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. Coaly
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Any chance Bamford plays next week?

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

      No one knows for sure

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

      sure

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

      Yes was only a dead leg.

    4. JammySprat
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yes, he is still in contract

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

    A high portion of recent PL games have been extremely boring. This game included

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

      Because everyone is knackered. Also see why City are running away with the title

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

        Because they could probably field 2 teams in this league and finish 1st and 2cd.

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

    Auba better come on. Can't be having jammy autosub hauls for my rival.

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

      If he's out for disciplinary reasons then that's doubtful

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

        He wouldn’t be on the bench if Arteta wasn’t going to bring him on

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

          Not necessarily

    2. Neevesy
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      He better come on as he's my VC after KDB captain.

      Also, why is having a good bench jammy?

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

    My main rival captained KDB with vice on Son.

    I benched Son.

    If only he weren't autosubbing in for Gundo.

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

    on WC. Lost 2 Villa clean sheets, did Veltman over Dunk last minute, moved Cancelo on to get KDB in, got Bamford & Son.

    Did Martinez > Pope a few weeks ago as Pope had the extra fixtures, Martinez still outscored him by a mile.

    Bruno (TC) fail last GW.

    1.8k rank down to 10.8k rank in 4 GWs. you will say its still a great rank but i cant seem to stop the rot no matter what i try..

    1. Debauchy
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      grind awhile think of us in the 300 to 400 k bracket

    2. Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      For me 10.8 is a krap rank but most people here are noobs who barely finish top 100k

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

        What about 57k? 😉

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

        You’ve only finished top 10K 3 times and +100k times many times. 10.8 is a superb rank.

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

          Look at my last 5 u dork. I figured this game out. Top 20k so easy its ridicolous. 10k not much harder

        2. Woy_is_back
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          You are not even linking your team. Says it all

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

      Excellent humblebrag. Eight points.

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

      I lost 2 Villa clean sheets too, got White over Dunk, own Bamford, Son and KDB. Salah(TC) fail in the DGW too yet I’ve gotten a few greens. Most people are in your position

    5. @persecuted_by_mods
        5 years, 1 month ago

        You think that's bad, I dropped from the 200's to the 400's yesterday

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

        Biggest brag ever

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

          Definitely Billy

        2. OneDennisBergkamp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          zzzzz knew some idiots would say that, which is why i put "you will say itsa great rank".

          dunno what your standards are, but i am disappointed with it after peaking at 1.2k this season.

      • JammySprat
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Avoid double up on defence. Don't leave transfers to last minute, think them through. Don't spend transfers on city to city moves.

        Rest seems like good moves / unlucky.

      • shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I’ve dropped from 377k to 1.1m since Xmas. This time last year I was 602nd!

    6. Woy_is_back
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Kane fail

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

        Definitely

      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Here we go

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

        just takes a Moura dive in the box to change that.

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

          Lamela is on which means we’ve the best diver in the league in play

    7. Vamos Los Celeste
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I take a 2-1 Arsenal win with a goal of Reg no kane or Bale involvement.

    8. Henning
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hmmm.

      So take a -4 to get 2 players for gw 29
      Will that be enough?
      Then wildcard for gw 30

      Martinez
      Dallas Coufal Targett
      Raphinha Son*
      Bamford* Kane

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

      Starting to fall out of love with fpl now

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

        Lost all it’s integrity and fun factor years ago

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

          Agreed. I'm playing out of habit now

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

            Me too, I’ve been on a flyer the last 10-12 GW’s so just playing to keep that going really, still been no fun at all

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

        Bit of bad luck goes with all the good luck. Take it on the chin.

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

        go for differentials, makes it fun 🙂

    10. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Some observations from the 1st of 1st half

      Kane cappers totally deserve this. Typical mourinho away performance in big away game

      29 FHers LOVE to see it. Oh yes we do

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

        Why do you hate yourself

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Because there's nowhere to hide, for any of us

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

              Absolutely nowhere to hide

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

          God you’re inane

      2. S.Kuqi
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Not much to gain with fh29. Gw33 would have been lot better

        1. Vamos Los Celeste
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Not if popular picks keep falling.

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

        So was was the disciplinary issue that got Auba benched?

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

          *what was

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

          Probably went for another haircut

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

            He should just let it grow out

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

          Late to team meeting this morning, probably.

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

            Got to be more than that surely v Spurs. Even Fergie wasn't that strict with a big game in hand

        4. M2.0
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Late

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

        No idea what to do with Son out

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

          Just keep it simple and bench him, he’ll probs play next game. Meanwhile, I’ll be doing Barnes & Digne > Bale & Veltman most likely

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

        Put 40 bucks on spurs, bet it will end 0-0
        Man U-West Ham definitely a 0-0 game

      6. SpaceCadet
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Bamford, son. Who’s next? Antonio?

        1. Vamos Los Celeste
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Kane.

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

        All GW (C) fail

      8. sminkypinky
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Tough old game this. Won’t go into specifics. I’ll just leave it at that.

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

        OMG lamela

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

          Moura A

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

        Lol!

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

        Pathetic

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

        Lamela steals the points

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

        Lamela G
        Moura A

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

        Chin up gents my ML rival has Gundogan(c) Sterling(vc) 🙂

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

        LAMELA

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

        I am Out for next Gameweek best of luck Guys

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

        Lamela G
        Moura A

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

        LOL lamela

      19. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Holy cow. What a goal.

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

        Lamela g Moura a

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

        Rabies king