Dugout Discussion
18 May 2025 245 comments
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A mouth-watering clash between Arsenal and Newcastle United rounds off the day’s Gameweek 37 action.

A win for either side would guarantee a top-five finish, while even a point would be enough for the Gunners to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Kick-off in north London is at 16:30 BST.

The headline team news is that Alexander Isak misses out with a minor groin injury.

He’s replaced by Callum Wilson, who starts just his second league game of the season.

It looks like a back three again for Newcastle, with Sven Botman fit to start despite suffering a knock in the 2-0 win over Chelsea.

As for Arsenal, Declan Rice has recovered from a hip problem and goes straight back into the starting XI, replacing the suspended Mikel Merino.

Kai Havertz, who has been out since Gameweek 24 with a hamstring issue, makes his return as a substitute.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Odegaard, Rice, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard

Subs: Neto, Tierney, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Havertz, Sterling, Calafiori, Henry-Francis, Nwaneri

Newcastle United XI: Pope, Schar, Botman, Burn, Murphy, Guimaraes, Tonali, Livramento, Barnes, Gordon, Wilson

Subs: Dubravka, Ruddy, Lascelles, Krafth, Osula, Willock, Longstaff, Miley, Neave

CHECK YOUR LIVE FPL RANK

If you haven’t seen it already, the beta version of our new Premium Members Area gives you a customised dashboard detailing your latest points and where you rank in the world.

You can find it via this link and you only have to type in your FPL ID number (so no password/email) to see the visuals.


245 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. GENERATION X
    • 12 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Wissa down to 2 baps. Williams bags 2.

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 11 hours ago

      neco deserved the 9 pointer, was great all game. bowen ffs, why does he have to be so good

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        11 months, 11 hours ago

        He's super smashing great.

      2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 15 Years
        11 months, 11 hours ago

        He’s not that good and 2 pts for neco basically goes against every other bonus this season

    2. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      11 months, 11 hours ago

      Wasn’t he on 2 all the time?

      1. GENERATION X
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 11 hours ago

        Wissa was on 3 with Raul when I first looked and Williams was nowhere

        1. Atimis
          • 9 Years
          11 months, 11 hours ago

          Oh ok

          1. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            11 months, 11 hours ago

            Raul was clear most of the time, but they were both on 3 right towards the end of the game.

            1. Ginkapo FPL
              • 14 Years
              11 months, 11 hours ago

              World class

              1. Gazwaz80
                • 6 Years
                11 months, 10 hours ago

                Milenkovic scores and not even on baps…

  2. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    BPS rigged again with Neco on 2 right now?

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 11 hours ago

      Isak is out so they need some points coming off the bench. Its pretty obvious

  3. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Beto + Mbeumo + Sels + Frank today
    2 + 5 + 3 + 2
    Yuck

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 6 Years
      11 months, 11 hours ago

      Bad luck

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      11 months, 11 hours ago

      Could easily have been 40 points

  4. JBG
    • 7 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Wtf was that from Bruno G?

  5. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 15 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Saliba fail

  6. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Saliba off

    1. JabbaWookiee
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 11 hours ago

      Massively infuriating

  7. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Saliba has been atrocious as a Gabriel replacement lol
    Since GW31:
    2, 2, 6, 1, 1, 1, 1

    1. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      11 months, 11 hours ago

      He’s also been a liability in reality

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      Gabriel & Saliba together not as replacements

      Villa coming in hot

      Saliba today could be a clean sheet & Saints last game maybe not all gloom

  8. Rhysd007
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Unbelievable! Defence fail and Konsa sitting on bench laughing. ..

  9. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Raya's gonna finish on 5 saves isn't he

  10. Zalk
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Well, that's it for my Raya clean I suppose...

  11. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Damn Saliba fail, at least I had already banked 31 points from my Aston Villa players

  12. MIGHTY JOE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    11 months, 11 hours ago

    Saliba off, haha. “Cut the show, I’m done”!!

  13. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Wel done folks who sold Isak...

  14. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Rice banger

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      Cracking shot tbf

  15. F4L
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    rice g
    ode a

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      ode - YES

      1. Bluetiger1
        • 3 Years
        11 months, 10 hours ago

        Arsenal safe for Champions League football,
        I did wonder what if they lost today & next week could miss
        out on top five

        Now secure - congrats Arsenal

  16. Debauchy
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Rice Rice....

  17. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Rice was the one to get

  18. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Rice locked in my team as a season keeper next season.

    1. RICICLE
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      Haha same!

    2. Manani
      • 14 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      everyone is a season keeper till they get a few blanks in a row

  19. JBG
    • 7 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Was hoping for a Livra CS here

  20. RICICLE
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Think I’m just gonna include Rice next season

    1. borat
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      Will you also like pudding or just plain rice

    2. el polako
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      Nothing wrong with that but aim for a balanced diet.

  21. Digital-Real
    • 9 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Ode gone under radar for 6 weeks

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      5,8,5,6 (counting) - amazing how the crits have stopped posting

  22. Ajax Hamsterdam
    • 11 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    What's going on with Isla? Injured?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      He got sick at the airport then flew off to Ibiza...

  23. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Reckon the Wissa goal is safe? It's pretty close
    https://streamable.com/ks69lt

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      just about, looks like whole ball isnt over the line. but the fact that tiny touch to a ball already going in is worth 7 points, and the fact Wissa was lucky not to be sent off (before the goal), about sums up the fine fine margins in FPL.

  24. Bluetiger1
    • 3 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    any thoughts on Rice 8.5m fpl price nice season

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      At price he’s a non option.

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      ** suppose to be 'next' not nice

    3. mookie
      • 12 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      He's having a worse season than the previous one, so if you exclude the Arsenal fan noise, he should get a drop in price not 8,5m nonsense.

      1. mookie
        • 12 Years
        11 months, 10 hours ago

        Still a no thanks from me at 6m.

  25. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Murphy off
    Wilson off
    Botman off

  26. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Likelihood of Sarr playing? To sub in for isak

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      Could be a super sub.

  27. fusen
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Doesn't look like Newcastle are going to get anything here.

  28. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Shows how much NewC rely on Isak’s contribution.

  29. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    Saliba injured?

    Just saw he was early subbed.

    1. Postman Ty
      • 11 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      As if there was ever a hope of points from "the best defence in the league"...

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        11 months, 10 hours ago

        He is on my bench, but I do need him next GW.

    2. Egg noodle
      • 16 Years
      11 months, 10 hours ago

      don't know.

  30. fusen
    • 14 Years
    11 months, 10 hours ago

    I've had Saka since gw31 with all these blanks

    I'll be fuming if he suddenly scores points next week when he seems to be the flavour player to transfer in. I'd literally prefer he blanks :X