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. Party time
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Lookman(C) locked in

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

        he is due, that's for sure!

    • F_Ivanovic
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Gone from having 2 players in this game in Aubameyand and Son to none. What an absolute nightmare of a GW.

      1. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Ouch. It’s a bi*ch of a game sometimes, it really is

    • thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      The fantasy gods are really wanting me to play my FH this week. I’m only on 6 players (but have 2FT’s).

      Holding has definitely been dropped (so 5), and now Son limps off (down to 4!!)

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

        yep, almost certainly have to play it now as a Bamford, Son (and Aubameyang for that matter) owner. Annoyingly i wasted a transfer this week and now have those 3 to potentially sort out AFTER the blank

    • gooberman
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Son (c) subbed off. Thats me in a foul mood for the rest of the evening. This game is just never ending torment. I wonder why I bother.

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Grab a pint!

      2. CRAZY TRAIN
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        If it makes you feel that bad mate you shouldn’t bother

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

        Walk it off mate 🙂 #Thisisfpl

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

      I own Son, Bamford and Traore, what a week.

    • FPL Scoop
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Zero hope for Bale and Kane(c) now. Spurs got no chance with Lamela over Son

      1. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Never say never...

        I wouldn’t rule out a Kane pen just yet

    • Hooky
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      A guy in one of my leagues did KDB (TC) this week with Gundogan as Vice captain. There's always someone worse off than you

    • Firminooooo
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      LOL. Just transfered Son in. Every time I own him its red card, blanks or injured. When I don’t own...MONSTER HAUL

      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        SAME here

    • Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      This is easily the worst GW i've ever had...

      Mount, Veltman, Digne blank against weaker teams
      KDB no show
      Pereira subbed at halftime
      Traore, Bamford injured
      No Cancelo or Stones

      Now Son injured... What next

      1. Danno - Emre Canada
        • 11 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        But how many points are you on?

        1. Scholes Out For Summer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          24 lol

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

      This gameweek is pretty hilarious so far

    • OverTinker
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Should I press FH button now?

    • GROBARI
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      I dont see Spurs to score today

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

        Too soon

    • g40steve
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Laca miss

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

        Even missed the corner flag.

    • TheDragon
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Fernandes -> Son last week was a good transfer on paper. In reality worth minus a billion points

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

        How was that good on paper?

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

          Penandes had city (only possible chance of scoring was a pen)

          Penandes blanks in 29

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

      Horrendous, if this finished 0-0

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

        Need Arsenal goal to justify Reggie benching

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Probably will.

    • Sim Simma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Laca misses sitter

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

        Lol

    • EDUARDO DA SILVA
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Sell Auba

      1. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Just before GW29...

        I definitely wouldn’t, no.

        After next GW, I’d strongly consider getting rid yes

    • SB007
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Can someone given me comfort and tell me you also have Aurier trolling you. Seemed like a good move at the time in 26.

    • Rainer
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 3 months ago

      Rough with the rougher this GW.

      1. Party time
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Lol

      2. CRAZY TRAIN
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Dawson or Konsa for Lowton?

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

        I can only field 9 players in GW29, would you FH?

        Fabri - Steer
        Burn - Salibu
        Son - Traore
        Davis - Viniscius - Bamford

        1. JammySprat
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          id be happy with 7 from the fixtures

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

          Check this guy out! Only 9 BGW players, bless him.

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

          Solid 4 or 5 points in that lot - fancy Davis to come on and get an assist?

        4. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          That’s not really 9 ‘proper fantasy options’ though is it

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

          Do you think Bamford will start next week though?

      4. JammySprat
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Only 1 winner in this game based off the first 25mins

      5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Lamela is a huge downgrade to this spurs team. Never liked the dynamics of the team when he starts or comes on

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

          This aged well

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

          Timing, Bemba.

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

        Feel so bad for capping kane

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 14 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Me too, weekend ruined

        2. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Bruno might be no better.

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

        Keane 1 point
        Pereira 1 point
        Son1 point
        Bamford 1 point
        Anyone with five or more 1 pointers?

      8. Isco Disco
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Can’t believe my only differential player Auba is on the bench coz he showed up late...FFS! Is this bad luck or just bad choice?
        All I’m praying for now is Bruno blank or else massive red arrow incoming

        1. JammySprat
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 3 months ago

          Auba is bad luck, wasn't to see that coming. As for being template, that is purely your choice

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

        People that kept FH. Hats out to ya.

      10. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Jesus I’d even take a Kane looking like scoring at this point

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

          We won't even get 2 points

          1. Salah’s Sonnet
            • 14 Years
            5 years, 3 months ago

            Very true

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

        Emile left - go

      12. _Ninja_
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 3 months ago

        Son likely out Thursdays game so Bale could play. Son back next gw with Bale getting a rest.

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

          Optimistic. If that's a hamstring strain, a proper one, he's out for 3 weeks.

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

          Thank you for this reassurance. (Not)