Dugout Discussion
18 February 2023 1411 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Arsenal are hoping to end a run of three Premier League games without a win as they face Aston Villa in the Gameweek 24 curtain-raiser.

Kick-off at Villa Park is at 12:30 GMT.

For the first time this season, rotation is now a threat with the long-time (but now deposed) league leaders.

Hitherto regular starter Ben White was dropped on Wednesday and now it’s Gabriel Martinelli‘s turn to warm the bench, with the Brazilian winger failing to start a Premier League game for the first time in 2022/23.

Leandro Trossard replaces Martinelli for the Gunners, while White immediately regains his place at the expense of Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Emile Smith Rowe is available again and among the substitutes, just to add to the medium-term worry.

While Fantasy Premier League (FPL) interest mostly centres around the visitors, Leon Bailey‘s benching is noteworthy given that Aston Villa play in Blank Gameweeks 25, 28 and 32 and are about to come back onto the Fantasy radar.

He is one of five players who make way from Unai Emery’s Gameweek 23 starting XI, as Bailey and Ashley Young, Calum Chambers, Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey all drop to the bench,

Matty Cash, a fit-again Tyrone Mings, Alex Moreno, John McGinn and Philippe Coutinho are all recalled.

GAMEWEEK 24 LINE-UPS

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Mings, Konsa, Moreno, McGinn, Kamara, Luiz, Buendia, Coutinho, Watkins

Subs: Sinisalo, Traore, Chambers, Young, Digne, Bailey, Dendoncker, Ramsey, Duran

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, White,Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Trossard

Subs: Turner, Tierney, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Kiwior, Holding, Tomiyasu, Vieira, Nelson



  1. My heart goes Salalalalah
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Benched Gabriel for Tark. Hope it works out in the end

    1. Zimo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Well unless he scores an own goal I think you're good

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I wouldn't be surprised to see that happening tbh.

  2. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Get out of my team, Saka!!!

  3. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Saka red at some point will melt FPL down 😛

  4. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Arsenal going back to casual mode. If I only knew before I got 3 of ‘em

  5. Limbo
    • 15 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Everton broke Arsenal.

    A shadow of their first 15 games.

    1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Not buying a striker and a midfielder in January broke Arsenal

      1. 1314
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        they signed Jorginho though

        1. DBW - Slug's Mortgage …
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Turning out to be a curse.

          Doing things on the cheap when a big spend was needed to keep on top

  6. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No ban for Saka? Forgot when the bookings reset.

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      After 19 PL matches played. It's not reset, just changes limit to 10 YC.

      1. Zimo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah if he gets to 10 he's banned for 2 games now instead.

    2. Zimo
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They reset 3 games ago

    3. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He gets one if he gets another yellow today. Still time for that.

  7. A. PRISE
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Can't believe I'm contemplating selling Arsenal players when they have a DGW

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I can't believe you're contemplating it either

  8. Ginkapo FPL
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Turns out Martinelli was the key player

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This 😆

    2. Digital-Real
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Martinelli to come on at the hour mark and change the game

    3. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Jesus

      1. A. PRISE
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Do not take the Lord's name in vain

      2. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Arsenal have played their best and worst football with Nketiah. I don't think he is a major issue, unlike losing Partey

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Jesus return needed, and Partey

  9. Rainer
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    If Partey hadn't played a game this season, do you think Arsenal would have stayed up?

    1. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      No, Rodri Partey Casemiro BrunoG Caicedo (and Enzo soon) are the type of players who are the most important and you understand that when they are absent

    2. Mirror Man
        3 years, 1 month ago

        No. Saka probably goes to United in January too. We'll just have to wait a while longer I suppose.

    3. TheTinman
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Looking like the league is there for NUFC! Easy 😎

      1. Hairy Potter
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Lol, I've got a bad feeling about Salah and Trent vs Burn and ASM. Hopefully Isak can do well if Liverpool try a high defensive line.

        1. TheTinman
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Think of the spaces behind Trent!

          But no, I think this will be a very tough game and we will try to be as tight as possible.

          He might start Gordon for the extra workrate.

          1. Hairy Potter
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yeah, will be interesting if Howe goes 4-2-3-1 with Gordon in number 10 ,or goes usual 4-3-3 with Anderson or Gordon in number 8 role for Willock.

      2. noissimbus
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        CS vs Pool and I'm onboard.

    4. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      HT: Aston Villa (0.27) 2-1 (0.13) Arsenal

    5. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Where is Smith Rowe? He was brilliant for them before injury

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He sin the squad to today. He's been constantly injured.

      2. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        On the bench?

        1. TheBiffas
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          You tell me

          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            On the bench

    6. Shark Team
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Trossard is nowhere to be found on the pitch
      Also I’d love a RC for any popular Arsenal asset to mess the boring templates

      1. Scalper
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Non Saka owner spotted

        1. Shark Team
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          I own him but I still wouldn’t mind a RC for him rly (FHing 25 so others would have to use a transfer)

          1. THE DRIBBLER
            • 13 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            You would still be stuck with Saka on GW26 after FHing 25, lol

            1. Shark Team
              • 8 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              Nah he has a yellow…

    7. El Presidente
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The issue is the defending. That really good away run they had was built in solid defending, it was really hard to score them a goal but now seems the easiest thing.

    8. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Whenever I watch Villa (granted, rarely) Mings seems to be involved in tackles where he accidentally follows through and shanks an opponent

      1. TheTinman
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Old skwl

      2. Rainer
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah he's scum, stamped on more than one head in his time too.

      3. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Reducers

      4. el polako
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Dying breed.

      5. Ginkapo FPL
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Accidentally? Thats what defenders should do

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          wtf

      6. Hairy Potter
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Works for Harry Kane as well.

      7. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Proper defending.

      8. NoName
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Googling what he did to Nelson Oliveira explains all.

    9. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I don't think it matter who plays LW, the current setup with Zinchenko inverting and Nketiah up top isolates that side of the pitch.

      1. El Presidente
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I agree, the introduction of Zinchenko in the starting 11 was the beginning of the end

        1. A. PRISE
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Not his introduction, the change in his role.

          1. El Presidente
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Yes, that's what I meant. Since he came back from injury he always played this inverted mid role

      2. TheTinman
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The inverting full backs doesn't work.

        It broke City, Liverpool and now breaking Arsenal

        1. Utopsis
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          So tragic being broken at the top of the league

      3. dunas_dog
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Would be better with Tierney Martinelli coming on and Zinchenko moving into midfield

      4. Dunk and Disorderly
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        100%

      5. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Xhaka not playing closer to LW for support or making underlapping runs when Zinchenko inverts is an issue

    10. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Need a Lewis start to keep that turd Gabriel on the bench

      1. THE DRIBBLER
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        In hindsight I agree, but why would anyone bench Gabriel in the first place

        1. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Because my expectation was that poor of late Arsenal would concede and my gut was (fingers crossed) that Lewis would get a start given the European game midweek. Was very much a 50/50 call.

    11. MOZIL
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Trossard should play upfront with Martinelli on the left

      1. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Why? Please enlighten us

        1. MOZIL
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Trossard played upfront when he was playing at Brighton and he did good

          1. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            I thought he was pretty ineffective when he played up top compared to LWB/LW.

          2. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Nketiah played up front his whole career and did good

            1. MOZIL
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 1 month ago

              lol obviously he didnt

              1. Deulofail
                • 10 Years
                3 years, 1 month ago

                Yes he played up front at all levels and international football too

          3. GreennRed
            • 14 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            Good? He was inconsistent.

      2. Tonyawesome69
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Tbh I don't mind this. The WF will make more runs inside the box with Trossard dropping deep to receive compared to Nketiah stretching the play and being a focal point/ last man at CF. You would need the FBs to keep the width though.

    12. el polako
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      They laster longer than expected anyway.

    13. Digital-Real
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Eddie should get full 90 here right?

      1. El Presidente
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He's playing like shaite but they have no alternative

        1. Digital-Real
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Arsenal haven't created much for him

          1. El Presidente
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 1 month ago

            But he's always hidden somehow.. a few good crosses but he seems to be always on the wrong side of those...

      2. Deulofail
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Don't know

      3. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Hopefully for his 2 pter!

      4. DA Minnion (Former great)
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        He's been poor so far

      5. Shark Team
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes as long as they chase you can’t sub him off

    14. jb1985
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Is the transfers in/out up to date from after the deadline?

    15. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Arsenal should never have sold Nicklas Bendtner...

      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Paddy man

    16. noissimbus
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Early kickoffs rarely go the expected way. Holds true again.

    17. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ars was a dgw trap bar saka.
      Their defence, odegaard, martinelli ,nketiah etc

      Think a few might start to offload some after the dgw

      1. Hazz
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I'm already earmarking Nketiah out in GW26. See how it goes. White not amazing I'll let him have BOU (GW26).

        1. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Similar thoughts

      2. camarozz
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Look at my comment below

        1. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Looks decent

      3. Shark Team
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Imo they aren’t that bad. The fact that they faced Everton Dyche’s Everton(in his first game) and not Lampard, the VAR that costed them the cs and win vs Brentford, the City game with the silly mistakes and Partey out and now Villa again Partey out and only 2 days rest made them look shite

    18. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Only Jesus can save Arsenal now

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Interesting, majority of the clubs in PL are being saved by Muhammed.

      2. A. PRISE
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Other deities will have to be involved as well at this point

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Kim Jong-un to become a shareholder?

      3. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ukko Ylijumala is needed now 😉

      4. Gooner97
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Look a Trossard screaming for Eddie to do anything other than stand around in the middle

    19. Gizzachance
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Who to get rid of this gw? Will Bench trippier
      A botman
      B Shaw
      Cheers

      1. noissimbus
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        A

        1. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Cheers

    20. ☈☾
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Ramsdale is crap. Both the goals comical

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Bait rejected

    21. camarozz
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Think I'm Ramsdale ➡️ Raya gw 26

      And probably Ode ➡️ Maddison too

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        The 2nd one is tasty actually

    22. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Bloody Cash, doesn't start for weeks and I get rid the week before the blank and he starts and assists. At least benching White seems to have been the right call

    23. Lieutenant Frank Columbo
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Need another Saka goal before his RC

      1. noissimbus
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Preferably assisted by Ode.