Dugout Discussion
5 April 2025 286 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Gameweek 31 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) kicks off at Goodison Park.

Arsenal are Everton’s visitors, with the action getting underway at 12.30pm BST.

“The best way to prepare for Real Madrid is to win and play really well tomorrow”, said Mikel Arteta on Friday.

However, the Arsenal manager’s teamsheet this lunchtime suggests he has more than one eye on Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League tie at the Emirates.

Firstly, there’s no Bukayo Saka in the visitors’ starting line-up. The fit-again winger is only among the substitutes again, following his half-hour cameo in midweek.

As for changes, Arteta has made five of them.

One is enforced as Gabriel Magalhaes suffered a season-ending hamstring injury against Fulham.

Jurrien Timber, another fitness concern from midweek, recovers to make the squad but drops down to substitute duty.

Regulars Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are also benched.

Jakub Kiwior, Ben White, Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling all come in to what is a mixed bag of a starting XI.

Everton boss David Moyes has himself made three changes from the side beaten by Liverpool on Wednesday.

Once again, one is enforced as Vitalii Mykolenko is absent with an ankle knock.

James Garner and Carlos Alcaraz drop to the bench, meanwhile.

Iliman Ndiaye is fit to make his first start since Gameweek 24, while Nathan Patterson and Tim Iroegbunam are surprise inclusions.

Dwight McNeil is back after four months out with a knee injury, taking his place among the substitutes.

LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Patterson, Gueye, Iroegbunam, Doucoure, Harrison, Ndiaye, Beto.

Subs: Virgínia, Keane, Young, Coleman, Alcaraz, Garner, McNeil, Chermiti, Broja.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling, Merino.

Subs: Neto, Timber, Tierney, Zinchenko, Partey, Gower, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka.



286 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Starting Henderson and VvD next week and benching Raya+Saliba isn't going to be fun.

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      This wasn't supposed to be top post... But fixing Merino took so much time.

  2. Reddonkeyham 42
    • 12 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Are people still bitching about some YouTubers like a bunch of 12 year olds?

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Tbf KSI dropped off hard after "Road to beastiality"

      1. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Careful

        Probably appeals to a few on here!

        1. Hazz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          12 months, 4 days ago

          If you remember Fudgy, I bet he'd have been into it.

      2. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        KSI pro clubs Fifa13 series, top notch stuff

    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Only one who complains because she doesn't get answers to her questions.

  3. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    I wish I could lie down in the sun like these Arsenal players.

    1. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Nothing against the sun bathing, but I can imagine also some other activities if lying down.

      1. FantasyTony
        • 8 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        I do my best drafts horizontal

        1. how now brown cow
          • 11 Years
          12 months, 4 days ago

          Too many fizzy drinks

  4. Merlin the Wraith
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Trossard tarkowskied

  5. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Is Saka even going to get risked and play any minutes here do we think??

    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Yes he’ll come on

      1. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        For a brace!!

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      He'll play to get match practice. Scoreline isnt going to affect that

    3. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      He needs match fitness so yeah

  6. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Started Beto, benched Trossard. Great.

  7. Botman and Robben
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Saka just needs 25mins...

  8. how now brown cow
    • 11 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Not watching the game, but what arsenal options appeal for the dgw?

    One Def + saka th default options?

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Saka + Saliba is ideal

  9. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Saka on for Merino at HT I reckon

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      I dunno. All the Ev have is fouling people.

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 10 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Any reason for a half time substitution for Merino ?

      1. JBG
        • 7 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Took a knock before HT

      2. Reddonkeyham 42
        • 12 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Saka owner probably

      3. TheBiffas
        • 5 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Head collision and bleeding.

  10. Superflymonk
    • 11 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    I hope this is one of those matches where the manager makes minimal substitutions.

  11. HelmutCool
    • 3 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Saka and martinelle subbed in

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Yay

  12. HelmutCool
    • 3 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Everton penaltykick incoming.

  13. HelmutCool
    • 3 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Damg thats soft....

  14. Reddonkeyham 42
    • 12 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Sterling & Nwaneri off

  15. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    More starboy minutes than expected!

  16. HelmutCool
    • 3 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    That cant be a penalty...

    1. HelmutCool
      • 3 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Lol. It is

  17. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Save please, Raya…

  18. JBG
    • 7 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Please score

  19. THFC4LIFE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    That’s not a pen, shocking decision

  20. EWH2020
    • 12 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Never a pen. Shocking

  21. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Goal

  22. theodosios
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Ahahahahahaa this is really a penalty ahahhahahahaha

  23. HelmutCool
    • 3 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Thank god ndidi scores

    1. lilmessipran
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Huh?

    2. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Huh?

    3. Winging it
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      I think you mean Ndiaye, Ndidi plays for Leicester.

  24. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Don’t think I’ll bother with ars double def
    Be Gabriel to someone else, just keep raya

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      This

      1. Gizzachance
        • 11 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Sooner get konsa v sou for bb 32 and dgw
        Or pool def for bb 33 v Leic

    2. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      I only have Raya but will probably look elsewhere, just not worth the premium price anymore.

    3. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Same

    4. _Ninja_
      • 15 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Yeah 1 def is more than enough

  25. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Only 1 point loss on Saka not starting

  26. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Glad i didnt swap Gab to Saliba.

    Annoyed i even swapped Sels to Raya on WC last week.

  27. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Sells is gonna outscore dgw Raya at this rate.

    Albeit Forest would do well today to keep a clean sheet.

  28. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Sels over raya is so clear

    1. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Glad I have both

  29. Ruinenlust
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    Lewis Skelly is so overrated

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      Especially in defence

  30. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    12 months, 4 days ago

    I brought him but Raya is a shocking pick for a keeper. Bit like Ederson, he doesn’t make any saves.

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      12 months, 4 days ago

      2nd highest scoring GK. With a double. Shocking pick.

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        12 months, 4 days ago

        Lol Kneejerk 101