Dugout Discussion

Mahrez and Sterling benched as Guardiola names unchanged City team

28 August 2021 1532 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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. Milk, 1 Šuker
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Hope Mark has still got Torres and Gundo!

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    1. Joey Tribbiani
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      He had Torres and Mahrez, took both of them out

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      1. FPL Pillars
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Oh man

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      2. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Mark knows!

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  2. Nightf0x
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    took out gundo knowing this will happen

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    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Kept in Mahrez knowing this would happen

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    2. tbos83
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Same. Just didn't expect the pain to arrive so swiftly.

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    3. Nuka Girl
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I kept Gundo knowing this will happen (eventually).

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  3. Von Lipwig
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Jesus, Torres, Gundo, Bernado hauling. This is why city are so good and why we don't have them in our fantasy teams...

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    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      How are they hauling ? Gundo has 1 goal, as does Torres, Bernardo has an assist - when they have a brace and bonus you can call it a haul

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  4. OverTinker
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Question: If City scores an own goal will that count as Arsenal's goal of the month then?

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    1. Glad He Ate Her
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Goal of the year

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    2. HashAttack
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      They'll have to use one of the goals scored against the West Brom youth team

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  5. TOBY1
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    With Torres playing upfront at 7m for City you can afford a few Pep benchings.

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    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah 2 million cheaper than Mahrez is a lot of money in this game.

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      1. TOBY1
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Oop midfielder at 7m in one of the higher scoring teams in the league.

        Now that they’ve failed to sign a striker has to be top option

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    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yeah don't remind me of that now that I've taken him out.

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  6. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Cedric a risk for a Red Card

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  7. ☈☾
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ederson taking the piss

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  8. Pacer.
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    you got to laugh at the content creators this year. Absolute year of the sheep

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    1. Glad He Ate Her
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Echo chamber
      Echo chambe
      Echo chamb
      Echo cham
      Echo cha
      Echo ch
      Echo c
      Echo
      Ech
      Ec
      E

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  9. potatoace
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Bench Ronaldo to play Gilmore next gw?

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  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Well done to Arsenal for going more than 10 minutes without conceding a goal

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  11. One More Hit
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Going to be interesting trying to put City assets into a wildcard. I ditched Grealish for Benrahma just because of FOMO and to use up an FT, but he didn’t seem like an FPL asset

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  12. Tripleh123
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Since Ronaldo is back would Bruno's penalty duties be affected? If so going fwd,

    a.Pogba
    b.Greenwood
    c.Stick with Bruno

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    1. OverTinker
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      no he will collect the ball and just give to Bruno

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  13. MOZIL
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Leno is a joke

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    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      *Jay Leno

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      1. Nuka Girl
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Yeah, he's funny.

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    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Ramsdale to sort it out 😆

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  14. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Link to Mods and Con Artists league?

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    1. Piggs Boson
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/366/standings/c

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      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Cheer GB…

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    2. Arvin-ation
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      🙂

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  15. as33
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Mahrez to whom?

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    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I downgraded to Sarr and got Lukaku for Villa game.

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  16. Paqueta Rice
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    I used my wildcard and have no city. Gameweek 3 and the trouble is here already! Didn’t have a great start either…

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    1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Gundo best bet, especially at his price

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      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Too risky on a WC with KDB and Foden returning after the IB, to be fair

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        1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          I think he offers something the other mids don't

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          1. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 11 months ago

            As do Bilva, Foden, Grealish and KDB. Any iteration looks top class

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    2. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      We discussed this

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    3. One More Hit
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      If they continue to share out the goals and assists it’s less of a problem, particularly given their price points

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    4. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      F*** city

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  17. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ferran worth a shout now Kane isn't coming?

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    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      It’s hard to call really. He will still be rotated but at his price is it worth it? Once you have decent cover?

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      1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 15 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        That's where I'm at. Need to have a good think about this!

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    2. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Decent price as an enabler.
      Will get mins most games.

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    3. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Looks like it, if they sign no-one else will be hard not to take a chance on him

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  18. Chandler Bing
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ederson trying to make it interesting himself

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Yep if you can take here and there Pep's roulette

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  19. Glad He Ate Her
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Genuine question
    Would Arteta succeed in the Championship?

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    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Depend on which club

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      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        .... Arsenal

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        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          😛 you know the answer

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        2. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          😆

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    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      No he wouldn’t. He should have left his city post into a role like that and the players would have played for him. Now the perception of him is a poor manager.

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    3. Nuka Girl
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Spent the most money, former European Super league team. Just saying 🙂

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  20. BenDavies
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Ederson just gets bored doesn't he? Can't blame him

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  21. Pompel
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Not the best career move by Ødegaard, me thinks.

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    1. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      It is an okay move for him. Arsenal will be fine. Covid plus the early fixtures have gone against them. Let's see where they are after 9/10 GWs.

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      1. diesel001
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        They have the makings of a solid team if Arteta sorts out his tactics. Push the fullbacks forward, go very defensive in central midfield to protect the CBs, drop the defensive line slightly deeper etc.

        Leno
        Bellerin White Gabriel Tierney
        Partey Lokonga
        Pepe Odegaard Saka
        Aubameyang

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        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Looks decent alright. Need to get them all fit and playing together. Lacazette and co decent cover on bench.

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        2. Pompel
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          Really hope I'm wrong, for sure. Much left of season still

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  22. Szob Story
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    IMO, I can't believe so many jumped ship with Gundo so quickly, he is one of the most attacking midfielders city have!!

    All hail Gundo, wish I had captained you this week, I so very nearly did, but then played safe.... 🙁

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    1. potatoace
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Do you remember he was supposed to be out with shoulder injury

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  23. Original Sin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Sold Gundo on WC, Now he scores. I am sure Bruno will have a hat trick as I got rid of him too.

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    1. BenDavies
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Why would you ever get rid of Bruno

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      1. Glad He Ate Her
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Penaldo

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        1. BenDavies
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 11 months ago

          But already? He's not even in the game yet.

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      2. One More Hit
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Most will once Ronaldo is in place

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      3. Original Sin
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        Got Lukaku in, also got Pogba and Greenwood for united cover.

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    2. Szob Story
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      I played wc and transferred Shaw out, probably 3 assists tomorrow, know how you feel...

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  24. Rainer
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Gundo everywhere.

    KDB update needed, as he's magic in the team without Kevin.

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    1. Szob Story
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      He plays well with KDB (and I am not a city fan!!)

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      1. Rainer
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 11 months ago

        He's virtually guaranteed to start when KDB isn't fit. That's half the battle with a Pep team.

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  25. Paqueta Rice
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Strange that Kolasinic gets a yellow for that and no foul for the City second goal. Either both a foul or neither. Neither were fouls for me fwiw but to add a booking to it then as well? Strange.

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  26. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Tierney denied a Pen

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    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Never a pen though

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  27. Zoostation
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Torres may be in a lot of WC teams over the break

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    1. FPL_trail_runner
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Hopefully

      He is a massive trap.

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  28. AC Pilkington
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    So who has pulled that WC?

    I think a few blanks today from my players is all I need to tip me over the edge for it haha

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  29. FPL_trail_runner
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    No need for City assets for a long time

    Maybe even an argument none this year if they keep sharing the points

    People are crazy to consider Torres longterm

    Sterling Mahrez KDB + Foden are going to play 25 + games. Rotation central.

    One tap in doesnt change this. Variance.

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    1. Andy_Social
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 11 months ago

      Agree, but I do think if I hadn't wildcarded this week, I'd be including Gundogan in my team, at least until KDB renders him superfluous.

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  30. Gudjohnsen
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 11 months ago

    Desperate shouts for a penaltu from Tierney and Arteta.

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