K to 24K.

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

        So what is the problem?

        1. gonzalocampos
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          I was 1st in my $6K ML, now I am 4th.

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

            Gutting

            1. gonzalocampos
              • 11 Years
              5 years, 3 months ago

              All other 3 with Salah Captain. I was on Kane. Let's pray for a 2 point cameo.

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

                Not me, I need anything fromI can get from Salah, Shaw, Antonio

    19. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Time for the Bruno Fernandes(c) show!

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        This

      2. HonestBlatter
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Missed peno and RC on cards

        1. Esalman
          • 16 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Given his ownership, that's the only way I get a green arrow now- and I own him.

        2. Salan
          • 16 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Very nice. Hope you are right.

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

      My H2H rival has Salah, Bruno, Coufal & Antonio left. He wins.

    21. Babit1967
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford to Bale really isn’t going to end well is it?

    22. Slitherene
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Martinez
      Reguilon Holding Coufal
      Son Auba Saka Lingard
      Kane Bamford Antonio

      FH this bunch?

      1. Top Dog
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        If you haven’t got a WC available then definitely free hit

        1. Slitherene
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Have the WC intact. But why do you say so?

          1. Top Dog
            • 16 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Don’t have Sean Longstaff, Tom Cairney or Douglas Luisa

            Ask a stupid question...

      2. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Why?

        1. Slitherene
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Could be a case of 4-5 players who end up playing

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

            Yeah sorry, wasn't thinking about the injuries - team looks good ex that!
            Guess wait till pressers

      3. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        No think you will have minimum of 8 starters which is good so keep FH

      4. The Ilfordian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        That looks like a great team minus injuries and benching uncertainties. Sorry it looks like lots of good planning. Still looks like possible 8 + transfer? I’d be holding onto FH in that situation

    23. Isca Extremadura
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Serial punctuality occurrence

      1. Pep bites Kun
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Why did they offer him a new contract then? If he's late on a regular basis, then obv the attitude is not where it should be. I sound like HR (dweebs who can't make it elsewhere and make rules to govern those who do) 😉 Love ya!

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

          He obviously has Bale-itis after getting paid.

          Hazard-itis?

          Madrid-itis?

    24. Digital-Real
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      WHU today
      Bowen Johnson Noble
      Such creativity there!

    25. Johnjo
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Trying to have some perspective, Son and Bamford are 2 of the most highly owned players in the game. So it's not like it's an individual disaster they got injured this week. Most people will be in the same boat.

      1. Tango74
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Then you look at form and spurs travelling back fro Europe and villa defence

      2. Moderately content penguin
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Not necessarily

        Loads were going into BGW with 7/8 including them having not prepared for it at all. 5/6 is FH territory

        1. Tango74
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Agree with numbers, be interesting if a WHU player gets an injury

      3. Whazza
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Bamford could still be fit too

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

        Yes, I’m in a very big boat with a lot of other people.

    26. WVA
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Of course I captained Kane and own Son, what a surprise

      1. Fudgy
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Same. Feel sick

      2. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        That’s the sort of season it has been .......

    27. Wirtzle Gummidge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Only an Antonio haul can cheer me up

      1. Whazza
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Let's gooooo

      2. JBG
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Haul of cards, yes.

    28. lindeg
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Was Saka injured?

    29. james 101
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Who you got left to finish off your GW?

      Bruno and Cresswell here.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Those two plus Salah

        1. james 101
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Nice. Could be a great diff

      2. Warby84
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Bruno (c) Shaw and Antonio

      3. The Ilfordian
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Neto and Salah. Need them trading goals tomorrow

    30. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Salah to haunt sellers tomorrow

      1. Baron Penguin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Scott Sellars?