Dugout Discussion
17 January 2026 600 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Buoyed by Manchester City’s defeat in the early kick-off, Arsenal will be hoping to go nine points clear at the top of the Premier League this evening.

Their match at Nottingham Forest kicks off at 17:30 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

It became apparent in December that Mikel Arteta is averse to starting Bukayo Saka three times in a week. Now, even successive games seem to be beyond him.

Despite a rest against Portsmouth last weekend, and despite the upcoming UEFA Champions League game against Inter effectively being a dead rubber for the Gunners, Saka finds himself on the bench again this evening.

So too does Leandro Trossard, with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli coming in.

The other change from Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg is the return of David Raya at the expense of cup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

There’s still no Piero Hincapie in the Gunners’ squad. Cristhian Mosqueraruled out for “weeks” by Arteta only on Tuesday – does make the bench, however.

Gabriel Magalhaes starts for the fourth time in 10 days.

Having savaged his second string after their performance in the FA Cup against Wrexham, Sean Dyche unsurprisingly goes back to his regulars this evening.

There’s just one change from Gameweek 21, with Ibrahima Sangare coming in for Omari Hutchinson.

LINE-UPS

Nottingham Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus.

Subs: Gunn, Morato, Awoniyi, Luiz, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Savona.

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

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Saka, Jesus, Eze, Trossard, Merino, Havertz, 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 (DefCon) points roll in, see who the leading players are for xG and more as the games play out, as seen below:

Saka benched again

price change predictions
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  1. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    When is the latest by which DGW 26 could be announced?

    1. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      DWG 26? That early? Who would that potentially involve?

      1. GE
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Arsenal and Wolves maybe?

  2. ViperStripes
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Bye bye Saka and OReilly
    Hello Dorgu and BrunoF

    1. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Dorgu won’t be a starter soon

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Wouldnt be so sure

  3. FDMS All Starz
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    bottomed… Which one?
    A) Foden —> Bruno
    B) Foden —> Palmer
    C) Saka —> Bruno
    D) Saka —> Palmer
    E) Saka & Foden —> Palmer & Bruno

    Team:
    Verbruggen
    Timber Gabriel Andersen
    Saka Foden Tavernier LeFee
    Haaland Ekitike Thiago

    Areola Devenny VanDenBerg Keane
    (4FTs & 2.6itb)

    1. pundit of punts
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      A

  4. pundit of punts
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Bottomed

    Easy save right?

    Verbruggen
    Gabriel - VdV - Reinildo
    Saka - Palmer - Bruno Fernandes - Rogers - Gordon
    Haaland - Watkins

    John - Richards - Barnes - Gudmundsson

    Nothing in the bank.

    Look to get 2 more Chelsea with 2 FTs in 24. Sound?

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Sure

      1. pundit of punts
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Ta

    2. FDMS All Starz
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Yup and play around next week

      1. pundit of punts
        • 13 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Ta

  5. Meta12345
    • 1 Year
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Play:
    A) chalobah
    B) alderete
    C) richards

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      A at this stage

    2. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      A.
      Palace look to be all over the place and Glasner obviously just wants out.

  6. Captain Mal
    • 1 Year
    1 month, 21 days ago

    This is the first time in the Premier League era that Liverpool have failed to beat any of the three newly promoted clubs at Anfield in the same season.

  7. EDEN THE MAN
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Saka + Foden > Bruno F + Wirtz?

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Not sure on the Wirtz part

    2. Vazza
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Yes 100%

  8. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Is Thiago just set and forget or would you be thinking about offloading for the upcoming fixtures?

    1. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      I'm not seeing much else I'd rather spend a transfer on.

      I'm beginning to consider if they play in 31 or not as well.

  9. Yes Ndidi
    • 6 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Can get to Bruno in one move from either Cunha or Foden

    1. Sell Foden for Bruno & bench Cunha

    or

    2. Keep Foden for WOL, sell Cunha and leave a benching headache
    (Bruno Foden Wilson Gordon Rice Ekitike Thiago Haaland)

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      2

      1. Yes Ndidi
        • 6 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Who would you bench, out of interest please?

        1. JT11fc
          • 7 Years
          1 month, 21 days ago

          See how the midweeks go but between Ekitike and Gordon.... tough one either way, prob best to wait on Foden news but theres obvious price issues

          1. Yes Ndidi
            • 6 Years
            1 month, 21 days ago

            . Thank you. I know where I want to end up in a couple of GWs time, but it's how to get there. Appreciate the feedback

  10. JT11fc
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Hows this look, the games gone so being abit crazy

    Bowen Devenny Nunes
    to
    Mane Bruno Gudmundsson

  11. Vazza
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Worth playing wildcard, which would involve these moves:

    O’Reilly, Saka, Foden, Ekitike
    =>
    Saliba, Palmer, Mbeumo, Wirtz

    Two other moves would be remove a midfield fodder to forward fodder to reconfigure formation and cheap defender to even cheaper defender.

    Thoughts pls??

  12. afsr
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    How did Palmer look today? Worth getting him for Foden?

    1. JT11fc
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Not very inspiring, half is him being rusty amd half is just team chemistry out of wack with all the dramas

    2. Gommy
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Not fully fit yet imo. Some sloppy bits of play at times too. Giving him another week before deciding to bring him in.

  13. Tonyawesome69
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Arteta on rotation: “Bukayo [Saka] had a lot of minutes, and as well, he had a niggle before the games so we need to manage our players, and we have some fantastic players that can provide different things.

    “We did try from the beginning. We tried after half time as well in the next taking more risk and bringing even more players in those attacking options. And we tried in every way and it wasn't enough, unfortunately.”

    https://x.com/i/status/2012622162860093592

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Star Trek fraud

  14. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Keane, Foden and Saka
    To
    Rodin, Bruno F and Palmer

    Would mean taking a hit. What are your thoughts

  15. Stranger Mings
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Foden & saka owners what ru doing?!

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 14 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Have Foden, not Saka. Holding for Wolves, reassessing afterwards.

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Yeh guess have to give foden WOL

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 14 Years
          1 month, 21 days ago

          Probably go Bruno after and just stick with Haaland and Semenyo.

          1. Stranger Mings
            • 5 Years
            1 month, 21 days ago

            Yeh me too. Bruno plus palmer my future targets

    2. Fifa las vegas
      • 13 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Have already done Foden > Bruno

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Gw24 feels no brainer

    3. Tonyawesome69
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Currently holding but need more info on Foden (not injured or fractured hand).

      1. Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Cant wait to sell

      2. Ronnies
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Even if he isn't injured, if he plays CL midweek, would be be confident he starts WOL?

  16. Atimis
    • 9 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Foden to Bruno

    or

    Ekitike Foden to JPedro Palmer

    ?

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Could you get to Bruno easily, later?

      1. Atimis
        • 9 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Selling Saka…

        1. DARE TO BISCAN
          • 7 Years
          1 month, 21 days ago

          Prefer the second one this week....

          1. Atimis
            • 9 Years
            1 month, 21 days ago

            Could be Bruno Pedro in between

  17. Khalico
    • 10 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    Worth removing Saka to Mbeumo, double up with Bruno F. Then look to get an Ars Defender instead with Gabriel, Rice, Saliba?

    1. Vazza
      • 5 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      This is exactly what I’m doing

  18. DARE TO BISCAN
    • 7 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    What's my priority, here?

    Raya
    Chalobah, Gab, O'Reilly
    Foden, Rice, BrunoG, Wirtz, Wilson
    Haaland, Ekitike

    (Dub, Woltemade, Senesi, Dorgu) 2FT £0.1m

    Currently thinking:
    O'Reilly, Foden > Mukiele, BrunoF

    Not averse to a hit, if there's something jumping out.

    1. Atimis
      • 9 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Kinda sound, unless you would like to consider Chelsea as I do above

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        Tempted by Chelsea. Would involve a hit:
        NOR, Foden, Ekitike > Mukiele, Palmer, JPed

        Would also mean, I'd have to take a hit for Bruno, to get him in GW24, or wait.

        How did Chelsea/Palmer look today? Worth it?

    2. Ronnies
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      I'm looking at the exact same two transfers.. you pulling the trigger tonight?

      1. DARE TO BISCAN
        • 7 Years
        1 month, 21 days ago

        If I do it, it'd be tonight

  19. Vazza
    • 5 Years
    1 month, 21 days ago

    How’s this for a midfield five

    Palmer, Bruno F, Wirtz, Mbeomo, Rice

    1. DARE TO BISCAN
      • 7 Years
      1 month, 21 days ago

      Looks good