Dugout Discussion
28 August 2021 1532 comments
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Manchester City v Arsenal gets the final Gameweek before the September international break underway.

Kick-off at the Etihad is at 12:30 BST and you can follow the fantasy action on our live Matchcast.

A manager naming an unchanged side after a 5-0 win wouldn’t come as a shock in most instances but where Pep Guardiola is involved, it’s almost more of a surprise than when he makes multiple alterations.

The City head coach has indeed stuck with the same starting XI that demolished Norwich City 5-0 last weekend, so that means substitute roles for Riyad Mahrez (£9.0m) and Raheem Sterling (£11.0m).

Jack Grealish (£8.0m) makes it three Premier League starts from three following his summer move from Aston Villa, with Ferran Torres (£7.0m) also keeping up his 100% record.

Torres may well be leading the line again this afternoon, with Gabriel Jesus (£8.5m) turning in an excellent performance down the right flank against the Canaries in Gameweek 2.

Kevin De Bruyne (£12.0m) misses out with an ankle injury, as previously disclosed by Guardiola.

The Arsenal team news is bamboozling in its own right.

Head coach Mikel Arteta makes four changes following the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat by Chelsea a week ago, with Martin Odegaard (£5.5m) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£9.9m) brought into the side after starring in the EFL Cup in midweek.

Calum Chambers (£4.4m) is also recalled but the biggest surprise is the involvement of Sead Kolasinac (£4.4m), in for his first Premier League start since Gameweek 2 of last season.

Bukayo Saka (£6.3m) and Kieran Tierney (£4.9m) have shrugged off minor injuries to feature.

Pablo Mari (£4.5m), Albert Sambi Lokonga (£5.0m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£5.4m) drop to the bench, while Nicolas Pepe (£7.3m) is absent because of illness.

Ben White (£4.4m) still isn’t involved following his own spell in self-isolation.

LINE-UPS

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Silva, Rodri, Gundogan, Jesus, Torres, Grealish.

Subs: Stones, Ake, Sterling, Zinchenko, Steffen, Fernandinho, Mahrez, Doyle, Palmer.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Chambers, Holding, Kolasinac, Tierney, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Xhaka, Saka, Aubameyang.

Subs: Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Tavares, Pablo Mari, Sambi Lokonga, Elneny, Ramsdale, Okonkwo, Martinelli

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1,532 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
    5 years, 1 month ago

    lol first time Pep's named an unchanged XI in the epl since October 2017

    1. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Telling you the rotation at Chelsea will be much worse than Man City's this season

      1. Ze_Austin
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Look at City's bench, then add in KDB and Foden

        At least, Chelsea will have a nailed attacker in Lukaku. Maybe one nailed CB, and then the rest are up in the air

    2. V-2 Schneiderlin
      5 years, 1 month ago

      not signing Kane is good for Torres starts I guess

      1. Transient Anus
        5 years, 1 month ago

        For sure. Top of the watchlist

  2. Rainer
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Are there Covid related fan restrictions back in Manchester?

    1. ClassiX
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      5 years, 1 month ago

      The opponents are Arsenal... 😉

    2. Jafooli
      5 years, 1 month ago

      😛

  3. ClassiX
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Overall Captaincy
    FERNANDES 23.67%
    ANTONIO 17.20%
    SALAH 13.12%
    SON 9.07%
    INGS 4.62%
    VARDY 4.56%
    KANE 4.06%
    LUKAKU 3.72%
    BENRAHMA 1.46%
    GREALISH 1.39%

    1. Transient Anus
      5 years, 1 month ago

      4% 😎

      1. Paqueta Rice
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Let’s hope we get rewarded!

        1. Transient Anus
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I'll drink to that

    2. Rainer
      5 years, 1 month ago

      AntoniEO 😮

      1. Paqueta Rice
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Haha

  4. Gunneryank
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Cleaned behind the sofa just for today!

    1. Paqueta Rice
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Which players are you hiding from?

      1. Gunneryank
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Erm...the Arsenal teamsheet lol.

  5. Paqueta Rice
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I would love an Arsenal win today. Would be great for the league. I know city started last season poor also but 3 points from the first 3 games would be excellent!

    1. HashAttack
      5 years, 1 month ago

      That would be sweet if Arsenal then go on to lose to Norwich

  6. Jafooli
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal playing superbly…..haven’t conceded yet.

    1. Dynamic Duos
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hahaha, made my day this

    2. Jafooli
      5 years, 1 month ago

      That aged well

  7. TheBiffas
    5 years, 1 month ago

    I can do Ings + Mahrez -> Lukaku + Raph right now for -4. should I?

    1. Jafooli
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ronnie says hi….

    2. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah, don't wait for 10 games and 2 weeks of international football. Do it now!

      1. TheBiffas
        5 years, 1 month ago

        If u owned mahrez, you'd sympathize

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          5 years, 1 month ago

          I do own Mahrez. My team is linked.

          That does not mean I'm going to knee jerk him out before a minute's been played.

  8. jia you
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Signing Ronaldo would've increase City's worldwide fanbase by 40-50mill apparantly so 40-50m more than they currently have!

    1. FPL Brains
      • Has Moderation Rights
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Hahaha

    2. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Ha. They would have gone from new money local club to shirt sales in all continents. Fortunately that didn’t happen!

  9. Das Boot
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Odegaard looking decent

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

    Gundog goal

  11. TheBiffas
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Smith-Rowe on the left flank with odegaard central, interesting

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

      That's how they both played together last year, not a new development.

      1. TheBiffas
        5 years, 1 month ago

        Most people here thought odegaard and smith-rowe wood rotate...

  12. Rainer
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo G
    Jesus A

  13. Ze_Austin
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo G
    Jesus A

  14. Jafooli
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Anyone already activated their WC?

    Ronnie should be available for Newcastle at home right? 😮

  15. Paqueta Rice
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Playing ESR and Odegaard together has made Arsenal look a lot more positive going forward. This is based in 6 minutes of data however 😆

  16. JBG
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Lol, Gundogan header.

  17. ☈☾
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Andy sold Gundo for a hit

    1. Carlton P
      5 years, 1 month ago

      How when he wildcarded?

  18. Rio Angora Mohair
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Playing as captain and so many sellers in first 2 weeks, he will come good, you heard it here first, remember that!!!

    1. Rio Angora Mohair
      5 years, 1 month ago

      I spent 2 hours contemplating Gundu as Captain as I knew he would come good!!! But ended up playing safe!!!!

  19. Andy_Social
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Shame. Arse so good for 5 minutes

  20. Dynamic Duos
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Gundo punishing

  21. Gudjohnsen
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Awful defending

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

    Jesus resurrected as an FPL asset!

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

      YESSSS TORRESSSS

  23. Atimis
    5 years, 1 month ago

    FAK MY LIFE - the GW I sell him, he scores…!!!

    1. Atimis
      5 years, 1 month ago

      That is completely ridiculous

  24. Paqueta Rice
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Gundogan goal Jesus assist

    1. Paqueta Rice
      5 years, 1 month ago

      First time going forward they score

  25. Piggs Boson
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Finally.

    He's been threatening that all season.

  26. ☈☾
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Jesus forward converted winger

    1. Transient Anus
      5 years, 1 month ago

      Pep masterstroke

      1. Carlton P
        5 years, 1 month ago

        He plays there for Brazil and has done for a while now

  27. Jafooli
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Jesus nailing it this season….

  28. Zilla
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Floodgates incoming

  29. dark91
    5 years, 1 month ago

    Looks like Jesus on the wing is indeed working well. Bye Mahrez

  30. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    5 years, 1 month ago

    So glad I held onto Gundo

    1. jia you
      5 years, 1 month ago

      WP!