Dugout Discussion
18 December 2021 2028 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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.

  1. Dušan Citizen
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Cmon, Leeds, score now!

    Thanks, Tomi!

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

    Martinelli shattered.

  3. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Tierney grab a goal lad, it'only Leeds!

  4. Arteta
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Another G/A involvement for Saka and Laca would be nice.

  5. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Jimmy Sommerville?

  6. FCSB
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How many minutes before initial deadline was the Villa game called off?

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

      40-50 I think

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

      about an hr and half maybe 2 hours not sure

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

        Murmurs a few minutes before that too.

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

          Mental

          I was going to set my alarm for midnight to do my transfers but thought nah 11pm will be ok, went to sleep, woke up to watch the highlights

          Wounded

    3. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      5 minutes after I brought Watkins in !

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

        Feel you pain, I did it before I went to sleep an hour and half before deadline must’ve been called off minutes later

        1. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Ha, should be f just hung on 5 minutes more

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

            I was falling asleep looking at my phone haha

            I was nervous my alarm wouldn’t wake me either… probably would’ve been for the best

  7. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Will be interesting to see if Chelsea game goes ahead tomorrow. Sounds as if they have had a Covid breakout in the last two days since the PL game on Thursday.

    1. ZimZalabim
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      too many conflicting reports no idea who to believe

  8. HonestBlatter
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Where is second assist? May I ask?

    1. Duke Silver ☑
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      In an alternate universe.

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

      What second assist?

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

      It was given to Xhaka?

    4. Ginkapo FPL
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Was xhaka

    5. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      What do you mean?

    6. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      You have to pay £100 for it

  9. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    So, no ESR today?

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

      Might give Pepe a run for confidence.

    2. Miniboss
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      As a non-owner I fear he gets some minutes and that's usually enough for returns...

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

    Oooof Saka so close

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

      Wow, really was.

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

    please get Smith in.......

  12. The Reptile
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Alex lacking zest

    1. not_astarte
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      ha

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

      He has never had zest

    3. diesel001
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      He ain't a goalscorer. But his hold up play and general pressing is letting Martinelli and Saka be very effective. So as a trio they are working well.

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

    What happened to Leeds? I've been away from football for a while and been just reading they took a proper whipping from City and now Arsenal has 11 SoT in less than 70 minutes. New team to target in fpl?

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

      So many injuries. Their whole bench & a portion of their XI is the academy today.

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

        ah, makes sense

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 2 months ago

      Lots of injuries within a thin squad basically.

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

    All about Saka and Martinelli

  15. mad_beer ✅
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Need a Dallas goal ASAP.

  16. Ross Geller
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Can anyone tell me what happened with Tomiyasu? Is it serious? Just bought him and we need every single player these days with all the postponements.

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

      Diet look serious

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

        Didnt*

        1. Ross Geller
          • 16 Years
          4 years, 2 months ago

          Ok, thanks. So just a knock?

  17. Flynny
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Esr to martinelli next week?

    If there is a next week...

  18. WVA
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Damn didn't even consider Martinelli!

    Ramsdale ESR Laca not doing enough

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

      Hoping ESR comes on.

  19. HonestBlatter
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    We want LACA second assist to be added!

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

      Yes!

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

      Why would he get a 2nd? He’s assisted 1 goal and got points for it

  20. EL tridente
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    How many will do ESR to Martinelli now?

  21. AllessandroSwissToni
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Any chance of ESR getting on the pitch tonight? Sound awful but could do with Saka, Odegaard or Martinelli getting cramp of just generally "Leedsed"

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

      Yeah he's coming on

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

    Arsenal fans, has ESR lost his starting spot?

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

      I’d take a look at what happened to Tierney - seems to be a pattern with Arteta really easing players back in. He’ll come back

  23. diesel001
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    ESR coming on

  24. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    CMON THE BOY

  25. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    ESR incoming.

  26. Differentiator
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    esr coming on

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

    ESR coming to score

  28. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    ESR warming up

  29. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    That Forshaw chap thinks he's Iniesta.

  30. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 2 months ago

    Iconic status if he scores tonight.