Dugout Discussion
25 April 2026 260 comments
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After some potentially big relegation battle implications in the 3pm fixtures, attention now turns to the top of the table.

Arsenal will move back to the summit of the Premier League with a draw or win tonight.

The Gunners take on Newcastle United in the 5.30pm BST kick-off.

TEAM NEWS

Mikel Arteta makes just one change to the side that lost to Manchester City last weekend.

It comes at right-back, as Ben White replaces Cristhian Mosquera.

There’s a boost for the Gunners in the shape of Bukayo Saka, who returns to the matchday squad for the first time since March. He’s among the substitutes this evening.

There’s no Riccardo Calafiori, however, despite Arteta saying he too would “probably” be in the squad.

Eddie Howe has been busier, making five alterations.

Bruno Guimaraes starts for the first time since February, having marked his comeback from injury with a Gameweek 33 cameo.

There’s a change between the sticks, too, as Nick Pope replaces Aaron Ramsdale.

Dan Burn, Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy also earn recalls as Lewis Hall, Harvey Barnes and Anthony Elanga drop to the bench.

Tino Livramento, the other player to make way from last weekend, misses out because of a thigh injury.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Eze, Madueke, Havertz.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Trossard, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.

Newcastle United XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, J Murphy, Osula, Willock.

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Wissa, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade, A Murphy, Neave.

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 Arsenal

price change predictions
260 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    7 hours, 27 mins ago

    Rice YC

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 hours, 25 mins ago

      Has been useless for a while (owner)

  2. WVA
    • 9 Years
    7 hours, 26 mins ago

    Very disappointed in myself, gave in to ownership and removed KDH for Wilson last minute!

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 53 mins ago

      I removed him for Xavi.. yesterday.

  3. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    7 hours, 26 mins ago

    Went Saliba over Raya :/

  4. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 25 mins ago

    Raya on 3 baps

    1. mixology
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 hours, 24 mins ago

      On for first double digit haul since GW1

    2. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 24 mins ago

      Gab needs 2 DC more

  5. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 24 mins ago

    Look like I get more points from a FH this week than from 11 dgwers last week 🙂
    Funny old game.

  6. Mr. O'Connell
    • 13 Years
    7 hours, 23 mins ago

    Rice, you legend.

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      7 hours, 22 mins ago

      Legendary tw*t

  7. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 19 mins ago

    lol, Raya couldn’t get rid of that quick enough. Normally he gets a yc for time wasting 😯

  8. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    7 hours, 19 mins ago

    Gyok easy pass come on

    1. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 18 mins ago

      He lacks a lot

    2. JBG
      • 7 Years
      7 hours, 18 mins ago

      Gyokeres and easy XD

  9. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 18 mins ago

    Bps
    Raya (ARS) (31)
    Gabriel (ARS) (28)
    Hincapie (ARS) (26)
    Eze (ARS) (25)
    Saliba (ARS) (24)
    White (ARS) (22)
    Ødegaard (ARS) (17)
    Tonali (NEW) (16)

    Def. Contributions
    Zubimendi (ARS) (15)
    Botman (NEW) (13)
    Burn (NEW) (11)
    Hincapie (ARS) (10)
    Gabriel (ARS) (8)
    Tonali (NEW) (8)
    Ødegaard (ARS) (7)
    J.Ramsey (NEW) (6)

    1. brianutd-why always we? 20
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 15 mins ago

      5 points extra thanks

  10. Sandy Ravage
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 17 mins ago

    Tough GW for FH picks

    1. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      7 hours, 13 mins ago

      62 with Bruno cap to play seems OK to me.

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        7 hours, 12 mins ago

        That's excellent well done

      2. bitm2007
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        7 hours, 9 mins ago

        68 with Bruno, Cunha & Thiago to play.

    2. Royal5
      • 14 Years
      7 hours, 10 mins ago

      How? I’m way above 60

      1. Royal5
        • 14 Years
        7 hours, 9 mins ago

        Most picks did well imo

        1. bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          7 hours, 2 mins ago

          Mixed bag Watkins, Rogers, Salah, Wilson, and to a lesser extent VVD failed, but double arsenal D, Porro, MGW, and Bowen have done the business for me. 19 green arrow with Bruno, Cunha & Thiago to play.

          1. Royal5
            • 14 Years
            6 hours, 59 mins ago

            Yh, Watkins, Solanke, Xavi and Salah failed me. But the rest dis the work. Guess almost everyone have Bruno C, so won’t make a whole lot of difference on monday

    3. Albrightondknight
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      7 hours, 4 mins ago

      72 and Bruno C left

    4. Sandy Ravage
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 58 mins ago

      Well played if you've scored 60+ so far...

    5. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 57 mins ago

      57 with Bruno (c) to go.

      Not great but my rank was 800k 2 GWs ago so currently at 300k.

      1. Albrightondknight
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        6 hours, 55 mins ago

        Sweet

        1. Weasel Boy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 hours, 52 mins ago

          🙂

    6. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      6 hours, 53 mins ago

      Will be criminal if Gabby doesn't get credited with that final defcon - big header near the end

  11. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 16 mins ago

    Poor decision making by Rice

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 15 mins ago

      Again

  12. brianutd-why always we? 20
    • 14 Years
    7 hours, 15 mins ago

    Arsenal top

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 13 mins ago

      Quadruple??

  13. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    7 hours, 14 mins ago

    Should be Gabby defcon

    1. g40steve
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 13 mins ago

      Hope so

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        7 hours, 5 mins ago

        Fantastic performance last night - well done indeed! A little lustre taken off by West Ham and (especially) Spurs winning.

  14. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    7 hours, 14 mins ago

    Is that header a defcon for Gabriel?

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 hours, 14 mins ago

      Hope so

  15. g40steve
    • 8 Years
    7 hours, 14 mins ago

    Any chance Gabs finds another DC?

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      7 hours, 13 mins ago

      He did, big headed clearance near the end

  16. JBG
    • 7 Years
    7 hours, 14 mins ago

    Huge victory that, made it look effortless(ly boring).

  17. Utopsis
    • 6 Years
    7 hours, 13 mins ago

    Well wasn't expecting double digits from Raya

  18. SM001
    • 10 Years
    7 hours, 12 mins ago

    Lol! at everyone desperate for defcons. Bring in Ball Recoveries like they have in UCL Fantasy and then it will be interesting and more fun.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      7 hours, 12 mins ago

      I agree

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      7 hours, 8 mins ago

      Yes for this.

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 hours, 59 mins ago

      This

  19. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 hours, 12 mins ago

    Victory for Arsenal!

    4 more playoffs left against Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Palace. Each leg must be won whilst also scoring more goals than Man City over the same period.

  20. Feloh
    • 9 Years
    7 hours, 12 mins ago

    I hope FPL towers give Saliba a BAP too. Eze misses out on an easy 8 to 10 pointer due to injury.

  21. el polako
    • 8 Years
    7 hours, 12 mins ago

    God they’re bricking it.
    Fans looked terrified the whole game.
    Pathetic.

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      7 hours, 11 mins ago

      Pathetic to feel the pressure and want to win? Get a grip

      1. el polako
        • 8 Years
        7 hours, 9 mins ago

        Pathetic as in they don’t carry themselves as potential champions.
        No confidence.
        No swagger.
        Just scared.

        1. Utopsis
          • 6 Years
          7 hours, 3 mins ago

          If you've been in their situation, you would understand it better. The pressure is immense - you only carry yourself with confidence if you've got the experience of going all the way before.

          They haven't, so they can be forgiven.

        2. GREEN JUMPERS
          • 5 Years
          6 hours, 59 mins ago

          It’s all about the most points, isn’t it. Of course it’s a bit tense

    2. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      7 hours, 9 mins ago

      You’d get it if you were a real fan

    3. tuturututu
      • 5 Years
      7 hours, 5 mins ago

      How long they've been waiting for a title? I'd be s*itting bricks if I was them ws well, looking at Pep's side and their form

  22. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    7 hours, 6 mins ago

    As I’m having to make up ground I was either going without Arsenal defence or treble defence on FH as I figured most would have double

    I didn’t go treble…

    1. JBG
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 57 mins ago

      I would've opted for the whole backline on a FH. Without even doubting

  23. Old Wulfrunian
    • 9 Years
    7 hours, 5 mins ago

    Trying to find a better gk than Freehitter's Raya was a big mistake.

    1. Utopsis
      • 6 Years
      6 hours, 58 mins ago

      Going differential doesn't pay off very often unfortunately

  24. tim
    • 16 Years
    7 hours, 4 mins ago

    Have TC left, when to use it?

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      7 hours, 1 min ago

      Gw36 I think

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      7 hours ago

      GW36 likely to be a double for City & Palace .

    3. tim
      • 16 Years
      6 hours, 56 mins ago

      Many thanks!

    4. JBG
      • 7 Years
      6 hours, 55 mins ago

      Keep it, maybe you'll have 3 next season

  25. _Ninja_
    • 15 Years
    6 hours, 54 mins ago

    60 with Bruno C and Cunha to go on FH

    Better than expected

  26. Utopsis
    • 6 Years
    6 hours, 53 mins ago

    Will be criminal if Gabby doesn't get credited with that final defcon - big header near the end

    1. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      6 hours, 52 mins ago

      Is it that important?

      1. Utopsis
        • 6 Years
        6 hours, 51 mins ago

        I know everybody has him, but I just want more points 🙂

        1. Moon Dog
            6 hours, 41 mins ago

            Same. He's my VC if Bruno vanishes.

            But maybe they removed 1 from earlier before adding the final header. Saying on 9 might not mean it wasn't counted.

            1. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              6 hours, 35 mins ago

              Very true

          • Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            6 hours, 38 mins ago

            Not those who didn’t have FH don’t, about half my ML lol

            1. Utopsis
              • 6 Years
              6 hours, 35 mins ago

              Fingers crossed then!

    2. bitm2007
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      6 hours, 52 mins ago

      So City now have two fixtures that need rearranging so will almost certainly double in GW36 against either Palace or Bournemouth, with the other played as a SGW in the midweek of GW37.

    3. Babit1967
      • 9 Years
      6 hours, 44 mins ago

      Really need Mbeumo to show up and do something for a change.

      1. Traction Engine Foot
        • 8 Years
        6 hours, 43 mins ago

        That would be nice. I don't have high hopes though!

    4. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 12 Years
      6 hours, 41 mins ago

      I presume you all have the Raya/Gabriel double up?

      1. Scapegoat Salah
        • 9 Years
        6 hours, 39 mins ago

        Aye

      2. yousunkmybattleship
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        6 hours, 35 mins ago

        Yes and Saliba

    5. Scapegoat Salah
      • 9 Years
      6 hours, 39 mins ago

      In the event the league goes to a play off to decide champion, would it be played at a neutral venue do we know?

      1. Moon Dog
          6 hours, 37 mins ago

          Surely neutral.

          But I doubt it will ever happen. Too unlikely to have exact goal difference, goals scored, H2H record etc...

          1. Scapegoat Salah
            • 9 Years
            6 hours, 35 mins ago

            Thanks that’s I thought, I read it’s happened in other leagues tbf just never prem

        • bitm2007
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          6 hours, 9 mins ago

          Can't go to a play-off. City would win on head to head if points and goal diffs are identical