Dugout Discussion

Mkhitaryan benched as Lacazette gets his first start of the season

The first of three matches this afternoon kicks off at 13:30 BST, as Cardiff City entertain Arsenal.

The visitors’ starting XI represents bad news for those who own the most in-demand FPL player on show in South Wales: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (£7.2m) is only among the substitutes this afternoon. The Armenian features in more than one in five Fantasy squads and was the only Arsenal midfielder or forward to have played all 270 minutes of Premier League action this season.

Mkhitaryan recorded a goal, an assist and two bonus points in his side’s previous away league fixture at Chelsea in Gameweek 2.

Despite a tumble in ownership after three matches without an attacking return, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) is actually the fourth-most-popular captaincy choice of Gameweek 4 – though that only equates to just over 3% of all FPL managers.

Over 148,000 managers lost faith with the Gabonese striker this week and cashed in on his premium price tag.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) gets his first start of the season today, which presumably means Aubameyang will move out to the left flank to accommodate the Frenchman. Mesut Ozil (£8.3m) returns from illness to take Mkhitaryan’s place, with Alex Iwobi (£5.5m) also dropping out.

The hosts have registered two clean sheets in as many matches, with Neil Etheridge (£4.6m) currently the highest-scoring goalkeeper in Fantasy Premier League following those back-to-back shut-outs and a brace of penalty saves.

The Philippines international is also the most-owned City player in FPL, sitting in over 6% of our squads.

There is further disappointment for those hoping for a start for Lee Peltier (£4.0m) – the Bluebirds’ most-owned outfield player – who is only among the substitutes this afternoon.

Neil Warnock has made three changes to his side, all in attack: Bobby Reid (£5.4m), Danny Ward (£4.5m) and the fit-again Junior Hoilett (£5.3m) come into the starting XI.

Cardiff City XI (4-4-2): Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Camarasa, Arter, Ralls, Hoilett; Reid, Ward.

Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Cech; Bellerin, Monreal, Mustafi, Sokratis; Ramsey, Xhaka, Guendouzi; Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

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2,514 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Arsenal forwards doing what we would expect from this fixture run. Forget the first few games - Auba and Laca will return well this month.

    Mkhi only owner.

    1. NATSTER
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      It's probably time to bye bye Mkhi

  2. NATSTER
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Welbeck for Ozil. No Mkhi probably.

  3. tvz32
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I think Laca has done enough to secure his start. Question is who is going to be sacrificed? Will it be Mkhi?

  4. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Have Ings on the bench but no Micky, do I still get Ings 8pts if Micky doesn’t come on?

    1. Mo Mané Mo Problems
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Nope

    2. Lord Flashheart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      yes, but from last week

    3. Richd
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      🙂

    4. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Only if you started AWB

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Which I did 😎

  5. Pariße
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Just sold Laca for Mitro, I have the points tho 🙂

  6. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Leichsteiner will be last sub

  7. My Name Is Pepu
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Welbeck on.

    Still no Mkhitaryan, are you nuts or something Emery!!

  8. Desperately Seeking Dusan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    I’m glad for David Munday (assuming he kept faith with Lacazette)

    1. mir
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I don't think he did

      1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Now that would be a kick in the nads. No wonder he’s never finished better than 150k.

  9. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    My 3-5-2 strategy with mainly 6.5-7M mids turned out to be a disaster

    1. Scholes Out For Summer
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      I had the same strategy and went pretty well for me...

      Had Richa + Pedro + Bilva

  10. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Yessss, no Mhki yet

    1. Dannyb
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Jinxed it, well done

      1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        🙂

  11. Essan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Laca justifies my faith at last 😀

  12. dvdguy
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Wellnado on, Ozil off

  13. Richd
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Leichsteiner warming up.

  14. TAT
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Difficult watching Arsenal score three, yet being so incredibly shite. Worrying both as a Mkhi/Auba owner and an Arsenal fan.

    1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      This.

      1. TAT
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        They need to sort out the defence. This simply can't go on like this. Either Emery must adapt, or Cech must make way for Leno.

        The Auba/Mkhi > transfer looks very likely still. Not confident in this team at all, but it will be very painful to miss out on points, should both of them start delivering.

  15. TO
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Going with Lacazette over Auba seems to have paid off 🙂

    1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Going with Lacazette hasn't paid off if you had him from the start

  16. ingus
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Finally, after having Laca since GW1.

    1. KGFC
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Yes... Same here!!

  17. Sting
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    i’m getting wan bissaka off the bench 🙁

    1. The Wise Owl
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Me too, and Stephens

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Ditto

  18. Point-one short
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Come on, wile away those last minutes by subbing Mkhi on

  19. Adro3
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Having a mare this gameweek. Mkhitaryan not even playing and 4 players now flagged. Here comes the wildcard.

    1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Similar here and think I am barely going to be inside the top 10k at the end of today. Doubtful in fact. A swift fall from grace and WC time.

      1. Desperately Seeking Dusan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Although Mkhi coming on means I should retain 10k and not suffer that ignominy of dropping out.

  20. Alex_thekid
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Looking like WB coming of my bench for Mhkitaryan ffs Bennett Wolves 2nd doooooh

  21. manchesterisblue
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    miki coming on

  22. Sandy Ravage
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Lacazette finally comes good 3 weeks later than expected.

  23. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mkhi warming up

  24. KGFC
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mkhi getting ready to come on

  25. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Get Micky on to win the game....

  26. Harry Ball Bag™⚽⚽…
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mkhi incoming

  27. OPTA FPL
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mkhi coming on yessssssssss

  28. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Miki in, nice, no jammy bench points for many. Have him but Pereira on bench so same same for me

    1. Witty Pun: Not good at this…
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      Exact same for me

  29. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Lacazette actually looks a decent buy. Give him one more week to see him start again. If he does well, I might go for him for the lovely fixtures starting GW6.

  30. Fantastisk
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 7 months ago

    Mkhi

    1. BenDavies
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 7 months ago

      on?

      1. Fantastisk
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 7 months ago

        Yes