Dugout Discussion
23 August 2025 766 comments
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Rounding off the day’s Premier League action, it’s the Gameweek 2 fixture that may have persuaded 150,000+ Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers to deploy their Free Hit.

Arsenal v Leeds United kicks off at 17:30 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made two changes from the team that beat Manchester United last Sunday.

Noni Madueke gets his first Arsenal start, while Jurrien Timber comes back in at right-back.

Gabriel Martinelli is demoted to substitute duty, with Ben Whitewho was an injury doubt for Gameweek 2 – missing out entirely.

Joining a stacked bench is 15-year-old Max Dowman, who impressed in pre-season.

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke, meanwhile, makes one change from the team that beat Everton on Monday.

It’s an enforced alteration, too, as Ethan Ampadu is out until after the international break with a knee injury he picked up against the Toffees.

Ilia Gruev replaces Ampadu in the centre of midfield.

Timber aside, each member of the hosts’ backline, including David Raya, was bought by 300,000+ FPL managers this week.

Indeed, of the 20 most-purchased players of Gameweek 2, six start for the Gunners tonight.

Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres are among that number.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Martinelli, Kiwior, Trossard, Nwaneri, Merino, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.

Leeds United XI: Perri, Bogle, Struijk, Rodon, Gudmundsson, Stach, Gruev, Tanaka, James, Piroe, Gnonto.

Subs: Darlow, Longstaff, Aaronson, Nmecha, Bijol, Okafor, Harrison, Bornauw, Byram.

NEW: LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE

New to Fantasy Football Scout this week is the Live Gameweek page, which you can see on the side menu.

Here you can follow the scores, watch the defensive contribution (DC) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:


Dango debut

price change predictions
766 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. chocolove
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Looking forward to witness some TC Timber teams tonight

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Can't even be mad at those

  2. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Defcon! Not had any from gw1 so far !

  3. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    You know…48 with Salah and Milenkovic to go is good enough. 25% of that is double Burnley defense, as well.

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      I’m on 47 with Salah and Milenkovic

      But another Gyokores captain goal would be nice

    2. Bored Ape Jota Club
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Good enough. I'm on 9 points. 7 to start.

  4. Von Lipwig
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Gabriel goal please

  5. The-Red-1
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Best striker under 8.5? Pedro?

    1. GoonerSteve
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Or Wood

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        wood has some very nice fixtures coming up. kalimuendo is a good player though so not sure how the new signing will affect his minutes.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Mateta in the mix

      1. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 12 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        eze gone though. but yes v nice option.

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          10 months, 29 days ago

          Still a solid team

    3. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Richa

  6. Bigler
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Bowen+Palmer+Saka>Haaland+Reijnders+Mbeumo -4?

    1. GoonerSteve
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Have you got Salah?

  7. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Saka cappers unlucky

    1. Ser Davos
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      my strategy to start with was essentially template plus Saka (C) v Leeds

  8. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    How many more players will Arsenal need to buy before deadline because of injuries?

  9. MetallicaJack93
    • 2 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    A. Wc
    B. Fh
    C. 1ft

    Dub/Verb
    Cucu Milen Munoz Porro Gud
    Salah Palmer Senenyo Reindeer King
    Watkins Mateta Guiu

    1. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      1ft is fine.

  10. Limbo
    • 15 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Max Dowman looks pretty tricky.

    "The new Kaka" is a bit of a tag to live up to though. Haha.

    1. Ser Davos
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      let the kid breathe. When has England ever produced a Kaka level player?

      1. Feanor
        • 17 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        Surely new Bellingham would make more sense

      2. Limbo
        • 15 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        Exactly. The way they're talking Pele needs to watch out.

  11. FPL Sanky
    • 2 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Palmer + Saka to Salah + Dango for free to build a Haaland Salah draft?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      In isolation looks ok but I personally will not have both Salah and Haaland

      1. FPL Sanky
        • 2 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        Why?

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          10 months, 29 days ago

          Not flexible

          1. FPL Sanky
            • 2 Years
            10 months, 29 days ago

            I think we have enough 5-6m good nailed midfielders that you can easily build a Salah Haaland draft.... Anderson, Reindeers, Dango, KDH, Rutter all good enough options

  12. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Is Johnson nailed for TOT?

    1. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      More or less yes.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        Thanks, who is his shadow?

        1. chocolove
          • 15 Years
          10 months, 29 days ago

          Odobert

    2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      You’d have to think so.

  13. Pedersen
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Is arsenal defenders now an option? Which one?

    1. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      All of them, but Liverpool away next...

  14. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    gyokeres has really good movement. just needs to sharpen up abit. might be the lack of pre-season

  15. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Were MC players poor or were Peps tactics at fault? Couldn’t see the game.
    Thanks!

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Same question, did not watch myself

    2. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Both

      They need Rodri playing 90 minutes again

      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        Thank you

      2. Ser Davos
        • 11 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        this is what everything pivots on

  16. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Saka or Palmer likely to be out longer?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Difficult to know at this stage I guess

    2. F4L
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      saka

    3. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Saka. Done his hamstring again

  17. Punned It
    • 1 Year
    10 months, 29 days ago

    When did Timber become a scoring machine?

    1. el polako
      • 9 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Wood effect

      1. Limbo
        • 15 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        It's a just a veneer.

    2. HuttonDressedasLahm
      • 16 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      When I don’t have him only

  18. Warby84
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Raya/Milenkovic or Sels/Saliba??

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Second one is more flexible for moving defenders if required

    2. Ser Davos
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      is that alongside Gabriel?

      1. Warby84
        • 11 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        No only 1 arsenal

        1. Ser Davos
          • 11 Years
          10 months, 29 days ago

          would still favour Gabriel? Unless I'm missing something (nailedness, CBIT) and then Sanchez or even, dare I say, Vicario?

  19. Kodap
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    If you were on a WC, who would you must own players be?

    1. Limbo
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Bit early to know, but I'd defo load up on Forrest attack for Hammers.

  20. Coupes
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Potential new manager bounce Wood against West Ham at home rising tonight.

    Watkins out?

  21. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    lol that wasn’t as foul let alone a yellow

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Naive, dumb referee.

  22. Manani
    • 14 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Watkins + Palmer replacement?
    or just keep? (if Palmer is healthy)

    also want to get rid of Wirtz

    1. Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Wirtz probably drops tonight. Thinking of early transfer to Kudus. WC is not far off for me (planned gw5)

  23. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Dowman wasteful

  24. F4L
    • 11 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    gabriel very close to scoring

  25. adstomko
    • 10 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    I'm starting to believe FH GW3 is a good option.
    Palmer & Saka potentially both out, Villa misfiring, Liverpool vs Arsenal etc.

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Played mine yesterday

  26. Zilla
    • 8 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    4, possibly 5 changes warrants a wildcard?

    1. F4L
      • 11 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      probably, a -16+ imo

    2. Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Well we do play for fun, so nothing wrong in choosing what you find the most fun

  27. Pedersen
    • 7 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Kudus vs Johnson?

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      If really nailed I am leaning towards Johnson

    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Johnson. He wants to score goals. Kudus looks happy to create.

    3. Pedersen
      • 7 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Stats do favor Johnson

  28. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Is Mikel Merino now a backup player? Seems too good to sit on the bench every week.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Who would you drop for him? Started a lot of last season as a 9 because they didn’t have one. Now they do. They need the depth if they want to challenge in all competitions, he should still get plenty of starts

      1. Count of Monte Hristo
        • 13 Years
        10 months, 29 days ago

        Start 3 in midfield will be first choice for a reason, just think Merino is too good to spend most of his time not playing.

    2. chocolove
      • 15 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      He will be the first one to sub in whenever rice or zubimendi need a rest. Quite a chance there

  29. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    I remember owning Kluivert last season waaay ahead of the curve and for his hattrick of penalties. I also remember Walcott scoring me 3 goals and 2 assists v Newcastle.

    Feel like I’ve not had many huge hauls from differential players in awhile that I can remember though.

  30. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    10 months, 29 days ago

    Nwaneri has zero awareness

    1. GunnerStorm
      • 12 Years
      10 months, 29 days ago

      Not all the time