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. Gnu
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Is RAE or any other Mod around?

    1. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Who you grassing on?

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

    We should be winning this ffs lads!

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

      Aye , finish boys

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

    Auba will come on right...

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

      No, more likely on the left.

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

    Why can't Jose see it? this Spurs side aren't good enough defensively to play his tactic.

  5. Esalman
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    No return from Kane(C)-Bale-Saka hmm.

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

    What happened to Ricardo Pereria? Injured at half time? Getting him in for Rudiger 4 weeks ago has to be my worst transfer of the season.

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

      23pts that transfer has cost me...

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

      Think it was tactical. Just going to have to accept that sometimes, good transfers go bad. The tragedy is that with Son out I may have to FH and he’ll be in my team at the start of GW30

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

      Got him in for Stones..

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

    Feel crap now

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

      Why?

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

        Captained kane

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

          Have you news he is not playing second half?

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

      Season over?

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

        Unironically yes

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

          Dunk 9 pointer off the bench might ease the pain.

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

      Only 12 points over the top 10k average so far this week

      Absolute disaster

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

    OdeGoal!

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

      Dial up?

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

    Next season I'm not going to ruin 3 game weeks to not ruin 1 blank game week.

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

      Having Kane, Bale and Son hasn't been that bad lately.

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

      Did exactly the same, twice

  10. Weeb Kakashi
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Bamford to miss GW29?

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

      60% chance

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

        Based on? Injury hasn't been assessed yet

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

    Should do, though Pep Junior may want to make a point !

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

    xG
    Spurs 0.03
    Arsenal 0.96

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

      😆 seriously?

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

        Should be...

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

          Even with eye test only, I mean.

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

      Normal story with Mourinho when in lead.

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

    Pereira, Son, Burn, Bamford owned by 9 managers in the top 10k
    One had KDB (c) with Son (vc) too as well as Gundogan
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1230625/event/28/

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

      That player also did Stones to Burn this GW as well as Salah to KDB 😮 - horrendous!

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

      Season over

  14. Catastrophe
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Jamie Redknapp just now:

    "I've never seen anything like it. He did it in the Europa league a few years ago"

    😀

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

      The question was about the Premier League tbf

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

        Didn't realise it was a question 🙂

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

          The preamble/setup. It's a comment to elicit a response. You know, language/conversation and all that confusing stuff. Still, funny in isolation.

          I remember when Lee Dixon said, 'I don't understand books'.

        2. @persecuted_by_mods
            5 years, 1 month ago

            Tbf I'm pretty sure he said we've not seen anything like it in the premier League

      2. Je suis le chat
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Bit like Jamie's "he's literally on fire" comment!

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

          That's a painful one!

      3. Rolls-Royce
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Michael Owen part 2

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

          Owen and McManaman the worst for me!

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

      Bale off HT ? Spurs getting hammered on that side

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

        Move Lucas out there more likely.

      2. Rolls-Royce
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Highly unlikely. More like Doherty off for Aurier.

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

        Doherty at fault

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

      So who are you guys getting in for Son?

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

        Lamela is a pretty good sub for Son

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

        Bale.

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

        No one worth -4 to replace in 29

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

        Trossard

    4. Rolls-Royce
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Need a second half hattick from Bale!

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

        They'll have to bring him on first.

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

        Kane*

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

      most of the big names blanking, you just know Bruno is going to deliver from a jammy penalty again and bank the 3 bonus.

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

        Thats what he does best!

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

        ACB, always captain Bruno 😉 (except vs. Sheff Utd)

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

        I forgot to confirm him as captain (ended up with last weeks Gundo(c) & Kane(v)).

        So yes, absolutely guaranteed to haul

      4. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I think it’s going to be Salah!! Like the West Ham away match when he got a brace!! Bottled captain hun for Bruno last minute too

        1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          *him

    6. Stranger Mings
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Is dunk -4 now worth it after today ?

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

        Might have been worth it before today.

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yep can see good chance of cleansheet v Newcastle and obviously goal threat so think worth a -4 gamble

      2. Effe
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah he is

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Ok thanks

    7. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Tierney to Odegaard was supposed to happen next week 😉

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

      First time I decided to bring the Spurs trio this GW in preparation for gw29 and regretted it after 10 mins already.

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

      Kane so far this season. 16 goals. 13 assists. 183 points.

      So pretty obvious why many would want him in their team or cap him.

      He will be up there for the golden boot / ff top points scorer this season

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

        Username checks out
        Milner's common sense starter course?

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

          Ha.
          No relation

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

        is that you Jamie Redknapp?

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

          God no

    10. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Spurs 1 shot
      Arsenal 10 shots

      1-1 🙂

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

        ARS hit bar & post

      2. Rolls-Royce
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        FT 1-2 then

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

        Well, as a Bale and Kane owner I want some goals here for them ... but Spurs deserve nothing with the way they play.

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

      My week so far -

      - Martinez concedes 94th min goal
      - KDB and Gundo play zero minutes
      - Pereira subbed at half time, missing out on CS
      - Auba (c) benched
      - Son off injured

      Anybody out doing that?

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

        Unlucky. I’ve got the same but Kane captain

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

        Depressing that, so unlucky

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

        Who's your VC?

      4. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Who’s your vice?

      5. Forever In Our Shadow
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        23 -8 must be.

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

        Kane's my vice, so somewhat conflicted. Hopefully Auba comes on the score the winner.

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

      Anyone else considering FH now. 90% I’m hitting the button.

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

        Yes with Son out

      2. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        I’ve tried to build a FH team for next week... it was underwhelming AF!

        I’m saving my FH for another week and just going for quality of quantity this week

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

        Was always my plan, but I think with Abu maybe not starting, Son injured, Bam Bam maybe injured ... many will be going the FH route although they didn’t want to.

    13. Ha.
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Best Son replacement? Bale?

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

        Trossard

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

      It’s cool. Just speculating ! He’s not one to track back !

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

      I know it’s early days but long do we think Son is going to be out for?

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

        Hammy usually isn't back next game. Far too early to say. May have rushed him off to protect him.

      2. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Hamstring could be a while.

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

        It’ll be a long road after amputation.

    16. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Only shaw can save me now.

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

        59th minute sub knowing this GW!

        1. DA Minnion (Former great)
          • 13 Years
          5 years, 1 month ago

          Yeah

    17. vova
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Digne and Son to Dallas and Auba

      free transfers

      yay or nay?

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

        The same. Aubameyang who is benched for disciplinary reasons?

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

          would assume he is back for the next match, would want to see him come on in this game first though.