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. Paqueta Rice
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Sold Raphina a few weeks ago but so happy with that goal

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Same!

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

      Same here, but obviously he is fixture proof.

  2. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Raph you beauty

  3. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Do a goal, Emile!

    1. Stranger Mings
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Is ESr on?

      1. DycheDycheBaby
        • 8 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        He is! 😀

        1. Stranger Mings
          • 3 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Absolute buzzing owning ESr

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

    Lol why didn't Martinelli pass to Saka there?

  5. F4L
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    That Leeds goal is gold dust for us Free Hitters, just need a cancellation tomorrow now

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

      Why is it gold dust for free hitters?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Don't get it either

      2. F4L
        • 9 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        well I can't imagine many FHs have more than 1 Arsenal defender/GK so losing the CS doesn't matter. Most FHs would have probably got in Gelhardt and Raph though

        1. Salan
          • 14 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          I bet no one understanding your logic.

        2. F4L
          • 9 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          well maybe not gold dust now I give it some thought 😆 but still a favourable outcome

          1. beric
            • 12 Years
            2 years, 4 months ago

            Haha

        3. beric
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          You aren't making sense

    2. beric
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      How so?

  6. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    9 points that stupid tackle cost me

  7. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Raph is that season keeper had I been patient since gw1.

  8. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    ESR. Yayyyayyyyayy

  9. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Raphinha is last season's Dallas for me. Annoying little pr##k that wont go away.

    1. KirkhamWesham
      • 3 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bring him in then. Good player for his price.

  10. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Gelhardt as many points as Laca. Shands knows what she’s doing.

  11. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Come on gelhardt lad score please

  12. tokara
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Cmon Laca

  13. Hazz
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Cheers Saka. Kept me afloat.

  14. SEXY SALAH
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    3 penalties for Raphinha since I sold him.
    Can’t make it up

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Absolute joke season as usual aint it

    2. Eh, just one more thing ...
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Yeah … wasn’t crazy to sell with those fixtures either … he’s stung a lot of us lol

  15. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Raphina been absolutely fine during this run then. Moved him out on FH and brought Ramsdale in. Yikes.

  16. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    3 in play - up to 0 points

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

      Hahah same, took a -8 and on 8 with ESR, ramsdale & laca

      1. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Shouldn't copy me like that
        or I copy you

  17. Kodap
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Need something else from laca/ESR, or my -8 hit is definitely not worth it

  18. KirkhamWesham
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Every week, I contemplate on selling Raphinha.
    Other priorities would always crop up, thankfully.

  19. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Lacca hit gets me a point

  20. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Odegaard goal or assist would be welcome.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Thank you.

  21. BrutalLogiC
    • 8 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    That's attempt by white and ramsdale to act like it wasn't a stonewall penalty 🙂

    1. FPLtfs
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      🙂

  22. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Foden’s going to be the best captain choice based on this guy lol - getting Gelhardt off the bench too
    https://fantasy.premierleague.com/entry/1665358/event/18/

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Why would he get Gelhardt off the bench?

      1. Eh, just one more thing ...
        • 12 Years
        2 years, 4 months ago

        Have to have one striker … pukki not playing

        1. Salah’s Sonnet
          • 12 Years
          2 years, 4 months ago

          Ahhhhhh missed that totally haha, flicking between tabs

  23. FPLtfs
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    So excited with my tripple Arsenal before the game. ESR, Laca and Ramsdale so undewhelming.

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      ditto

  24. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Can only imagine the hits to double up on Arsenal defence and bring in Watkins.

    Rough old gameweek for many.

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Bought Tierney rather than Timyasou (you know who I mean!) and missed the locked in cleanie. This game is relentless in punishing us

  25. Old Bull
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Playing opponents in both cups who are millions below me and both have Raph

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Magic of the Cup.

  26. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Can’t be too upset with Tomyasui and Saka in for a -8 (Villa game wasted a transfer).

    +5 points and hopefully enough for a grey arrow

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Cheers

  27. HonestBlatter
    • 13 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Mark Suthern add that second clear Laca assist since you own him too

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      Nothing clear about it

    2. Grande Tubarão
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 2 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      There has to be some sort of argument for an assist being given though. He can’t just make stuff up that hasn’t happened lol

  28. Giovanni Giorgio
    • 10 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    21 from 4. This is going way better than it should

  29. OLD Rafiki
    • 3 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    this gameweek wasn't really meant for hits

  30. Kaneyonero
    • 7 Years
    2 years, 4 months ago

    Come on ESR my son, score a goal!

    1. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      2 years, 4 months ago

      He isn't your son.