Dugout Discussion
18 April 2021 506 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Arsenal v Fulham is one of just two Premier League matches that takes place on a less-busy-than-usual Sunday.

Kick-off at the Emirates is at 13:30 BST.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) isn’t part of the Arsenal matchday squad, with the Gunners confirming on Saturday that he “will continue to be supported and assessed by the medical team in the coming days” after contracting malaria.

Martin Odegaard (£5.9m) also misses out with an ankle issue but “is hoping to be back in light training next week”.

Aubameyang’s absence means a fifth successive competitive start for the in-form Alexandre Lacazette (£8.4m), who has six Fantasy Premier League attacking returns in as many top-flight appearances.

The Frenchman was the fourth most-bought player of Gameweek 32, attracting 270,608 transfers in.

Mikel Arteta makes five changes to the Arsenal side that started the 3-0 win over Sheffield United, with a benching for Bernd Leno (£5.0m) the most eye-catching decision.

Mat Ryan (£4.1m) starts in goal for the hosts this afternoon, with Hector Bellerin (£5.0m), Gabriel (£4.9m), Mohamed Elneny (£4.2m) and Emile Smith Rowe (£4.2m) also recalled.

Thomas Partey (£4.9m), Nicolas Pepe (£7.6m), Calum Chambers (£4.5m) and Pablo Mari (£4.4m) drop to the bench.

Arteta explained his line-up ahead of kick-off:

It’s rotation, it’s precaution, there are players who haven’t recovered from the [Slavia] game and we have to be very careful because we don’t want to lose them.

And then there are others who deserve to play, for example like Mat [Ryan] in goal. He trains like a beast, he’s been really positive around the place, he’s doing really well and he deserves a chance.

Scott Parker has matched his opposite number and made five changes to his starting XI.

Kenny Tete (£4.3m) and Terence Kongolo (£4.3m) are among the quintet to make way, with the former testing positive for COVID-19 and the latter out for the season with a knee injury.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (£5.5m), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (£5.9m) and Harrison Reed (£4.4m) drop to the bench, meanwhile.

Ademola Lookman is back from injury and starts, while Tosin Adarabioyo (£4.5m), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (£4.5m), Josh Maja (£5.3m) and Ivan Cavaleiro (£5.3m) are also thrown back into the fray.

This is the reverse fixture of the Gameweek 1 clash at Craven Cottage, a match that the Gunners won 3-0.


Arsenal XI: Ryan, Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Saka, Ceballos, Elneny, Xhaka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Lacazette.

Fulham XI: Areola, Aina, Andersen, Robinson, Zambo Anguissa, De Cordova-Reid, Adarabioyo, Cavaleiro, Lemina, Lookman, Maja.


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506 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Digital-Real
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    This gameweek is dragging

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Only four and a half days to go 🙂

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

      Four games across the weekend where I only have a single player (who is in 84% of teams) is pretty dull!

  2. not_astarte
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Mitrovic benched what exactly is wrong with Parker.

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

      He's a nib

  3. SteJ
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Turgid

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

      Swollen

  4. DaveZubie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Just seen Leno benched.
    Mendy/Leno looked so good on WC for this GWs BB *facepalm*

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Ouch

    2. not_astarte
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      that's tough

    3. ktk_interista
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Its just one game. He is ill. He is not dropped.

      1. DaveZubie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        I'm bench boosting so missing out, thems the breaks

  5. Thomas Magnum
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Does the VAR have more camera angles to work with other than that one angle that we see on television? Blows my mind that in today’s age there’s seemingly still only 1 camera angle to go off...

    1. not_astarte
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      has various angles

      1. Thomas Magnum
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Then we should see them on screen if that’s the case

  6. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    lets goooooo

  7. sminkypinky
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Joke if given

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Stamp on toes hurts!

    2. REDMOND IN SANDALS
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      blatant contact

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

      PL VAR is a joke.

  8. sminkypinky
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Ludicrous

  9. moment
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Have I missed something; has Mendy lost his place to Kepa?

    1. Londongeezaa
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Yes

    2. JJeyy
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Leap is best keeper in the league in my books

      1. JJeyy
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Kepa

  10. Salan
    • 16 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    That's why I call this stupid PL VAR.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Correct decisions?

      1. Salan
        • 16 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        You and that guy can keep praise this PL VAR.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Don't stamp on someone's toes won't be any penalties

  11. Londongeezaa
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Holding owners in tears

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Maja problems

      1. Londongeezaa
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Lol. Will they still be holding next GW?

      2. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Another great call by VAR eh 😉

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
          5 years, 5 months ago

          What was your unbiased problem with this one arsenal fan?

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

            You just hate Arsenal if you think that’s a pen

            1. Thomas Magnum
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 5 months ago

              It was extremely soft but chances are a foul would be given for the same thing anywhere else on the pitch...

            2. @persecuted_by_mods
              5 years, 5 months ago

              No, I like arsenal. Wenger is my favourite manager, I'm just not biased

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

        Lemino when Holding scores

    2. It's Fergie Time
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      I was going to bring him in, but didn't at the last minute

  12. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Never a pen

  13. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Arsenal clean sheet wiped out.

    Things you just love to see.

    1. DaveZubie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      As a Leno owner I concur with my learned associate

  14. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Beautiful Pen

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

    OMG Maja

  16. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Majaaaaaa!

  17. el polako
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Lad from Netflix scores.

  18. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Sigh. Ridiculous penalty really.

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

    Arsenal are so bad. Beating Slavia Prague doesn't cover over the cracks.

    Horrendous football

    1. Pariße
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      They literally scored twice and had 3 more easy chances to score.

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

        I am talking about this season. Defensive tactics which don't work (evidently by the lack of clean sheets) and torrid football being played.

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

          Yeah. Don’t understand anything under Arteta. Should be Europa league or bust for him. If we lose that and he stays, that would be the end of Arsenal.

        2. Pariße
          • 11 Years
          5 years, 5 months ago

          Generally too slow and not creative enough. You have to give credit that they have had numerous similar games, where they dominated but lapses of focus and VAR interventions went against them.

  20. Pariße
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    An Arsenal Classic 😀

    Really unfortunate though

  21. It's Fergie Time
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    holding owners have nowhere to hide, CS busted

    1. _Ninja_
      • 16 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Happy Owner here

      Last on my bench.

      1. Patio Kev
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        Better hope you don’t need your bench this week then as lots of us will.

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

    selling lacazette probably for vardy

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Vardy is done.

    2. Old Wulfrunian
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Is Cavani a better pick?

  23. @persecuted_by_mods
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I know it looks soft on TV but do people think a grown man stamping on your foot with boots doesn't hurt? Granted it doesn't make you leap in the air either but it's enough of an impeding action

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Son would be still rolling.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Only went down because A) Tiny bit of contact and B) Ball was going away from him

      1. el polako
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        C) staying on your feet is punished, ask Phil Foden about it.

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
        5 years, 5 months ago

        A) enough to impede, it still hurts
        B) if the ball is going away from him blame the defender for an even dumber tackle then

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

      It's mostly Arsenal fans claiming it's not a pen tbf. The breed on here have invested heavily in rose tinted glasses.

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

        At least I'm not a swan!

      2. @persecuted_by_mods
        5 years, 5 months ago

        True true

  24. Londongeezaa
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    What time do the Lacafail posts start?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      5 years, 5 months ago

      In three screams time

  25. Rassi
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Maja hii, Maja hoo, Maja haah, Maja haahaah!

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

    Josh Maja's penalty was the 87th to be scored in the Premier League this season, equalling the most in a single campaign in the competition's history (also 87 in 2006-07). Scrupulous.

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

    Playing Rob Holding over Gundog is looking very stupid now

  28. HollywoodXI
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    I can’t buy a CS right now from my defence.

  29. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Has Werner lost his place?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Started and got a CS vs. City yesterday mate

      1. Old Wulfrunian
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 5 months ago

        cheers

  30. Stupendous
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 5 months ago

    Holding owner and starter

    Now hearing Mendy is out????

    I get forster vs Spurs gulp

    1. moment
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      5 years, 5 months ago

      Spurs without Kane tho