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Brentford v Arsenal team news: Saliba out, Saka a sub

12 February 2026 860 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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Arsenal’s Double Gameweek 26 kicks off with a trip to Brentford this evening.

The match in west London gets underway at 20:00 GMT.

TEAM NEWS

Post-deadline news broke of Kai Havertz being unavailable for Double Gameweek 26 but there’s another unexpected absentee for the Gunners tonight.

William Saliba is absent from the visitors’ matchday squad due to illness, so in comes Cristhian Mosquera at centre-half.

Eberechi Eze is in for Havertz.

The other two alterations see Piero Hincapie oust Riccardo Calafiori at left-back and Viktor Gyokeres return to the starting XI at the expense of Gabriel Jesus.

Despite hobbling off in the closing stages of the win over Sunderland, Leandro Trossard is passed fit to start.

Also back from injury and on the bench, sooner than expected in one case, are Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

As for the Bees, there’s just one change.

Yehor Yarmoliuk replaces Jordan Henderson in midfield, with the veteran England international dropping to the bench.

Kevin Schade and Reiss Nelson are suspended and ineligible respectively for tonight’s encounter.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Madueke, Eze, Trossard, Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, White, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saka, Jesus.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, van den Berg, Henry, Janelt, Yarmoliuk, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Thiago, Ouattara.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Pinnock, Henderson, Collins, Damsgaard, Donovan, Furo, Bentt.

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:

price change predictions
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  1. People in Preston
    • 15 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    Play up Pompey!

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  2. threeputt
    • 16 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    Bet I'm second !

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    1. threeputt
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      yay !

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      1. Gazwaz80
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Join the club 😀

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  3. Amartey Partey
    • 6 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    Let's go Gabriel!

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  4. BOATIES FC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    Not the best start for my VVD to Saliba move this week...

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    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      *hugs*

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      1. Gazwaz80
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        You’re such a huggy guy 😀

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        1. Sun God Nika
          • 5 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          I needed it 🙂

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        2. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Hopefully lifts a few spirits 🙂

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        3. AC/DC AFC
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          I've just heard on the radio that's it's international hugs day!

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    2. Wengers Apprentice
      • 3 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I’m looking forward to my Richards haul off the bench … oh wait! 🙁

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      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Saliba should be fine for the Wolves game in a week, I'd assume

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    3. OverTinker
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Ohhh

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  5. Ze_Austin
    • 7 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    Rice Timber to (C)Palmer Mings (bench for Hill/Mukiele)?

    A) Yes
    B) Step away from the transfers page

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    1. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      For -4

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      1. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Oh, no, I wouldn't for a hit.

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    2. Amartey Partey
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      A. Yeah, why not? Risky, but could pay off easily.

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      1. RamaJama
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Tempted to do it for free and shift Pope to Kelleher, but do we dare to go with only Gab from ars?

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        1. Amartey Partey
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          True. Arsenal could easily smash Spurs.

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        2. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          That's the risk. Betting against the DGW26 template for GWs 27 to 29

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    3. Gazwaz80
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Mings a tad kneejerky?

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      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Would be 3rd sub behind Thiago and Mukiele/Hill

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    4. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I wouldn’t

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    5. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      No surely

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    6. Ze_Austin
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Cheers everyone

      Stepping away from the page for now. Crazy how I'm torn between BB and -4

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    7. OverTinker
      • 7 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I am thinking a similar move for Free but not sure

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    8. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      B

      Arsenal have 3 matches before the next Gw.

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  6. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    2 months, 6 days ago

    If you had this team, 3 FTs and 1.5 in the bank, where would you start to make the team great again?

    Dubravka
    Gabriel, Timber, Chalobah
    Rice, Bruno F, Rogers, Enzo, Wilson
    Haaland, Etikite
    Pope, Wilson, Senesi, Rodon, Mane

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    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Sorry, 1 too much Wilson on the bench

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    2. Amartey Partey
      • 6 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I'd start with a new keeper.

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      1. Ze_Austin
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Yup. Choosing between Pope and Dubravka each GW isn't worth it for 1 vs 2 points

        Wilson Senesi Pope to Semenyo Hill Kelleher possible?

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        1. Amartey Partey
          • 6 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Agreed. Get in Semenyo. He could easily haul at home to Newcastle.

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        2. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Absolutely, would have 0.6 left in the bank. Could also do the crazy move of Timber, Rice, Pope to Kelleher, Palmer, Hill

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          1. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Would much rather lose Senesi than Timber. You don't have a good 3rd defender after Chalobah faces Burnley

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          2. RamaJama
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 13 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Is Timber, Rice, Enzo, Pope to Kelleher, Palmer, Hill, Semenyo worth -4?

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            1. Ze_Austin
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Enzo vs Burnley makes this an automatic no

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              1. RamaJama
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Could keep Enzo and get Semenyo for free next gw

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                1. Ze_Austin
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 6 days ago

                  Could be gold

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          3. I have no Wirtz
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Why not. Also you would be ready for gw31

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        3. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Cheers!

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      2. Pep Roulette
        • 8 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        That's a good team. I'd downgrade Pope to Kelleher this week. Then save other FTs to transfer out Enzo & Chalobah next week.

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        1. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Cheers!

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        2. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          This

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        3. RamaJama
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Cheers

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      3. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Get Semenyo and maybe Thiago.

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    3. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I’m on 17 points, did not captain Gabriel and own Saliba

      I might be on a gameweek rank that hasn’t been invented after this

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      1. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        That is rough.

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      2. Magic Zico
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Oh dear, just bring the next GW on I guess

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        1. Qaiss
          • 10 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Season

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          1. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Hobby

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      3. riot
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        could be generational with dead teams reaping salah, vvd, palmer, and semenyo points

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    4. Sir Michael Taker
      • 11 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I didn't see flu season given as a reason to save the TC. We don't think deep enough about this game lol. Hopefully they are all washing their hands and all that jazz or Saliba wont be the last casualty this double gw

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      1. Feanor
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Would actually be useful to know which players have young children at home, cause that increases your chance of getting sick by a lot

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      2. brianutd-why always we? 20
        • 14 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        I choose Gabriel as he’s fit and nailed with DGW. Can’t risk holding TC for someone else who might be injured before the DGW or many other combinations of absences.

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

      saka back makes madueke punt look even worse after the 1 pointer last week.

      constant red arrows make u take weird punts youd never otherwise go for. rice over madueke was the sensible move even before saka recovered

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    6. Feanor
      • 16 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Can't believe I started those useless frauds Senesi and Tarkowski over Thiago

      Even if Thiago gets 2 points it would be more fun having him in play

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      1. Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Easy to say with hindsight. I started Mukiele over Thiago, and on another day he could have had a CS, defcons, and an attacking return. He was unlucky.

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    7. GREEN IS GOOD
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I anticipate plenty of gloating tonight, depending on what happens

      Pray to the FPL gods that you are the gloater, not the gloatee

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      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        This. Amen

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    8. Supersonic_
      • 4 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Shipped Hincapie-4 to get Gykores

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    9. RealSocialDads
      • 9 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Amazingly think I'm on a red arrow in almost all situations tonight, with:

      Gabriel
      Timber
      Rice (c)

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      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Nah I'm on Gab (c) and that's pretty much guaranteed nothing.

        Rice at least can get you points against the template if he gets a return.

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      2. Mr. O'Connell
        • 13 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Better than me. Have Raya instead of Timber. 1-1 with Raya goal and pen save with Timber OG would be sweet.

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    10. Pep Roulette
      • 8 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      I have triple Arsenal defence and I'm 300% sure they're conceding tonight

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      1. OverTinker
        • 7 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Most have double arsenal defense so calm down bro

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        1. Pep Roulette
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          I also have Gabriel(TC) bro. That's 5×Arsenal defence. So I can't calm down tonight.

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    11. Athletico Timbo
      • 2 Years
      2 months, 6 days ago

      Does anyone know where the Saliba leak came from?

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

        Random rumours on X earlier today

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      2. Sheffield Wednesday
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Is it a 'leak' in FPL terms if it occurs after the deadline? Anyway this was posted on Reddit a couple of hours ago by Arsenal stalkers

        https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comments/1r2zdc3/saliba_not_spotted_in_arsenals_walk_today/

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        1. OverTinker
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          The guy could be good for future leaks

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          1. Sheffield Wednesday
            • 5 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Looking at their comments I don't think they were the source, just the first to share it on Reddit.

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    12. I have no Wirtz
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Collins on the bench again. What gives?

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        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Replacement played to well to be dropped

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          1. Ze_Austin
            • 7 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            *too well

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      • OneTeamInBristol
        • 2 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Garner to
        A) Rayan
        B) Dango

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        1. Pep Roulette
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Tough one! B is set and forget!

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      • Stranger Mings
        • 5 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Raya timber gabriel tc ! I am worried

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        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          This is their tougher game of the two. Saliba should be back vs Wolves

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      • Cheeky Reijnders
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        C'mon on the Bees!!

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        1. Mr. O'Connell
          • 13 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          UTB. Triple Arsenal here, but whether they blank or haul is completely irrelevant.

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        2. Boxwoods
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Nice username.

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      • FFS ManU
        • 3 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        No Saliba, FFS - need a Kelleher haul to compensate. 🙂

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      • Amartey Partey
        • 6 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Did anyone else TC Gabriel, or just me?

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        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          o/

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        2. keefy59
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Seriously ?
          This is going to be a very long post
          Add me to the list

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        3. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Just C, but seeing all the arguments for TC made me realise I should cap him more often. The consistency and PPM, etc

          Might cap him vs Everton

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        4. Feanor
          • 16 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          He's at 200% EO top 10K

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        5. ViperStripes
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Bingo here

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        6. Lahm and Lallanas Llama
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          That's a bingo

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        7. Sheffield Wednesday
          • 5 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Whatever happens there will be people stating it was obvious to TC Gabriel the most consistent performer/ to not TC a defender.

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      • ViperStripes
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 months, 6 days ago

        Got Zubimendi - fingers cross he outscores Rice. Based decision on last 2 GW's his stats better than Rice with Saka out. And at 5.2m he's not an urgent transfer out to release any funds for next transfer.

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        1. Ze_Austin
          • 7 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Start him vs Spurs though

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        2. I have no Wirtz
            2 months, 6 days ago

            I got both Rice and Zubi!

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        3. Gizzachance
          • 11 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Ml rival cap saliba

          Win/cs rate drops from 60% plus
          To 40% or something

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        4. Babit1967
          • 9 Years
          2 months, 6 days ago

          Double defence here and I’m rooting for Thiago goals as my rivals have either tc or triple arsenal defence

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          1. Sir Michael Taker
            • 11 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            I'm rooting for goals anyway. This captaining a centre back malarky is just not fun. At least the big at the back days had marauding full backs not just lumps of meat to stand on the keepers toes at corners and hope he drops it onto you into the net

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        5. I have no Wirtz
            2 months, 6 days ago

            How does this look for gw27? Worth a hit?

            Collins(permabench) Rice(tot) Watkins(LEE) > Mukiele(FUL) Palmer(BUR) Thiago(BHA)

            Y or N

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            1. Ze_Austin
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Prefer Hill's fixtures to Mukiele's, to really get paid back on that hit

              Thiago vs Brighton isn't a hit-worthy buy, imo. Brighton aren't leaky enough

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          • tiger
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            2 months, 6 days ago

            Time of Brentford goal?

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            1. I have no Wirtz
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Min 37

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              • RICICLE
                • 3 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                17 mins

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              • tiger
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                I'm gonna say 61 mins

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              • Jafooli
                • 14 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                94 mins….for max pain

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                1. tiger
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 14 Years
                  2 months, 6 days ago

                  It's the FPL way

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            2. Jafooli
              • 14 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              All of us with him on our bench, when Thiago scores, we’re gonna lose our sh1tt…

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              1. mixology
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 13 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Typical DGW fashion for Jose Sa to be leading scorer

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            3. OverTinker
              • 7 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Chance of Arsenal CS has gone down from 45% to 37%

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              1. Sir Michael Taker
                • 11 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                I thought it was lower than that anyway with robt

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                1. OverTinker
                  • 7 Years
                  2 months, 6 days ago

                  Relax I calculated it using my Overthinking AI model

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              2. AC/DC AFC
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                2 months, 6 days ago

                Brand new back 4 I think

                All playing together

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            4. AC/DC AFC
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Anyone without the subs can watch on Camel Live on a browser.

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            5. Jafooli
              • 14 Years
              2 months, 6 days ago

              Arsenal borrowing Everton’s kit…

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