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. mixology
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Remember when Arteta benched Gabriel for first 3-4 games two seasons back?

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      That could have been the reason why he's been phenomenal since...

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

      was trying to ship him off to saudi wasnt he?

    3. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Yep, I had him then, and it was apparently a no brainer to have Saliba from the hindsight merchants on here

      1. mixology
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Yes! He was getting dodgy assists as well, and bonus

  2. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Arsenal can't get a hold on anyone in midfield. I would take Rice off at half time. Not moving well.

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Add the potato head up front for Jesus

    2. SINGH
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Looks fine to me

  3. Nightf0x
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    dub (alison)
    gabriel keane mukiele clyne (richards)
    gordon foden saka rice (king)
    tiago haland (ekitike)

    which ?

    a) saka alison clyne -4 to palmer roefs 4.4def.
    b) saka alison richards -4 to palmer alderete 5.8gk
    c) saka king to 2 of rogers enzo cherki wilson, bench clyne
    d) saka clyne king -4 to cherki timber garner (or) enzo timber wilson
    e) ekitike clyne to watkins alderete
    f) saka clyne to cherki/enzo/rogers timber

    1. SINGH
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      The one that involves removing Saka

  4. Sailboats
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Need a Rice corner and Gabriel header

  5. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    6 DC

  6. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Semenyo wants red

  7. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    rice is lucky to be avoiding yellows for mouthing off so much

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      He just shouted to Kluivert: "eat me"

    2. el polako
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Funny how some players always get away with murder.

  8. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Think Kluivert without semenyo could be a real talisman, should be on most set pieces too

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Nah Bournemouth attack will really suffer without Semenyo

      1. Jam0sh
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        He's been quite non existent tonight however

        1. Scapegoat Salah
          • 9 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

          Even if he’s doing nothing he’s taking markers away from other attackers

      2. FDMS All Starz
        • 10 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Iraola always manages to get his team playing well eventually though regardless of sales of big names

  9. F4L
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    senesi's passing is lowkey incredible

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

    Hmmm Saka in for late cameo against a poor defence or potentially Keane off the bench if he plays…

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Yeah, looking like it. Saka will haul if he comes off the bench.

  11. SINGH
    • 7 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Raya is the best GK in all of Europe. Even Pele and Maradonna said the same last week.

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Some owns Ouija Football Edition board.

      1. SINGH
        • 7 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Lmao

    2. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Mate, do you have free access to the heaven podcast?

  12. Royal5
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Does Martinelli ever lift his head befor crossing the ball?

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      No, this is exactly his problem.

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Reminds me of Milan Baros

  13. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Hmmm Arsenal gone poor since Madueke man marked.

  14. Jam0sh
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Arteta needs to get Saka on 60' at the latest

    1. SINGH
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      No need

    2. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      No, I have 8 points Van Hecke first on bench

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

        I started him, vH.

        But with Guiu it's Heaven first on my bench

        1. Hughes Your Daddy
          • 13 Years
          3 months, 10 days ago

          Oh yeah - I should of done same, O'Reilly not playing will bring him on though (in case)

  15. All Hail K
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    They refuse to pass to Timber, is he just a decoy?

    1. SINGH
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Yes

    2. el polako
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Dead wood.

  16. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Semenyo is getting sent off in this game isn't he?

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

      Possibly

      Scissor kick on Gabriel?

    2. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      As long as it's not for taking his shirt off after scoring I don't mind how he does it, as long as he does.

  17. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    If Arsenal win this, it will be from Trossard or Saka off the bench. Bournemouth have been very good this half.

  18. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Arsenal missing Calafiori in these games.

  19. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    that's now 7 decent chances for cherries. (7-2)

  20. Thanos
    • 4 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Odegaard get a goal boy

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Midfield has been poor.

      1. Thanos
        • 4 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Yep 🙁

  21. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Big Gabby on 3 bonus points so far

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Nope. Evanilson

    2. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      2

  22. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Is livefpl fubar’d

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      fml

  23. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Raya currently beating Dubravka by 1 point (28 vs 27) over the last 10 GWs
    Verbruggen has 45 in the same period

    1. The Tinkerman
      • 10 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Looking at Roefs personally

    2. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Yep, glad I have kept both Verb and Dub over last 6 gameweeks, they rotate nicely. Had Raya earlier but just not worth the premium price.

      1. Lanley Staurel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Same. Nothing beats a good cheap rotation.

  24. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 5 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Rice getting bullied all game means he is scoring

    1. Hughes Your Daddy
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Lets hope so 🙂

  25. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Arsenal played better than this against Wolves. Really poor from the Gunners.

  26. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Oh...Gyokeres is playing, I think his career is finished at Arsenal. Jesus on at half time.

    1. el polako
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Career?
      Merino proved to be more prolific the him.

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        100%

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

      king kai is coming back to fire arsenal to glory

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Yeah, and Havertz won't even need to be prolific to keep him out of the team. Gyokeres should be sold to Galatasaray asap.

  27. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    What does Madueke add to this team?

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Step-overs.

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Well their goal was made by him tbf

    3. putana
      • 7 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      what does saka add besides corners?

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Penalties roulette as Arteta isn’t really in charge.

      2. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        through balls or shots that lead to corners

    4. el polako
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Same move & selfishness each game.

    5. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      He's one of the best dribblers in the league

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

        Someone get the man a bib

    6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
      • 15 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      He takes on his man and is a constant threat

    7. Defcons are for Kinnear
      • 12 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      English quota

  28. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Utterly dreadful half by Arsenal. Could be 7-2 Cherries. Take the anonymous Gyokeres off, and bring on Jesus. Madueke has been okay.

    1. Herger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      They’ve had one shot on target

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        3 months, 10 days ago

        Gap yah

  29. thegaffer82
    • 14 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    How is Gabriel Arsenals best striker and CB?

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      3 goals and 2 assists in the league alone.

    2. el polako
      • 8 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      They are playing without recognised center forward.

    3. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 months, 10 days ago

      Sunderland philosophy

  30. MikeS
    • 11 Years
    3 months, 10 days ago

    Saka, Jesus and trossard triple change on 60 mins coming to win this game