Dugout Discussion
21 August 2026 882 comments
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It’s finally here.

Champions Arsenal get the 2026/27 Premier League season underway against new boys Coventry City.

Kick-off is at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber remain out for Arsenal.

Bruno Guimaraes is also on the sidelines. He came off injured at half-time in Sunday’s Community Shield.

Declan Rice subsequently starts in central midfield, while Bukayo Saka, late back from World Cup duty, also comes into the starting XI.

They replace Guimaraes and the benched Noni Madueke, in Arsenal’s only two alterations from last weekend’s win over Manchester City.

Kai Havertz is again preferred to Viktor Gyokeres up top.

New arrival Christos Tzolis, owned by 25.0% of FPL squads, starts off the left.

As for Coventry City, they include five new players in their starting lineup: Carl Rushworth, who was on loan last season, along with Aurele Amenda, Frank Onyeka, Caleb Yirenkyi and Loum Tchaouna.

Fellow new arrivals Gustavo Hamer and Taiwo Awoniyi are both on the bench.

Ellis Simms spearheads the Coventry attack.

LINE-UPS

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Tzolis, Havertz

Subs: Kepa, Hincapie, Eze, Gyokeres, Madueke, Nwaneri, Merino, Zubimendi, Dowman

Coventry City XI: Rushworth, van Ewijk, Thomas, Amenda, Dasilva, Onyeka, Yirenkyi, Grimes, Tchaouna, Thomas-Asante, Simms

Subs: Wilson, Rudoni, Sakamoto, Awoniyi, Kitching, Latibeaudiere, Eccles, Torp, Hamer


882 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Total Slotball
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Elite 64 League link?

  2. FPL_trail_runner
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Saka (C)! Nice to have a week 1 return.

  3. AllArnaut
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Not sure he’ll get that assist. Hopefully

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      It's been given already

      1. RICICLE
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Has it?

        1. Feanor
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Christsake, just go on twitter and look at the official FPL account

    2. Feanor
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Can we have fewer silly comments this season? It was 100% an assist and given almost immediately

  4. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Arsenal up to 50% PL odds on Polymarket, was 37% at the start of the month
    Hard to look past them!

  5. Zoostation
    2 months, 1 day ago

    No assist for Tzolis?

    1. tutankamun
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Yes. Given

      1. The Tinkerman
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Not in the game currently

        1. The Tinkerman
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Nevermind, just appeared a min or so after the goal points for Saka were added

        2. tutankamun
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Yes it is

        3. Feanor
          2 months, 1 day ago

          yes it is

  6. Hantakun
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Could somebody remind me ... What's the principle with assist situations like this where a defender/GK touches the ball but does not control it? Would the assist have men given 4-5 seasons ago?

    1. SINGH
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Bro forget looking at the past, look to the future

      1. Hantakun
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Good life advice mate ☺️

    2. Raoul Nogues
      2 months, 1 day ago

      I think it is more restricted than before.... the ball has to be meant towards the effective goal scorer

      1. Feanor
        2 months, 1 day ago

        When an assist is awarded for a pass

        An assist is awarded for a pass when:

        The pass goes directly to the goalscorer.

        The pass is received by the goalscorer inside the penalty area after no more than one defensive touch. The intended recipient of the pass does not matter.

        The pass is received by the goalscorer outside the penalty area after no more than one defensive touch, and the pass is deemed to have been intended for the goalscorer.

      2. Hantakun
        2 months, 1 day ago

        I thought it was the other way around ... that they have tried to give assists based on intent rather than strictly last touch before the finish in order to reward the player who creted the situation. But I could very well be wrong

    3. Utopsis
      2 months, 1 day ago

      FPL rule for assist : The pass is received by the goalscorer inside the penalty area after no more than one defensive touch. The intended recipient of the pass does not matter.

      1. Hantakun
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Thanks!

  7. Pariße
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Those leaks came out too late.

  8. Bobby Digital
    2 months, 1 day ago

    How is that not an assist?

    1. tutankamun
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Given obviously

    2. Feanor
      2 months, 1 day ago

      FPL already gave it. What are you talking about?

      1. Bobby Digital
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Yeah had to refresh, it's showing now.

  9. SM001
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Calafiori to bring home the defcons?

  10. thegaffer82
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Damn right that’s an assist for the Greekman. Intended target n’ all that

    1. Utopsis
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Intended target is irrelevant if the pass/cross was in the box, just checked the rules lol

  11. jungle
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Not sure about adding the BAPS during the game - rather just get them at the end....

    1. thegaffer82
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Defo this. The Bap system is too volatile

  12. Gudjohnsen
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Tzolis assist or not?

    1. JBG
      2 months, 1 day ago

      No, yes, maybe, yes, no

    2. tutankamun
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Yes

    3. Feanor
      2 months, 1 day ago

      If you need to know ASAP just go here

      https://x.com/OfficialFPL

      Fantasy Premier League
      @OfficialFPL
      5m

      Goal - SAKA
      Assist - TZOLIS

      Arsenal 2-0 Coventry (23 mins)

      #FPL #ARSCOV

  13. jacob1989
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Got tzolis as c in challenge and in main team too but not c

    1. FPL_trail_runner
      2 months, 1 day ago

      He looks great, and this as a Saka (c) who sold Tzolis for Saka, could be a nice cheap entry point for Arsenal attack this season.

      1. jacob1989
        2 months, 1 day ago

        So u sacrificed bruno or Haaland? Difficult to get saka at his price

        1. FPL_trail_runner
          2 months, 1 day ago

          I was always no Haaland, and flipped Mbuemo for one week to get Saka captain. Always fancied an Arsenal attacker as this weeks best captain.

  14. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Calafiori now out of the early baps

  15. Jafooli
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Live points changing with every kick lol…imagine when there’s four or five games on…

    1. Hantakun
      2 months, 1 day ago

      FPL Towers been throwing greedy looks at the weekly traffic to LiveFPL.net

  16. Dank Squid
    2 months, 1 day ago

    As an early Saka owner, just when he nailed that RW spot years ago, I hope he stops fearing pens. That miss, the Euro final, is still a burden. Breathe, be the player you can be, believe

    1. Utopsis
      2 months, 1 day ago

      I don't think Bukayo Saka can be accused of lacking belief

      1. Dank Squid
        2 months, 1 day ago

        KDB was the greatest midfielder 2019-2021, perfect flow in open play and also great FKs, but he also feared penalties. It's a bit weird, but real, for some players

        1. The Suspended One
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          2 months, 1 day ago

          greatest passing midfielder

          different

          1. Dank Squid
            2 months, 1 day ago

            Exactly. Passing, supporting role, not in the spotlight. Haalands/Brunos and pens are different

        2. SINGH
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Saka fears pens? This the guy that tried to panenka courtois in bernabeu. Lol pens are not a fear for saka

          1. Dank Squid
            2 months, 1 day ago

            He'll take the pen if others say no, amazing team player, but will happily say no if someone else steps up

    2. FPL_trail_runner
      2 months, 1 day ago

      One of my fav Fpl players, i always back him when he starts at home. My captain today, so hoping one more return to drive home a nice start on my triple up.

  17. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Sorry

    17 points

    The league table may not count till Christmas then Easter

    But in fantasy land it's day to day and week to week

    Btw, sort of joking!

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      **make that 12

      As it stands

      Live FPL projecting current bonus points

  18. Voronins Pony Tail
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Why did I see Cala on 6pts and now back to 4??

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      4 is correct

    2. SM001
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Live bonus points

      1. Voronins Pony Tail
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Ah right, is that a thing now?

        If so, I hate it.

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Didn’t realise this either.

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        2 months, 1 day ago

        This

        Live FPL updates quicker but assumes BPS stands

    3. Jafooli
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Live bap updates are changing every minute, it’s a bit mad lol…

      1. Voronins Pony Tail
        2 months, 1 day ago

        That’s mental!

        1. Jafooli
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Yep, gonna be chaotic, but bit like a drug, can’t stop watching , rather than following the game

      2. AC/DC AFC
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Calibrating

        Gotta load 9 million teams too

        On a DIY system that beats most official purchasing power

    4. g40steve
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Live bonus

    5. Count of Monte Hristo
      2 months, 1 day ago

      2 bonus added for the assist then bonus awarded to other players (Saka/Havertz/Tzolis)

    6. Pino
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Its updating live with bonus points included. Since Tzolis had a assist and with BPS Calafiori drops to 4p.

  19. Zoostation
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Thinking there will be a few triple captains used in GW3

    1. Feanor
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Semenyo hat trick loading

  20. JT11fc
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Anyone else own Havertz Saka and Calafiori? Hehe

  21. L'Aeroplanino
    2 months, 1 day ago

    odegaard allergic to shooting

  22. chocolove
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Into 1M rankat the moment

    1. Jafooli
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Where can we see live rank lol?

      1. Jafooli
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Just seen ha…

      2. chocolove
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Usual place, points tab

  23. pundit of punts
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Haaland + NOR + Semenyo a must in GW 3 by the looks of it.

    Plenty of chips will be played.

    1. JBG
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Have 2 already

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      The big content creators like Andy and BigManBakar have planned a chip for then

  24. FPL Blow-In
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Like the charity shield, Tzolis and Cala are going to link up regularly. Already look like they’re striking up a good partnership

  25. PartyTime
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Just need a Raya screamer

  26. FPL_trail_runner
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Currently ranked 23,000 in the world , LOL.

  27. jacob1989
    2 months, 1 day ago

    8m gabriel no defcons yet?

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Doubt any Arsenal player will get them this game. Would mean Coventry having possession

      1. tutankamun
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Calafiori on 4

    2. Royal5
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Can’t really expect a lot of defcons vs Coventry?

    3. Feanor
      2 months, 1 day ago

      They're playing Coventry

  28. FPL_trail_runner
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Tzolis and Saka are making lots of central runs into the space Havertz vacates, like Mane and Salah used to do with Firmino, early days but Arsenal look to be far more fluid and like 22-23 again.

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Tzolis' movement is really good. Intelligent guy. Arsenal may have got a bargain.

      1. FPL_trail_runner
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Yep, really like the look of him. Excellent so far.

    2. SINGH
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Yup, arteta has won the league so no need now to be cautious.

  29. The Tinkerman
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Tzolis takes up exceptional positions, looks broken for 6.5m. No idea why Arsenal looking for another LW that might disrupt his starts.

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      White getting into great positions too

  30. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Gab YC

    1. FPL Blow-In
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Ffs that’s soft

      1. FPL Blow-In
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Need a goal now Gab

      2. Feanor
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Refs probably got told to be harsh to start the season

      3. tutankamun
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Pulled him back. Straight forward yellow.

        1. FPL Blow-In
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Rice just gave away a foul for a more blatant pull. The fact it was edge of the box was more likely the reason

          1. FPL Blow-In
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            2 months, 1 day ago

            I.e player was passed him and into a good position so he was ruining a good chance

      4. Paganoi
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Yeah that was ridiculous.

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      one more...