Dugout Discussion

White absent as Lukaku starts for Chelsea

Sunday’s Premier League action continues at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal host Chelsea.

Romelu Lukaku (£11.5m) comes into Gameweek 2 with a significant level of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) interest.

The Belgian starts up top for Thomas Tuchel’s side, and will be supported by Mason Mount (£7.5m) and Kai Havertz (£8.4m) in the Blues 3-4-2-1 formation.

Elsewhere, Christian Pulisic (£8.0m) misses out after a positive Covid test, while N’Golo Kante (£5.0m) and Hakim Ziyech (£7.4m) are back on the bench after being injured in the UEFA Super Cup.

As for Arsenal, Ben White £4.5m) has been ruled out, as revealed by David Ornstein earlier today:

As a result, Mikel Arteta turns to Rob Holding (£4.4m), who joins Cedric Soares (£4.5m), Pablo Mari (£4.5m) and Kieran Tierney (£5.0m) at the back.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£9.9m), who has recovered from Covid, and new signing Aaron Ramsdale (£4.5m) are on the bench.

Martin Odegaard (£5.5m) has joined permanently from Real Madrid, however this game comes too soon for him.

GAMEWEEK 2 LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Holding, Mari, Tierney, Lokonga, Xhaka, Saka, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Martinelli 

Subs: Ramsdale, Chambers, Kolasinac, Tavares, Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Nelson, Balogun, Aubameyang

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso, Mount, Havertz, Lukaku 

Subs: Kepa, Chilwell, Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Zouma, Kante, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Werner

Kane was on the bench this week, while Fernandes started!

1,612 Comments Post a Comment
  1. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    3 - James (57)
    2 - Lukaku (34)
    1 - Mendy (31)

    Mount (30)
    Christensen (28)
    Alonso (27)

    1. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Rip ALonso

      1. dansmusen
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Thanks for the points but time to go

  2. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Mari and Pepe have probably taken a few years of my life just by their modus operandi.

  3. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Greenwood a go to mid priced mid or ones like Benrahma, Bergwijn or Adama are also good options considering their incoming fixtures?

    Recon Wolves game may be tough for United

    1. 1984 TC
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes to Greenwood.

    2. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He definitely looks the best currently

  4. BrockLanders
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Yes or No

    Bruno, Gundo & Toney to Lukaku, Greenwood & Dele Alli

    1. Debauchy
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Looks good but would wait awhile

    2. Ephurion
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No

      Lukaku have Liverpool next, also having 2 FTs over IB with injuries and whatever else could be huge

  5. Vazza
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What to do guys?

    Sanchez
    TAA Maguire Shaw Tsimikas
    Salah (c) Son Greenwood Gundo
    Vardy Bamford

    Steele, Scarlett, Livramento, Rupp

    2FT, 0.00 ITB

    1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If you wanted Lukaku you could downgrade Maguire/Shaw to 4.5 and upgrade Vardy, bit worried about your bench though

  6. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    2 FT: Mane + Toney to Son + DCL ?

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Son may not be fit, played with injury today and subbed early.

      1. Tcheco
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Didn’t know he was injured

    2. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Also, when? DCL & Son rising, Mane already dropped 0.1 and expecting Toney to drop too

    3. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Why sell Mane, he's looking really sharp and has good fixtures after Chelsea?

      1. Tcheco
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        True but the plan was always to transfer him out in GW3 for Son who looks sharp. Also allows me to get DCL

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          My plan was Mane to Son also but not feeling it now tbh

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No - Son may have injury. To be assessed according to Nuno

  7. el polako
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Hope Son's injury not too serious, really would like to start him against Watford.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Did it look bad?

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Didn't watch the game, only read some reports apparently got injured in warm up.

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Ugh. Clues on Thursday hopefully.

    2. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Wait... hes injured?

      1. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Nuno confirmed had issue and would be assessed

      2. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        "Son Heung-min was far from his usual best in the game at Molineux as he struggled to have a real impact on proceedings.

        Very quiet in the same fixture back in December 2020, it was very much a repeat performance from the South Korean.

        Prior to kick-off the 29-year-old did in fact leave the warm up slightly earlier than his Spurs teammates and was followed in by medical staff.

        Son wasn't to be a late casualty from the XI, however, and remained in the Spurs XI at Molineux but he just looked off the pace.

        Son Heung-min was far from his best in Tottenham's win at Wolves
        Son Heung-min was far from his best in Tottenham's win.
        Appearing to have some strapping on his left hamstring during the game, the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man made way with 20 minutes remaining as Kane came on in his place."

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Played 70 minutes… it can’t be that bad.

  8. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Home advantage no help to Arsenal, might help next weekend.

  9. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I wish to ask Arteta what his understanding of scoring a goal is. I am quite convinced Arsenal will have started this season without scoring a goal for 5+ hours.

  10. FPL_trail_runner
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Even Mark is looking at a WC it seems based on his current Twitter musings

    I did call it this morning 😉

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      love to hear this (love Mark too), even experts can't get it right every GW 🙂

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He is thinking about a MINI wildcard, not an actual wildcard.

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          Cheers Virg, that makes a lot more sense, think I'll hold out and mini-WC during the IB

    2. Khark
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Im wildcarding in the internationals.

      Lukaku is a must have. Team needs surgery.

  11. Vazza
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Best Spurs defender not Regulon

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I think he is...

    2. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      This is the year when Dier scores again after 3 years 😉

  12. R.C
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Will Alonso start v/s Liverpool?

    1. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Not sure how you expect anyone to know this ?

    2. Digital-Real
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      He started last season if that is any indication

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Chilly if you ask me.

  13. Jensen Luiz Coleman
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Pogba for Bruno frees cash for Ings to Lukaku.

    1. dshv
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Thinking the same but man …. Risky..

      1. Jensen Luiz Coleman
        • 15 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        My thinking is that Lukaku is more essential than Bruno.

        Both Greenwod and Pogba look like great good value MU assets and Chelsea looks like a really good team this year and Lukaku is gonna be the man.

  14. Yozzer
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Grealish to Greenwood makes sense? Didn't see the game today.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Grealish out before Arsenal?

      1. Yozzer
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He only had one shot all game vs Norwich . How did Greenwood look today?

  15. nolard
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Vardy to Lukaku now or after Norwich?

    Also got Barnes.

    1. Fabreghastly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      After Norwich

    2. Khark
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Getting rid of Vardy before Norwich is silly IMO

    3. nolard
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes, I guess so.

      He also has City's number...

  16. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chelsea sleep walking to victory. Livepool vs Chelsea already feels signifcant.. Chelsea slight favourites.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I think Chelsea win this season, they seem organised. City will fall away, Lpool will be their real contenders

      1. Naby K8a
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Aye. Big Rom will fire Chelsea into contention. Tuchel very tactically savy... such a deep and good squad.

    2. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      it was genuinely scary with what ease they handled Arsenal

      1. SpoonPants
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Chelsea or Brentford?

        1. Kobrakai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          😀

  17. DR0GBA
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Would you wildcard this team?

    Sanchez - Foster
    Shaw - Digne - Tsimikas - White - Manquillo
    Salah - Bruno - Mount - Havertz - Gilmour
    Ings - Wilson - Antonio

    2FTs - £0m ITB

    1. Yozzer
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      No. I would lose Digne

      1. DR0GBA
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Who do you think I should replace him with?

        1. tricpic
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          I would lose Digne and Havertz - is that enough for Trent and Sarr?

  18. Fish up a tree
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Who’s price is likely to go up before tomorrow nights game as got 4 players out of me squad involved & don’t want to knee jerk anyone in prematurely!

    Livramento
    Kaku
    Duffy

    1. Wild Card this!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Duffy

    2. Baberto
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Duffy - Quite possibly
      Livra - No
      Lukaku - Probably not

  19. FPL Virgin
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Chelsea's stats are utterly elite. Both in defence and attack.

    We all need 3 of their players asap.

    1. mezza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      A real form vs fixtures conundrum

      1. Ser Davos
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Form I think on this one

      2. el polako
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Looking at the chances Liverpool conceded against Burnley, Chelsea will fancy going for goal or two.

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 15 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      It's been 2 weeks.

      1. FPL Virgin
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        They have been elite since Tuchel came in.

    3. DR0GBA
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Lukaku, Mount & who from defence?

      Rudiger imo is the most likely to start week in week out but not sure of the rest

    4. Berkshire Hafaway-Line
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I'm on zero currently. Ruh-roh 🙁

    5. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Kinda agree, but I dont think they will have as many explosive scoreliens like Pool, Man U and City. They will just grind out 1-0 and 2-0's, hard to justify two attackers though when the only options are Mount and then the 11.5 Kaku. I think Kaku is just too expensive

    6. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      If they didn't have Liverpool next I think most would be getting at least one in next week! A lot of rotation is the other issue so if one has a couple of City assets and a couple of Chelsea assets and a bit of bad luck at the roulette table...

  20. Ser Davos
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Anyone think Laporte and/or Rudiger could be good options?

    1. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Rudiger yes but when Stones back Laporte probably back to bench- or at least a rotation risk

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      6 points max most GWs, would rather go WBs, also how nailed is Laporte with Stones waiting in the long grass

    3. Jono_90
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Quite a bit of transfer speculation for Laporte.

    4. Ser Davos
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Cheers. Only .5 more for Dias who has some goal threat

      Rudiger at only 5.5 with the likes of Livramento as back up

  21. RogDog_jimmy
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Score check folks.

    56 with Antonio & Benrahma to go.

    Seems about par as far as I can tell. Given the captain blanks I’m not too stressed. OR drop from 8k to 16k but that’s pretty minor given the early volatility.

    1. Joey Tribbiani
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      48 with same 2 left

    2. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      58 Antonio + Barnes. Bang average.

    3. 2EyedTurk
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      65 Antonio, Barnes to go

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Great

    4. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      80 with Antonio to go

    5. Berkshire Hafaway-Line
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Also 56 with 2 to go. Vardy & Amartey

    6. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      96 with eight to go. Stonking.

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        I see you don't like these posts

    7. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      67 with Antonio

    8. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      50. Antonio/Benrahma/Barnes to go.

    9. Fabreghastly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      54 with Antonio and Benrahma

    10. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      56, Tielemans left

    11. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      58 with Antonio, Barnes, Benrahma to go, very happy with that!

    12. Qui-Gon-Joe
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      37 with Barnes, Coufal and Antonio. Painful

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Similar to me, 40 with antonio, benrahama and Barnes left. Hoping to get 60, a 2-4 would be nice

    13. We Go Again
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      63 with Antonio and Barnes to play

  22. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Well now... poor aul Lego Arteta is going to have a few panels when Master Squires is done on Tuesday.

    60 with Antonio and Coufal to play, so reasonably happy. Here's how I'm set for GW3

    Sanchez
    Shaw / Coufal / Ayling
    Son (C) / Salah / Dele / Rapha
    Antonio / DCL / Ings

    Bachman Turner Overdrive / Jota / Tsmi / White

    Have a FT in the bank, but *will* use it if White is going for a price drop.

  23. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Can't get a good squad with Salah, Bruno and Lukaku. The rest of the team looks anemic.

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Just seeing if possible, no plans yet.

      1. Ser Davos
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        Trent needs to go

  24. Sanchit
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Can someone explain? ( One of my friends who's an Arsenal fan and always whining asked me this, I don't have an answer this time so asking you lot)

    Arsenal Chelsea
    Martinelli treated
    Reece James treated
    Tierney treated
    3 minutes stoppage time

    Man Utd Soton, no injuries
    5 mins stoppage time

    1. R.C
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      1-1 v/s 2-0

      1. Sanchit
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        But should that be the case?
        It's 'injury time', not ' it's a draw so you can try to find a winner in the next 5 misn'

  25. cmorris22
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    What does everyone think about Reece James? Him or Cresswell? Both seem to be going under the radar

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Cresswell looks a good pick with WHU's fixtures. James will always be a rotation risk I reckon.

    2. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      James an excellent option and high on my shortlist but prefer the 0.5 saving on Coufal over Cresswell myself

    3. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Periera > James in gw4 is an option for me.

  26. marcus2704
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Is Matip likely to keep his place?

    1. tricpic
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes. I considered him as a route into LFC defence. But they looked shaky and will concede. Only reason for TAA or Robbo is for the attacking returns - worth the extra. VVD too will pick up bonus.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Hard to see tbh ; not sure why Konate isn’t starting ; guess he needs more training with VVD

    3. Naby K8a
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Klopp eluded to cb rotation in his post match pressers yesterday. 3 games a week after International break

    4. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      There are medicines I hear

    5. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Yes

    6. POGON 1948
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      For now yeah, while VVD is easing back in. Matip is his preffered partner.

      Long term Konate VVD is the idea.

    7. Khark
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      Im hoping so, im looking at him seriously just as a way to null liverpool defence if i go TAAless

      1. marcus2704
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        That's exactly my use-case for him.

  27. bitars
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    2FT and gonna drop Targett and Mahrez

    Defender

    1) Recce-James for offensive points and price rise even if the fixtures are bad?

    2) Reguillon for tasty fixtures?

    Midfield

    1) Raphina för good value and fixtures?

    2) Grealish for City cover?

  28. 2EyedTurk
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    I know it's Liverpool up next, but tempted to take a -4 to do Sanchez, Mahrez, Toney to Ward, Bissouma, Lukaku. Otherwise could be priced out. Front 7 would then be
    Salah Greenwood Raphinia Barnes
    Lukaku Ings Antonio

  29. POGON 1948
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Waiting for tomorrow to do 1 of:

    A) Tielemans 6.5 -> Alli 6.5
    B) Amartey 4.0 -> Livramento 4.0

    And then go into IB with 2 FT's, opinions?

  30. Old Man
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 10 months ago

    Lukaku 35% already

    1. jia you
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      wow, didn't think he was anywhere near that ownership!

      1. Sanchit
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        He's talking about price rise, not ownership

      2. Old Man
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        apologies, I should've explained, 35% on way to rise

        1. jia you
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 10 months ago

          ah right, got it, thanks

      3. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        2 years, 10 months ago

        That's the delta, not the ownership.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 10 months ago

      I had a plan to go Vardy to Lukaku after next game, still going to do it but it looks like it will cost me extra 0.1 or 0.2...