Dugout Discussion
17 January 2026 600 comments
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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
600 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    On the bright side, Saka might come on soon.

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

    Are we permitted to mention Dorgu (15pts) jam/skill?

    Guehi (started), VdB (2nd bench), Dorgu tactically placed on bench at 3rd 😎

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Lady luck behind the candle light

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        For the first time in yearsssss...

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

    United at Arsenal next week, guaranted United hammering Arsenal followed by a remarkable Premier league title for United.

    Carrick at the wheel

    1. The Philosopher
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Singh has spoken!

    2. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Boring comment. Why post obvious guaranteed things?

    3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Check the quantity of greens you are using next time.

  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Sanchez 11pt’er a pleasant surprise considering the rest of team haven’t managed double figures…his place to loose now?

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      He was at Brighton at the same time as Rosenior. I'd be very surprised if he loses his place.

      1. Bluetiger1
        • 3 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        FPL this season possible yes.

        Sanchez is an average Premier league keeper with shot stopping / cannot come out for catches & awful with ball at his feet - nightmare !!!!

        Chelsea need to get a World Class Keeper replacement & should have gone for Mike Maignan (AC Milan Keeper) for £25 million in the summer

        Petrović we sold who is much better for £25 million in the summer - why?

        Kepa Arrizabalaga we sold to Arsenal for £5 million in current climate should have sold for more.

    2. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Bowels or vowels?

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Ha, both....

  5. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Szsoboslai > Bruno the most satisfying transfer I have made this season. Good riddance to the Hungarian Pest.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Lol...

  6. JBG
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Dubravka and Dorgu outscoring Roefs and Cherki(the players I started instead), was not on my bingo card this GW.

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Szobo 0, Foden 1, Thiago and Ekitike 2.

      LeFee 9 rooted to the bench.

  7. Brosstan
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Timber YC and 1 DC... get the f out of my team useless trash

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Yeah but that assist, once every 5 GWs though

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      still 5 points

  8. NABIL - FPL otai
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    O'Reilly & Szobo >> Dorgu & Bruno F (-4)?

    Can't stand them anymore

  9. Assisting the assister
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Best Wolte replacement - it’s time
    A. Thiago
    B. DCL

    1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

    2. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      A

  10. Under my Cucurella
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Thinking ahead to GW23

    A: Roll FT (Cunha VVD > Bruno 5.3 in GW24)
    B: Saka > Bruno
    C: WC
    D: Something else

    Verb
    Gab VVD Collins
    Saka Gordon Wilson Xhaka
    Haaland Watkins Thiago

    Dub Dorgu Cunha Andersen

    1FT 0.5ITB

  11. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 12 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Foden is a fraud
    Haaland is a totem pole
    Pep is out his depth

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      This

    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      I read that Foden is trying for his 4th kid. So...it explains why he's been trash for about 3 months.

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        make that 4 months?

      2. Yes Ndidi
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Explains him having to be pulled off at half time

        1. People in Preston
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 11 days ago

          I got it. LOL.

          1. Yes Ndidi
            • 6 Years
            2 months, 11 days ago

            I'm surprised it passed vetting

  12. Manani
    • 14 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Saka > Rice a no brainer right?

    1. Jam0sh
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Not necessarily

    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      or Palmer or Bruno. But let's be honest, despite Arsenal's position, Saka has been bang average/poor this season in terms of output.

    3. Effe
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      I think it’s a no brainer

    4. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      yes

  13. Iceball
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Give Saka a rest...Dorgu 15 pointer waiting

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      If Saka rests
      I get Foden in so no

  14. Snoop Udogie Dogg
    • 5 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Think Arteta will be happy to settle for the point?

    1. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      No, considering next week will be very tough against a very resurgent Man Utd. Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd.

  15. Gizzachance
    • 11 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Foden owners? Keeping for wolves? Longer term, or getting rid?

    Had him for all his 5 blanks, same from gw 1 with Watkins, rogers, wirtz

    Surely foden a sell soon?

    1. Snoop Udogie Dogg
      • 5 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      waiting to see if he's injured. If OK then I'll hold for next week

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

        Cheers

    2. Ignasi M
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      yup. he's knackered trying for a 4th baby with his chav wife. I bet she's disrupting his sleep. He looks totally out of it.

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

        Yep, dunno if early sub was fatigue! Injury etc as couldn’t catch the early ko

        1. Ignasi M
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 11 days ago

          She's probably jumping on him in the middle of the night. Foden has been trash for 3 months, let's face it.

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

            Ha, done nothing before his purple patch, most got him at start of it cause of fh, then everyone started to get him in, some decent gains made, I got him for his last return!

            City no win in last 4, only scored 2

      2. Make FPL Casual Again
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Sucking the life outa the boy

    3. Baps Hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Selling

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

        Time to rip the plaster off like people did when others blanked for weeks Watkins Roger’s wirtz gyrokes Pedro etc

        Always, oh good fixtures or two coming up, still fails !

  16. Gazzpfc
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Wilson to

    1 Semenyo
    2 Bruno F

    ???

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

    I've got such trash in my team. Bowen, Saka, O'Reilly, Richards, Alderete, Sels have been shocking the last 5 GWs and just derailed my season. I'm not even counting the likes of Foden and Cunha since most had them anyway.

    Only good thing in weeks has been getting rid of Foden this week for Wirtz.

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

      Similar, foden Gordon Vvd vdv lacroix etc

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

        Vvd, Vdv, Lacroix still have had some points trickle in 0 the odd 6 or 8 pointer. Those folk in my team have just exclusively had 1 or 0 pointers.

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

          W/c?

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

            Thinking about it. Next week is not looking good on paper as well.

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

              Same, 24 looks better

              Ml rival used w/c got in double ars def,double Chel def, palmer, bruno, even though he had city ars next

    2. Yes Ndidi
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Alderete can't hurt for the money, and one day he'll outscore Mukiele and make it all worthwhile

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

        Nah, he can't make up for it. Needed him during the festive fixtures with Richards missing and he's just got 1 pointers.

  18. panda07
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Foden is on -220% on livefpl for price changes. Rage transfers everywhere!

    1. NABIL - FPL otai
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Foden to Bruno early? Is it sensible?

      1. panda07
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Enzo and Palmer will also be popular too with those fixtures.

  19. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Here comes Saka

  20. Nightcrawler
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    no idea what arteta sees in gyokeres

    clearly the worst of the 4 options up front

    hopefully the end of his starting run

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

    oof was worried rice was getting subbed there phew

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      You need to go a step further. Wirtz (c)!

  22. wiseguy
    • 4 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Wow Merino on for Odegaard. Arteta really hates Eze eh

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

      does eze win his duels

  23. adstomko
    • 9 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Can someone explain to me why people are selling Guehi vs Wolves at home?

    1. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Probably looking at his Palace fixtures instead lmao

      1. adstomko
        • 9 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        True haha.
        I chose him instead of Chalobah ready for next week.
        Chelsea’s clean sheet was pure luck today

  24. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Thinking I will finally be happy with my team with Chalobah in next week and Munoz the week after i will have this. What would you change? Thiago probably gets benched for some weeks and go 451

    Sanchez

    Gabriel Timber Chalobah Munoz Alderete

    Palmer BrunoF Semenyo Rice Wilson

    Haaland Thiago Barnes

  25. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    I pump over £3000 into Arsenal every season (season ticket, travel, food, accommodation). I need trophy.

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Set piece coaches are pricey these days.

      1. Ignasi M
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        FML

    2. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Ignasi - How many years a Season ticket holder?

      Would like a trophy as every supporter would 'need' a trophy.

      Arsenal have the best squad in the Premier League this season
      & surely will return several trophies this season.

      A chance of quadruple what would be a minimum needed without
      seeming like a failure.

      Premier League Title
      FA Cup
      League Cup
      Champions League

  26. Baps Hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    I am selling Foden and Cunha. Enzo obvious target? Who is the 2nd best option? If I want to have both Bruno and Palmer next week, I have to take -4 because of lacking 0.3 million.

    1) Bruno
    2) Palmer
    3) Semenyo

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

      if can wait maybe ndiaye and bruno?

      1. Baps Hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 11 days ago

        Losing .2 tonight with Foden Cunha and that gives me problems later.

    2. panda07
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      I think Enzo played deep today.

  27. Supersonic_
    • 4 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    Szob missed pen so irritating

    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      Held him for this match with the expectation of a return, he no longer exists in my mind.

  28. Ignasi M
    • 8 Years
    2 months, 11 days ago

    I hate Sean Dyche

    1. Bluetiger1
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 11 days ago

      random - why?

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

    no way how has he saved that!

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

      basically the perfect goal 😥