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. Jam0sh
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Raya save

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Nice one mate

    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Bit late

      1. The Big Fella
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Which defenders did you play in the end?

        1. g40steve
          • 8 Years
          1 year, 2 months ago

          Raya, Munoz, Gvardiol, Burn 🙂

          1. The Big Fella
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 2 months ago

            Booyah! Congrats mate - enjoy. Similar to me (Munoz, Livra, Gvardiol - I benched Raya though and played Sels)

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

    And I just got Saliba 🙁

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Typical FPL

  3. EWH2020
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Thing is, it's not a penalty in a million years

  4. Dthinger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    I don’t think Raya has ever kept a clean sheet when I’ve owned him, which admittedly isn’t that often, but why do I do this to myself?

  5. Jordan.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF COURSE
    PPPPPPPPPPPEEEEENAAAAAAALLTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY i hate this season so much

  6. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    That foul certainly started out of the box. I would normally be angry, but this is a joke.

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      I agree, better to laugh at Arse defender owners

    2. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Without VAR I could have understood the decision, but with VAR?!?

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        LiVARpool strikes again 😛

    3. Brehmeren
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      A holding offence is where the player let's go. I.e if continues into the box it's a pen.

  7. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    My biggest regret this season is trusting too much on ARS defense....I played double ARS defense for a majority of the weeks which isn't great to be honest.... have benched NFO defender again this week and played double ARS defense

  8. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Well done Everton

  9. FPL Scoop
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Raya robbed!

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Closest he’s been to saving one all season 😆

  10. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Ange was correct in his thoughts on VAR, that was extremely soft for a pen & probably more points for diving contest.

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      I gave it a 4/4 (CS pts owner missed)

    2. xuwei
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      I’m having trouble calling that soft - how was it anything?

  11. It's Fergie Time
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    kluivert not in squad

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Color me orange..

    2. HelmutCool
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Great.... he was supposed to be tired and not even on bench for a couple of games now ..

  12. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Arsenal have had some discipline problems this season, many red cards for silly things, and then aggressive fouls like that in the box.

  13. Hughes Your Daddy
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Damn, Hughes not starting 🙁
    CRY: Henderson, Lerma, Lacroix, Guéhi, Muñoz, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta

    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Men in Black Tourney?

  14. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    It's my first time owning Arsenal defence since GW11, where are those clean sheets I was promised? 😀

  15. Zalk
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Ref really wants Everton to get a point here.

  16. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Hope Pedro stays on the bench

  17. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Will have to be an * next to Liverpool’s title win, so many dodgy referee calls in their favour and against rivals

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Was waiting for this one 😀

      Copium. Pure, uncut copium.

    2. BrockLanders
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Dry your eyes

    3. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Changing the rules partway too with the SAO tech, null and void in my eyes

    4. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Short memories

  18. x.jim.x
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Spending nearly a billion quid and not actually coming close to winning anything is mad when you think about it isn’t it

    1. The Big Fella
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      I hate it when it happens to me

    2. FantasyTony
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      They’ll always have…. eh…something!

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Inherited the “Put the pressure on” trophy they used to rip Spurs fans for at least

      2. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Hiring that pickpocket was a fun moment to remember. Money well spent.

    3. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      It’s insane. To think wenger got them in a similar position without the ludicrous spending.

      2nd, 3rd, 4th (even 5th) who cares. You didn’t win the title although you qualified for the champions league (more important for the clubs finances)

      At least wenger won some cups

      1. x.jim.x
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Modern fans would rather finish 5th than win a trophy, very sad

        1. FFS ManU
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 2 months ago

          This

  19. BrockLanders
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    That was never a pen. What's the point in having VAR when they can't overturn a nothing decision like that. Pathetic

    1. Thanos
      • 4 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Better to scrap VAR and accept on field errors. At least the game momentum won’t break.

      1. BrockLanders
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Agree with that

    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      That’s what Ange’s interviews are pointing at.

      Clear & obvious, yet six minutes of replays FFS, stop start stop, games gone

    3. x.jim.x
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      The 99% on here who’ve never been to a game in their lives want every single decision to be correct though, i.e. what is best for their team

      1. BrockLanders
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        You thought that was a pen??

        1. x.jim.x
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 2 months ago

          Not seen it, but if it makes Arsenal fans cries then yes

          1. x.jim.x
            • 11 Years
            1 year, 2 months ago

            Great sentence that

  20. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Get a second Everton!

  21. Zalk
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Ref 3 for 3 now in helping Everton to that point. What a joke these British refs are.

  22. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Arsenal to come 3rd, in a two-horse race?

  23. Goodfeathers
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Odegaard on. Good for Saka owners.

  24. Egg noodle
    • 16 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    What triple captain opportunities exist from GW33?
    I'm BB 32 so can't do Isak in 32.

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Marmoush

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Marmoushh

    3. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Saka potentially

      1. Egg noodle
        • 16 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Thanks all. Sakas fixtures are awesome, but the UCL games put me off. Looks like Marmoush is the best bet.

        We expecting any captain options in DGW36?

        1. _Ninja_
          • 15 Years
          1 year, 2 months ago

          Theres a chance city have sou and BOU in 36

          1. Merlin the Wraith
            • 10 Years
            1 year, 2 months ago

            That would be a nice 36TC punt if semi win comes off. Especially in light of Isak's niggles.

  25. Merlin the Wraith
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    So, double def Arse wiped for DGW33? 🙂

  26. Steve Stiffler
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    That should never have been a penalty, both players pulling each other. Triple arsenal going great

  27. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Odd Saka came on at HT when they were already winning, might as well started lol

    1. Goodfeathers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Not really. He needs minutes.

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Could have started though, got the game won then go off early

        1. Goodfeathers
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          1 year, 2 months ago

          Yes he could have, but he didn’t. Nothing odd about that.

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            1 year, 2 months ago

            Yeah just seems more logical to do that to me

        2. DARE TO BISCAN
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 2 months ago

          Ev like to get their leg-breakers in early. When the ref's too cowardly to 'ruin the game' with a red.

    2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      He told him to get on but you can see saka and arteta don’t want him to go full out. Instructions to run about a bit and get his overall fitness up

      Not allowed to go into tackles or dribble too much

  28. have you seen cyan
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Anyone else got or going triple Newcastle attack?

  29. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Arsenal don’t want this, on the beach

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 16 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Priority is champions league clearly

      They will probably get knocked out and then that’s it. Season over, what’s the motivation after that?

      1. g40steve
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Another year matching Spurs

  30. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    This oily lego head fella subbed Timber on