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. Zoostation
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Odegaard and Tzolis owners congrats

  2. Twisted Saltergater
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    6.5m. That is all.

    1. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Proper value that

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

    Every Arsenal pick returning. We’re all safe 😎

    Bar Gabriel

    1. g40steve
      2 months, 1 day ago

      He’s got a YC if that counts

      1. Calafiornication
        2 months, 1 day ago

        😀

        1. Mother Farke
          2 months, 1 day ago

          About that Odegaard, lad...

  4. x.jim.x
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Sky popping up “second goal this season” for Odegaard

    They are so so shameless

    1. jacob1989
      2 months, 1 day ago

      They are correct

      1. x.jim.x
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Mbeumo already smashing the Golden Boot then if we’re counting friendlies

        1. jacob1989
          2 months, 1 day ago

          As usual, only PL counts for u.. nothing else is football according to u.

          1. x.jim.x
            2 months, 1 day ago

            Friendlies are not real football, correct

            1. jacob1989
              2 months, 1 day ago

              Then why arsenal players held trophy and celebrate? Its not winning fa cup or league but its s minor trophy.

              1. x.jim.x
                2 months, 1 day ago

                Can’t believe United didn’t put a parade on for the Boyle Sports Cup we won a few weeks ago!!

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

    White was in one of giraffes

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

      one of my giraffes*

      1. lilmessipran
        2 months, 1 day ago

        How many giraffes do you have?

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

          Landed on one.

          The others were destroyed.

      2. lilmessipran
        2 months, 1 day ago

        More importantly, what was White doing inside one of them?

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

          He’s got some neck

  6. g40steve
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Coventry keeper welcome to the premier league

  7. FantasyTony
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Fat Frank first manager to go. These guys can’t defend.

  8. Gizzachance
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Cal white tali’s going ok so far, need cs to stick now

  9. Haalander
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Just waiting on califiori show b now on the 59th min

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

    Sweating about Rushworth and Van Ewick starting gw2 for my BB now…

    1. TheBiffas
      2 months, 1 day ago

      They'll both start, but not confident in a CS anymore

    2. fantasyfog
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Snap

  11. Jafooli
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Tzolis out the baps now…

    1. MIGHTY JOE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Delight!

  12. Nutmeg Ninja
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    First Arsenal player to 2 returns?

    1. Warby84
      2 months, 1 day ago

      White

  13. x.jim.x
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Some people tripled up on this rabble at the expense of Haaland or Bruno

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

      Wait until you see Hull

      1. x.jim.x
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Poo vs pee

  14. g40steve
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Can IT sort the site so when you post you don’t have all the errors rubbish & need to refresh to see original post.

    IOS iPad terrible

    1. TheBiffas
      2 months, 1 day ago

      They've been "sorting it" for months

      1. g40steve
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Need to get it fixed, its 2026 not 2006

  15. Make FPL Casual Again
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Not bad not bad...3 ars 3 assists

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      2 assists and a goal ... dreamland.

      1. Make FPL Casual Again
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Plenty of time

    2. Warby84
      2 months, 1 day ago

      3 assists and hopefully 2 cleanies

      1. Make FPL Casual Again
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Sure...plus baps

  16. jacob1989
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Well having only 2 arsenal was insufficient.

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

      Could have told you that

      1. jacob1989
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Yeah next 4 not great fixtures so played more medium term. Don't want early wc

        1. Calafiornication
          2 months, 1 day ago

          Same

  17. pundit of punts
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Coventry all over the place

  18. WVA
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Got rinsed on here for picking Odegaard!

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

      Most of the comments about Odegaard I saw on here said he was a good pick?

    2. TheBiffas
      2 months, 1 day ago

      A fluke goal does not = a good pick. Tzolis is leagues better

    3. Salarrivederci
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Not by me 😉

  19. pundit of punts
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Who’ll Arteta sub out first?

    Saka I think

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

      Saka and Rice would make sense to “take care of them”

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

        😎

    2. The Tinkerman
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Watch it be white on 59 mins

    3. Royal5
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Saka

    4. Nutmeg Ninja
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Gabriel would be funny...

  20. Nutmeg Ninja
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Was that Odegaard's knucklepuck?

  21. Royal5
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Raya will find a way to mess this CS up surely?

  22. Dank Squid
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Odegaard, "ode to a guard". Arteta finally removed the shackles? Movement looks free/direct

    1. Royal5
      2 months, 1 day ago

      True. Maybe he watched him in the world cup

  23. Zimo
    2 months, 1 day ago

    I hate myself letting FOMO sway me from White & Wirtz to Ballard & Mbeumo.

    1. Royal5
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Wirtz is shiteee

      1. Zimo
        2 months, 1 day ago

        White on a haul tho

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

      I moved White/Szobo to Shaw/Semenyo.

      I'm still holding out hope for Semenyo hauls over the next 3. I mean he plays Coventry in GW3...

    3. Dank Squid
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Ballard and Mbeumo haven't even played yet, and also - never hate yourself, regardless of the Fantasy outcome

      1. Zimo
        2 months, 1 day ago

        Thankyou for that. You're right.

  24. JBG
    2 months, 1 day ago

    Holy fck Kai and Ødegaard... ruined a great opportunity for Tzolis

  25. Nutmeg Ninja
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    CALAFIORI MADE IT TO 60'!!!!

    1. Gizzachance
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Yeah !

    2. Three Pints of Schlager
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      2 months, 1 day ago

      OMG

    3. Calafiornication
      2 months, 1 day ago

      Yeeeees

  26. Raoul Nogues
    2 months, 1 day ago

    No hour mark substitution

  27. g40steve
    2 months, 1 day ago

    60 m

  28. Tigers Time
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    2 months, 1 day ago

    60 mins just gone yeah

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

    Ben White loves an overlap

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

    60
    Mins
    Threshold
    Passed!