Dugout Discussion
3 January 2026 926 comments
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A chilly Vitality Stadium plays host to the final Premier League match of the day: Bournemouth v Arsenal.

Kick-off on the south coast is at 5.30pm GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Andoni Iraola continues to eke out the services of the exit-bound Antoine Semenyo, starting the winger against the Gunners this evening.

It may not even be the Ghanaian international’s swansong in a Bournemouth shirt, with his manager confident, or at least hopeful, of another appearance in Gameweek 21.

Semenyo is part of an unchanged XI following the 2-2 draw at Chelsea.

New signing Fraser Forster, snapped up following Will Dennis‘s injury, is among the substitutes.

Mikel Arteta has sprung a few surprises with his teamsheet, making three alterations.

One sees Declan Rice return from a knee injury and take the place of Mikel Merino in midfield.

The big calls are in attack, with Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard dropping to the bench.

In come Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli for starts alongside Viktor Gyokeres, who continues to see off the challenge of Gabriel Jesus.

Gabriel Magalhaes starts again at centre-half, fresh from his 15-pointer on Tuesday night. That appearance against Aston Villa marked his first start since Gameweek 11.

LINE-UPS

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic, Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert, Scott, Tavernier, Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo, Evanilson.

Subs: Forster, Cook, Soler, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Kroupi, Unal, Rees-Dottin.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard, Madueke, Martinelli, Gyokeres.

Subs: Kepa, White, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Norgaard, Trossard. Merino, Lewis-Skelly.


LIVE GAMEWEEK PAGE!

New to Fantasy Football Scout this season 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:


Introducing The Eye Test 2
926 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Gabriel DEFCON

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Sweet..

      Still time for Rice and Timber as well

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

      Yep, nice one

  2. Joyce1998
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    So glad I kept hold of Rice, he was a transfer out untill I saw that his injury wasn't that bad

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      I told a few people on here that he'll definitely start.

      1. Wild Card this!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Good guess

  3. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Kroupi locked in my team next season.

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      If Bournemouth stay up.

    2. Eightball
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      His minutes might go up soon if Semenyo leaves.

      1. Khalico
        • 10 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Does he play off the right? Was wondering having him as third striker in my team, mainly will be benched

        1. SalahFingers
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          He's a perfect bench player, however, there's also a bunch of really good 5.x million mids that are good bench players too (the ones that get Defcon almost every week for 4-5 points total)

          1. Khalico
            • 10 Years
            2 months, 2 days ago

            For sure, was just asking as I have a midfield of Rice, Saka, Palmer, Foden, Rogers hence why he’d be a bench warmer.

            Especially with Semenyo going, his minutes should be better and already 6 goals so not too shabby to have warming the bench

        2. Eightball
          • 5 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          I think more Centre and off the left but I expect they will shift players around if they don't sign anyone in Jan to replace Semenyo. Def a wait and see if his minutes improve. There are a few decent budget forwards emerging. This Mane guy looks ok and DCL seems to be in a hot run of form.

  4. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Mistakes on WC (so far)

    Guiu instead of Kroupi
    Saka/Timber over Rice
    John Victor

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Surprised with Guiu on WC when folks are looking to add Chelsea picks from 24 onwards

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Chelsea are a wait and see for me until the manager is hired and we can see how they play.

        1. Tonyawesome69
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          You should have left the option open imo. I would think a new manager will come in pretty soon. 3 league games, EFL Cup, FAC and 2x UCL games before GW24

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 months, 2 days ago

            I don’t see me needing 3x Chelsea spots but you could be right. Currently I don’t want any

  5. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    didnt sell but benched but this rice haul is almost as bad as when mourinho said son was out at OT and think he scored a hat trick? ugh

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Scored 4

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

      Damn, sorry to see you benched. I took the advice from others this morning he will probably either start or not come on, so started him luckily.

  6. fedolefan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Timber has to be one of the worst premium picks in the game. Up there with Virg

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      What did Virgin do to you?

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        He smashed his nan or something. Unforgiveable.

        1. Yes Ndidi
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          You're thinking of Rooney.

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

      If he gets defcons, we riot. The things dreams are made of.

      Thinking of Timber > Gabriel > back to Timber > Gabriel using my 3FT just so I can sell him twice

      1. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        He will never get defcons. Not even worth dreaming about it.

        1. SalahFingers
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Gabriel already got defcons

  7. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Is it Arsenal's season then finally???

  8. Khalico
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    As third mostly on bench 4.6m, Kroupi Jr or Mane?

    1. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Save 0.1m with Mane

  9. -GK22-
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Rice first sub. Ffs

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Well that didn't work

  10. terranullius
    • 1 Year
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Sorry for the repost.
    Saka & Miley -> Rice & Odegaard.
    Thoughts? Thanks all.

  11. FantasyTony
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    2 more defcon please Declan

    1. Firminooooo
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Please!

  12. ball c
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Saka to Palmer for next gw or keep him for Liverpool?
    Will get Rice for Cunha the following gw.

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

    Declan on 10 DCs?

  14. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    imagine if arsenal got a pen now and saka gave the ball to rice *vomits*

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

      Hilarious

  15. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Saka keeps up his record of returns from the bench as expected

  16. Feanor
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Paid the price for not swapping Timber to Gabriel when I had exact funds a few days ago.

    But now with two FT do I move Timber to Gabriel and Senesi to Mukiele?

    Or keep Timber and sell Senesi for Gabriel and Saka for Rice?

    1. Mr. O'Connell
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Timber is the worst pick on the game, but people don't want to hear it.

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Because he is not

      2. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        I did swap him to Gabriel on my FH last week

      3. fedolefan
        • 11 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        Because they are too obsessed with double Arsenal defense.

      4. Eightball
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 2 days ago

        He is third highest scoring defender lol

        1. fedolefan
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 2 days ago

          Yeah, I'm sure you enjoyed his 24 pointer lol

  17. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    arsenal havent conceded more than 2 goals in a game since 2023

    run about to end?

  18. GE
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Rice -> Rogers (-4) well to create Arsenal-spot for Gabriel…

  19. Firminooooo
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Probably a lot of autosub-jam tomorrow with Rice 1 sub.

  20. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    If Arsenal get a pen surely Rice takes it?

  21. Make United Great Again
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Time to scrap double Arsenal defence boys.

  22. F4L
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    a few defensive actions from rice

  23. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Glad I got El Kroupi on WC!

  24. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    6 minutes

  25. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    People scrambling to get Rice this week will miss having Saka when his explosions come.

    1. wiseguy
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      As if Saka's hit double figures twice this season. Rice 4 times already. I hate owning Saka so much.

    2. Make United Great Again
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      He’s never been explosive tbh

  26. Biggsy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    One more defcon Rice...

  27. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Just a couple more Defcon Senesi come on

  28. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    1 more DC from Rice

  29. Firminooooo
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 2 days ago

    Rice 11 def

    1. MikeS
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 2 days ago

      Come on 1 more