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.

2,028 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Opta will know if Laca touched it...

    Not looking good if not already given.

    1. DandyDon
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      WOULD HAVE BEEN A FOUL IF HE DIDN'T

      1. La Roja
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Calm down

      2. Noisy Neighbour
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Not if the ref doesn’t blow the whistle. Maybe he thought Laca touched it.

      3. Andy_Social
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Advantage, duh!

      4. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I see where you're coming from, but not necessarily - could have been a lack of strength from Forshaw from the Laca challenge where he simply lost the ball.

        I own Laca btw

  2. Andy_Social
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Dallas injured. GET ESR ON.

    Oh

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Works for me! (Leeds won't mind - it's Christmas)

  3. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Laca moved the ball with his mind.

  4. Costa Nostra
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Surely you need glasses if you think he didn’t poke it forward!

    1. Zalk
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      no thinking invloved, he didn't touch it

      1. Costa Nostra
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Wrong again!

    1. AIRMILES
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I don't own Laca, but that's ridiculous. That's got to be overturned.

  5. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    If Laca didn't touch it, it's a foul?

    Surely...

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 6 months ago

      That's what I was thinking but maybe they think it was just good old fashioned pressure and the defender flopped

  6. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Defenders foot was in the way of a Laca assist

    1. Rainer
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Free so?

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

    Clear assist, if Laca didn’t touch the ball then it should’ve been a foul

  8. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Strange outcome

  9. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    If he didn't touch the ball how was the Leeds defender dispossessed?

    1. Noisy Neighbour
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Because he’s a Leeds “defender”.

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      These things aren't final

  10. Zimo
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    I'm sorry if that's not a Lacazette assist then how is that not a foul?

  11. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Defender turned the ball into Martinelli’s path I think

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Yeah was 50/50 but is strange the VAR didn't look as surely defender was impeded

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        He was just under pressure and he turned away from Laca and into Martinelli unfortunately, don’t think Laca’s pressure was a foul imo

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yeah me neither actually but would have thought it would be worth a review

    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Are you listening on radio?

      1. FDMS All Starz
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Let me guess, you are a Laca owner

        1. Royal5
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          "Let me guess you're not"

  12. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Imagine wasting the whole day on a free game only for that free game to screw you over

    1. Dušan Citizen
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      There are not a lot of things that I hate more than comments like this

  13. Duke Silver ☑
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    That count as a save for Ramsdale? 😆

  14. Dušan Citizen
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    That's Lacazette assist, ffs

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      150%

    2. Optimus.
      • 15 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Nope and I'm saying this as a non owner

      1. Dušan Citizen
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        😆

    3. Heisenberg W. W.
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      200%

  15. vedas1
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Oh ffs, would have covered the -4 for Lacazzette. Robbed

  16. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Laca owned by 6.3% of players
    Most of them on this site !

  17. HonestBlatter
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    LACA assy has to be given! Sort it out

    1. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Will make up
      For my Watkins-4 hopefully !

  18. JONALDINHO
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    This game is a joke. Corruption at its finest. If Laca didn’t touch that it’s a foul. Use common sense for once

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I agree 100%

  19. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Could really do with a dodgy assist going my way

  20. JJO
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    F off opta
    Bunch of blind idiots 🙂

  21. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Of course he touched it, or he fouled the defender. No other option.

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Every bit of contact isn't a foul after all so not really, will have to watch again but it looked like defender was asleep then panicked

  22. Salalalalah
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Laca didn't touch the ball

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 6 months ago

      You should try these new glasses all Laca owners have, then you'll see it

      1. Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I'm an owner 🙂

    2. df34
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I believe he did. Watched it on slow mo

    3. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      No assist still given

      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Relax, it will be given

  23. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Leeds have regressed more than any other team this year

    1. George Sillett
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Impossible to say this considering the number of injuries they've had and the lack of depth of their squad.

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I wouldn't label injuries as regression. Thin squad for the PL certainly. Really like their playing style & attitude though. It's one team I'd like to see stay up.

  24. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Well. At least they've moved on from no ESR/PE teacher etc whining. Silver linings 🙂

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

    FPL is a time waste?

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Everything is

    2. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      More than this comment? Nah.

  26. Zalk
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Omg Tierney, that would have covered my -8

  27. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Raph so close

  28. Champions League Varane
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Regret going Gabriel over tierney already.. he’s everywhere!