Dugout Discussion
8 November 2025 421 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The first of two evening kick-offs is Sunderland v Arsenal at the Stadium of Light.

The action gets underway at 5.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Sunderland name an unchanged side from their 1-1 draw with Everton on Monday.

There are three changes for Arsenal from midweek.

Martin Zubimendi returns, while Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori also come back into the XI.

Mikel Merino continues to start up front.

There’s no Viktor Gyokeres in the Gunners’ squad, nor is there any of the other players – such as Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke – who are nearing a return.

Compared to the side Arteta sent out to face Burnley in Gameweek 10, the only difference is Merino in for Gyokeres.

The most-bought defender and midfielder of Gameweek 11, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice, respectively, both feature in this contest.

LINE-UPS

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki, Traore, Le Fee; Isidor.

Subs: Patterson, Neil, Talbi, Brobbey, Rigg, Mayenda, O’Nien, Adingra, Masuaku.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Merino.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Lewis-Skelly, Hincapie, Mosquera, Norgaard, Nwaneri, Dowman, Harriman-Annous.


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout 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:

King
421 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Kaneyonero
    11 months, 27 days ago

    C'mon Timber time for another 23 point haul

    1. Effe
      11 months, 27 days ago

      I would love that

  2. Jafooli
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Need a Xhaka uber-haul...

    1. iFash@FPL
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Game against former club vibes.

  3. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Scouting for Ndiaye replacement as the fixtures turn sour and Afcon looming:
    A. Rice (TOT che BRE)
    B. Szoboslai (NFO whu SUN)
    C. Rogers (lee WOL bha)
    D. Sarr (wol MUN bur)
    E. Amad (EVE cry WHU)

    1. Jafooli
      11 months, 27 days ago

      A or D...probs A

    2. F4L
      11 months, 27 days ago

      szobo just now with sarr off in 4-ish gws as well

    3. iFash@FPL
      11 months, 27 days ago

      D and E will both also be off to AFCON.

      1. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Sure, will remove GW15 but they have better fixtures in the meantime

  4. Defcons are for Kinnear
    11 months, 27 days ago

    With 1 Arsenal defender do I want them to concede?

    1. Jafooli
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Or the three you don't have, all to get RC's....

  5. F4L
    11 months, 27 days ago

    An Arsenal clean sheet would be much appreciated, been ages since us owners were rewarded with one..... 😉

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Most people have double D at this stage

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Owning Gabriel is like double on its own with his attacking threat and defcon lol

  6. didas
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Triple Arsenal defence is a masochistic watch

    1. Pegboy
      11 months, 27 days ago

      It's much easier when you're a Spurs fan.

  7. Jafooli
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Rice throw-in assist incoming...

  8. iFash@FPL
    11 months, 27 days ago

    This is Arsenal steepest test of the season so far…

  9. Jafooli
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Main players heading off for AFCON?

    Salah, Mbeumo, Sarr...any others? Don't seem to be as many this time.....

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Ndayie, Diouf, Mateta

      1. Jafooli
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Ah Palace losing Mateta and Sarr 😮

        Sunderland will loose half their first time, I think...

      2. iFash@FPL
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Mateta is French. Don’t be fooled by his name rhyming with Hakuna Matata… 🙂

        1. Effe
          11 months, 27 days ago

          🙂

      3. dhamphiir
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Mateta plays for France national team

        1. Defcons are for Kinnear
          11 months, 27 days ago

          😆

    2. iFash@FPL
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Ndiaye, Amad, Mazraoui. Others are mostly fringe players.

      1. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Gueye?

    3. TKC07
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Some of the main players going for AFCON:

      Brentford Dango Ouattara Burkina Faso
      Burnley Lyle Foster South Africa
      Crystal Palace Ismaïla Sarr Senegal
      Everton Iliman NdÑ–aye Senegal
      Fulham Alex Iwobi Nigeria
      Liverpool Mohamed Salah Egypt
      Man United Bryan Mbeumo Cameroon
      Man United Amad Diallo Ivory Coast
      Man City Rayan Aït-Nouri Algeria
      Man City Omar Marmoush Egypt
      Newcastle United Yoane Wissa DR Congo
      Nottingham Forest Ola Aina Nigeria
      West Ham El Hadji Malick Diouf Senegal
      West Ham Aaron Wan-Bissaka DR Congo
      Wolves Emmanuel Agbadou Ivory Coast

      1. Jafooli
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Cheers TK, useful thanks...

      2. iFash@FPL
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Upvote!

      3. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Ta

      4. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Not Gueye then at Everton?

  10. Defcons are for Kinnear
    11 months, 27 days ago

    An elbow to the ear hurts. Talking from experience

    1. Jafooli
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Say again?

    2. THE Wild Rover
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Elbows in for kinnear.

  11. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Who’s the surprise player on the Arsenal bench then

    1. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Sounds like someone was guessing...

  12. Kaneyonero
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Arsenal def hasn't scored yet gw fail 😉

  13. Defcons are for Kinnear
    11 months, 27 days ago

    This match has a real rugby feel to it with all the stoppages

  14. Mr.K
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Who is worse, Grealish or ManU defence?

    Trying to decide whether to hang on to Jack for one week more or not...

  15. THE Wild Rover
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Gabriel wuss

  16. Pep Roulette
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Arsenal will win this 4-0

  17. Digital-Real
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Team News section has James not starting . Why, he's not injured

    1. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 months, 27 days ago

      It's predicted to happen in the warm up

    2. Defcons are for Kinnear
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Saving typing for the inevitable

    3. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      11 months, 27 days ago

      90minutes last weekend and 90mins midweek while Gusto was rested

  18. Defcons are for Kinnear
    11 months, 27 days ago

    A return from Rice today and we are having conversations

  19. Jafooli
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Saka > Rice looking very likely, spread the savings elsewhere...

    1. Defcons are for Kinnear
      11 months, 27 days ago

      He's a serious option imo. Defcons, set pieces and central to Arsenal

      1. Jafooli
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Yep, Gabriel, Timber & Rice - set and forget. Add Haaland and only need to worry about seven other playes, my sorta game...

  20. THE Wild Rover
    11 months, 27 days ago

    I can’t believe that the week I bought Rice he was benched, so I rage sold him again. 🙄

  21. Bobby Digital
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Do something Saka!

    1. Hughes Your Daddy
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Yeo, Saka last chance saloon v this lot.

      1. Bobby Digital
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Not for me. Need to get Gabriel first, before worrying about Saka...

        1. Hughes Your Daddy
          11 months, 27 days ago

          Well yes, for those of you that don't have Gabriel yet then clearly your priorities are more keenly felt there 🙂

  22. Royal5
    11 months, 27 days ago

    What minute will Ars get their set piece goal?

  23. Bigbars
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Anyone else get bitter about rivals teams when you have no-one invested ? i'm praying for sunderland to burst that CS so bad.

    1. THE Wild Rover
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Praying is a waste of time, nobody is listening.

      1. Hairy Potter
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Amen

        1. Jafooli
          11 months, 27 days ago

          Lol

      2. Bigbars
        11 months, 27 days ago

        i pray you're right lol

    2. didas
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Why would you have no Arsenal defence?

      1. iFash@FPL
        11 months, 27 days ago

        To avoid jinxing them? 🙂

  24. Ser Davos
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Sold KDH this week... 😆

  25. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Saka simply not worth the money. No where near any value. I think teams have worked him out.....looks poor

    1. Bobby Digital
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Yeah everyone just doubles up on him these days

      1. Jafooli
        11 months, 27 days ago

        One in his face and one a bit behind to give no space for 'im to run into so just passes backwards...

      2. Feanor
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Shouldn’t Eze be attracting more defenders?

      3. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Its easy to defend him. Double up and don't let him cut in on his left......wouldn't be surprised to see him dragged off

  26. Royal5
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Arsenal look awful

  27. Jafooli
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Saka & Woltemade > Rice & Mateta for free?

    1. Bobby Digital
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Decent moves tbh

    2. Hughes Your Daddy
      11 months, 27 days ago

      I would do that if I didn't get Mateta in gameweek 1 🙂

  28. Feanor
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Rice going up again tonight

    I’ll get him in for Gordon if he gets thru this match OK. Could dump Grealish instead, but he seems less likely to drop over the break.

  29. Basileus
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Ideal scenario for me: Sunderland win 2-1, Eze scores and Raya saves a penalty

    1. Feanor
      11 months, 27 days ago

      Ideal for me: Arsenal win 5-1 with 5 unassisted goals from Timber

      1. Royal5
        11 months, 27 days ago

        Might come off

    2. Mr. O'Connell
      11 months, 27 days ago

      We all know Arsenal win 1-0. Gabriel header. Rice assist. Gabriel 8 defcons in added time to hit the quota.

  30. Haa-lala-land
    11 months, 27 days ago

    Sunderland are going to win this