Dugout Discussion

Smith Rowe on bench as unchanged Arsenal face injury-hit Leeds

The only Premier League match of the day sees Leeds United face Arsenal, with kick-off at Elland Road at 17:30 GMT.

Five other top-flight fixtures scheduled for today, the last of which was Aston Villa v Burnley, fell by the wayside after Covid-19 ripped through the football calendar.

The evening match is still standing, however, despite the fact that Marcelo Bielsa’s squad has been ravaged by injury.

Ten senior Leeds players are unavailable for the clash with the Gunners, with Diego Llorente added to the nine we already knew about.

Bielsa’s four changes are all enforced, with Jamie Shackleton, Llorente, Daniel James and Junior Firpo all out.

Robin Koch returns from injury, while Joe Gelhardt, Cody Drameh and Mateusz Klich also come into the side.

The Whites’ very youthful bench contains 15-year-old Archie Gray, with the average age of the hosts’ substitutes being less than 19 years old.

Arsenal’s team news is a serene picture by comparison, as the visitors are unchanged for the fourth match in a row.

Emile Smith Rowe remains a substitute as a consequence, with the fit-again Bernd Leno joining him on the bench.

The Gunners do have a confirmed Covid-19 case, however: Albert Sambi Lokonga misses out after testing positive.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang also sits this one out following a recent disciplinary breach.

GAMEWEEK 18 LINE-UPS

Leeds United XI: Meslier, Drameh, Ayling, Koch, Dallas, Forshaw, Raphinha, Klich, Roberts, Harrison, Gelhardt.

Subs: Klaesson, Bate, Summerville, Greenwood, McCarron, Jenkins, Moore, Kenneh, Gray.

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Saka, Partey, Xhaka, Martinelli, Odegaard, Lacazette.

Subs: Leno, Smith Rowe, Holding, Soares, Pepe, Nuno Tavares, Chambers, Elneny, Nketiah.

2,028 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Il Capitano
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    ML rival hit his WC at 12pm and brought in Cash, Ramsey & Watkins. Not many hits flying around in the MLs though, was expecting a bit more carnage.

    1. BrutalLogiC
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      and he stuck with that..?

      1. Il Capitano
        • 3 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Yep, must have had real life things to deal with, what a dunce!

  2. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Ha. Weirdly my cup opponent has a full starting 11 and only used 1 transfer.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Many brilliant managers out there 😆

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Look forward to the cup again next year.

    3. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      0-0 today please. Cup opponent has Saka Laca ESR vs my Ramsgate …. Come on leeds you can do it!

    4. Burger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      1 transfer here, and 1 playing sub 😎

  3. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Anybody enjoying this GW so far? 😛

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I have accepted it. Take a look at how good your team looks for next week (while it's not in flames 🙂 )

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

    Bet Gary Lineker & Danny Murphy phoned in to ask for 1/2 day holiday.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Nah, they want full payment rather than half

  5. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Llorente's out for 10+ days for Leeds

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

    So which games are likely to be postponed on Boxing Day/next gameweek?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Any & all, impossible to know.

    2. BrutalLogiC
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      too early to tell I reckon, nice seeing 15 players with fixtures and no flags right now..

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Benching headaches 🙂

    3. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      That’s just too hard to answer. I’d say all.

    4. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      none ,be playing without crowds

    5. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      All I bet

    6. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      All of them

  7. Return of the FF
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Went for Gundog as couldn't get to Foden. Feel like it's going to be reactive transfers galore and team in pieces in a few weeks!

  8. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    are people planning on using their second wc earlier than planned as a result of ending up with teams "butchered" because of covid?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Won't touch my team from here on ... won't plan anything

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Nah. My team looks perfect.

      1. Andy_Social
        • 11 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Same. If I had to use a WC now, I'd select the same squad. took a bunch of -4s over last few weeks to get here.

    3. DARE TO BISCAN
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      Nah. Looks fine (Laca a bit sketchy in long run). No point wildcarding into chaos.

    4. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      I'm thinking FH21 + WC22 or just WC21, depending on the Spurs DGW situation

  9. OptimusBlack
    • 11 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    My Cup rival has same time as mine only difference is
    He has
    Tomiyasu & Rüdiger + 4 pts
    Me : James + Sà
    I think he gonna win 🙁

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      How annoying

    2. CRAZY TRAIN
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      At least your still in it. My -4 to bring in Watkins for Broja cost me the round by 52-54

  10. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 15 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    LMS average -2.44

    Current safety score -3.

    https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

    Poor guy on -44.

      1. Botman and Robben
        • 7 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Forgot to hit the FH button.

      2. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Already had 10 players with a fixture this GW !

      3. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        383,442 to 836,042 rank

    1. One More Hit
      • 5 Years
      2 years, 6 months ago

      What was last week's safety score?

      1. One More Hit
        • 5 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        (I must have been knocked out wiht 48)

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          50

  11. Mozumbus
    • 2 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Raphinha(c), no arsenal.
    7 playing so far including Silva.
    No hits.

  12. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    i got an 18k green from no hit (was at 270k)

  13. CRAZY TRAIN
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Leader in my ml has played the free hit chip. Interesting....

  14. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 6 months ago

    Covid in the Arsenal camp too.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        2 years, 6 months ago

        And a premier league meeting tomorrow, will be good to have clarity

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          Hopefully clearer than them saying during the week there'll be no more postponements 🙂

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              2 years, 6 months ago

              Yeah actually, it's the premier league so the meeting could make things even more murky!

              1. Ze_Austin
                • 5 Years
                2 years, 6 months ago

                ...as clear as their use of VAR...

      • rupopo
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        6k green arrow. We can call an end to the game week now.

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          +12% to my rank, lets call it off.

      • Giovanni Giorgio
        • 10 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        What happened to Llorente?

        1. Critical Observer
          • 8 Years
          2 years, 6 months ago

          The novel retrovirus ”Covid-19” - or ”Corona” for the uninitiated - apparently the culprit behind his absence.

          1. Giovanni Giorgio
            • 10 Years
            2 years, 6 months ago

            Oh. Never heard of that, might have to look it up. Cheers m8

      • Mr. O'Connell
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 6 months ago

        Right let's see what this Ramsdale fuss is all about

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            2 years, 6 months ago

            Supersaints got him, no more saves for the camera and those mistakes he's been making will now get punished

            1. Mr. O'Connell
              • 12 Years
              2 years, 6 months ago

              I'll take a red card then just to see another meltdown

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  Ha same

              2. George Sillett
                • 8 Years
                2 years, 6 months ago

                You don't actually believe all the bad luck garbage he spouts do you ?

                1. Ginkapo FPL
                  • 12 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  I believe he is a terrible manager

                  1. @persecuted_by_mods
                      2 years, 6 months ago

                      Yeah but that's too harsh to say, so I'll just call him unlucky

                      1. George Sillett
                        • 8 Years
                        2 years, 6 months ago

                        In my eyes attention seeking is more apt.

                      2. Ginkapo FPL
                        • 12 Years
                        2 years, 6 months ago

                        Bit unfair not to say it. He could do something about it

                        1. @persecuted_by_mods
                            2 years, 6 months ago

                            There's no fixing that!

                      3. George Sillett
                        • 8 Years
                        2 years, 6 months ago

                        He's got plenty of time to think about FPL now he's on school holidays.

                        1. @persecuted_by_mods
                            2 years, 6 months ago

                            Ha leave the poor guy alone

                            1. George Sillett
                              • 8 Years
                              2 years, 6 months ago

                              I will when he stops his attention seeking episodes.

                2. FFSbet.com
                  • 8 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  Null and void!!!

                  1. TKC07
                    • 4 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Ntmu

                3. Casual Player
                  • 3 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  I made my FT about 90 mins before the deadline and went to bed. Woken up 5hrs later by kid reporting nightmare. Check FPL while explaining to him it’s not real and see early game called off and deadline moved back. FT was Watkins. He’s back asleep after his bad dream, I’m not quite there.

                  1. DARE TO BISCAN
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    It's okay. You're still asleep. It's all been a weird dream. This reply isn't even real.

                4. have you seen cyan
                  • 4 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  ESR subbing on for a haul will be nice

                5. Moose™
                  • 12 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  How can you check your green arrow?

                  1. DARE TO BISCAN
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    In the shower?

                  2. TorresMagic™
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 15 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    If you didn't take a hit, it's a green arrow.

                  3. rupopo
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 9 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Oh, you have a 17k red arrow....

                6. Neevesy
                  • 7 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  ESR upset Arteta?

                  1. have you seen cyan
                    • 4 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    No, Arteta just doesnt like goals, thats all.

                  2. DARE TO BISCAN
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Nah. Conspiracy against FPL owners. People are real angry about it.

                  3. Sun Jihai
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 12 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    'Don't change a winning team'

                7. EffPeeEll
                  • 4 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  Lacathreat a shocking omission from the revised scoutbod eleven in my opinion

                  1. TorresMagic™
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 15 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    They already had 3 Arsenal players.

                    1. EffPeeEll
                      • 4 Years
                      2 years, 6 months ago

                      tick

                8. Bartowski
                  • 13 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  People need to start accepting there won't be any games next week.

                  1. Ginkapo FPL
                    • 12 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Why? Just cancel the season?

                    1. Bartowski
                      • 13 Years
                      2 years, 6 months ago

                      Yes that's exactly what I said. I said just cancel the season.

                  2. EffPeeEll
                    • 4 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Some of these loons demanding concessions going forward.

                    It's a 'free' game to play and one that you don't have to play ffs

                    wake up, smell the coffee and get real!

                  3. Nightf0x
                    • 8 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    We know

                  4. Eat my goal!
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 5 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Or tomorrow

                9. Nightf0x
                  • 8 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  My cup rival was set to win it easy but villa game turned the tie upside down LOL, i now have more field players + he rely only on james & mount

                10. Nightf0x
                  • 8 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  A bit weird when all is buying watkins while i sold him (had him since gw15)

                11. AIRMILES
                  • 12 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  4.81% increase on rank so far.

                  1. Andy_Social
                    • 11 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Up 1000 spots for me.

                    1. AIRMILES
                      • 12 Years
                      2 years, 6 months ago

                      That's more than 10% at your rank!

                      1. Andy_Social
                        • 11 Years
                        2 years, 6 months ago

                        Won't be in 90 mins tho.

                12. Sharkytect
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 9 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  I did a proper last-minute free hit. Logged on at 3:55 and realised I would have 6 players playing, so did it in 3 minutes. Brought son in. Forgot he has covid!

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

                  My friend played his FH.

                  Sa
                  James Rudiger Alonso
                  KDB Sterling (C) Foden Saka ESR
                  Lacazette (VC) Jimenez

                  Meslier Gelhardt Ayling Saiss

                  Although it would be funny for it to flop, you have to admire the bravery 😀

                14. Scots Gooner
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 7 Years
                  2 years, 6 months ago

                  LiveFPL down for anyone else?

                  1. Andy_Social
                    • 11 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    Comes and goes. Refresh a few times

                  2. AIRMILES
                    • 12 Years
                    2 years, 6 months ago

                    just have to keep trying it