Dugout Discussion
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. TheTinman
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    City going to go easy on them now. Just cruise to the finish.

  2. La Roja
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jesus goal

    Jack assist

  3. Drexl Spivey
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Still though... going nowhere near City.

    1. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Same, it's like that 9-0 Leicester had, haven't been the same since

  4. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Arsenal make losing look easy 🙂

  5. seewhyaxe
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    At the rate this is going, doubt Mahrez is coming on..

    1. dark91
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I think he still comes on either him or Sterling for sure. But don't mind him missing out better than a 1 pointer

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Course he will. They can rest/rotate the lot after 69mins

      1. seewhyaxe
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Hope so.. I think if he comes on, he has a chance to get a return..

  6. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Grealish Assist

    Juuhuuu 😆

  7. Glad He Ate Her
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Watching a lion play with his food

    1. thegaffer82
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Yep, I'm reminded of a video of a lion playing with a baby fawn, licking it's chops and gently pushing it over if it tries to escape.

      Poor Arsenal fans!

  8. dark91
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    Jesus G Grealish A

  9. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 7 months ago

    That could be game over now.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        4 years, 7 months ago

        They're gonna break that oracle win probability thing

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

          101 : -1

      • Dannyb
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Haha

      • Gunneryank
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        😀 i laughed out loud. Thanks for that.

    2. FantasyTony
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      It's alright boys, Ramsdale is coming in.

    3. Paqueta Rice
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Is that returns for all of the city attack now?

    4. Andy_Social
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Not gonna stop at 5, are they?

    5. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Mahrez on at HT please 🙂

    6. Gudjohnsen
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Contemplated getting Grealish, Gundogan and Torres for Mahrez but thought it was too sideways.

      1. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        They won't play Arsenal every week

      2. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        You contemplated getting 3 players in for 1? Ok

        1. Das Boot
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          hahahaha

        2. Gudjohnsen
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Sorry my english ain't that good but thought those 3 were more secure of starts after the Norwich game.

    7. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 16 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Jesus actually had time to take a bad touch IN THE 6 YARD BOX and still score 😆

    8. Dannyb
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      If I was as bad at my job as a fair few of these footballers I wouldn't have it anymore. It's ridiculous.

    9. Salah(c)
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      Would you wildcard to this team?

      Sanchez steele

      Matip vvd livramento coady duffy

      Salah torres harrison benrahma sissoko

      Antonio kane lukaku

      1. Carlton P
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        No

      2. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I'm sorry but that's shocking

      3. thegaffer82
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        That's a shoddy looking team outside of Salah, Benny, Antonio, Kane & Lukaku

      4. ritzyd
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        No

      5. Nuka Girl
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I don't think I would. No.

    10. Cruyff's Eleven
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      I feel so sorry for Arteta....

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I don’t, he’s out of his depth

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          They're not mutually exclusive...

          Imagine having to front up with Kolasinac and Chambers against Mancity...

          I feel sorry for him...

          1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Excluded Saliba from any first team footy, but happy to keep Mari, Chambers & Holding

          2. SADIO SANÉ
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            That’s on him, could have been AMN Holding Saliba Tierney in a 4 - if that’s not better I’d be surprised

            1. Cruyff's Eleven
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Anything is better than Kolasinac

      2. Andy_Social
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        He knows how City play and ought to know how to nullify them - better than most anyway.

    11. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 7 months ago

      https://images.app.goo.gl/ockLy2m8WHMpRTH26

      Looking forward to Hugh Wizzy later

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Hugh wizzy? (Who is he)

          1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Arsenal fan and youtuber

      2. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Lovely play by Grealish!

      3. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        People going to jump on city after beating Norwich and 10 man arsenal

        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Nothing to do with them being champions and the best team in years 😉

        2. Warby84
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I have Dias that’s as far as it goes

      4. HashAttack
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Anyone else watch Denveloper match commentaries on YouTube ... The poor lad is a Gooner and losing it again 🙂

      5. Mario Balofail
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        I feel for Mikel

        1. seewhyaxe
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Holding mid got sent off yet he hasn't made any changes.

          He deserves it man.

          1. Mario Balofail
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Sure, I agree with you. But I think the attitude of some players has ruined whole Arsenal team and he probably can't do anything about it...

      6. Revival
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Why do I only have 2 Man City players in my team today?

        1. Paqueta Rice
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          I have none. Who do you have?

          1. Revival
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Cancelo + Gundo

        2. Glad He Ate Her
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Destined for millionth place finish?

        3. Steve The Spud
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Be happy, most have 0

        4. Drexl Spivey
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Well who do you start with?

          1. Andy_Social
            • 13 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            I felt sorry for myself with none until I saw ML rivals with Stones, Sterling and Mahrez.

        5. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Nice humblebrag champ

      7. JohnnyCroat
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        It's not even rhetorical at this stage... Lego Arteta quits at full time, right?

        1. tiger
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          maybe half time?

      8. Free Hat
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Im backing norwich next gw

        1. TheBiffas
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Pukki (c)

          1. Glad He Ate Her
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Pukki (TC)

            1. TheBiffas
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              Pukki (TC) Cantwell (VC) Aarons

        2. thegaffer82
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          BB with Pukki, Omba and Cantwell

      9. Von Lipwig
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Bench Ings (instead of bringing in DCL/Jimi) and do Barnes > Torres (Barnes would be benched otherwise)? I know International break is coming, but it seems like a hell of an option atm

        1. Cruyff's Eleven
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 7 months ago

          Yeah, coz City play Arsenal every week from now on...

          With the same starting XI

          1. Von Lipwig
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 7 months ago

            Fair. But Torres looks an amazing option right?

            1. Cruyff's Eleven
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 7 months ago

              If he remains the favourite #9, sure

      10. Piggs Boson
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        Pep looks furious his team are only winning 3-0.

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

        Jesus is cruising

      12. Hughes Your Daddy
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 7 months ago

        (C) Jesus hoovering up the baps for a second week so far.