Dugout Discussion

Lacazette benched as Kolasnic misses out on Saints trip with injury

There was instant disappointment for owners of two Arsenal assets as team news for Sunday’s Gameweek 17 matches came out.

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.6m) is on the bench once again, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.5m) preferred as the lone striker for the Gunners.

Meanwhile, Sead Kolasinac (£5.1m) misses out on Arsenal’s trip to Southampton after picking up a thigh injury in training on Saturday.

He is replaced at left-back by the returning Nacho Monreal (£5.4m), making his first start since Gameweek 8. With Rob Holding (£4.4m) injured and Shkodran Mustafi (£5.4m) and Sokratis Papastathopoulous (£5.1m) suspended, Laurent Koscielny (£5.4m) and Stephan Lichtsteiner (£4.5m) line-up at centre-back.

Aaron Ramsey (£7.3m) and Mesut Özil (£8.1m) are named on the bench.

There is a third Premier League start for young Southampton defender Jan Valery (£4.0m) while Danny Ings (£5.4m) recovers from his recent hamstring injury to feature for the first time since Gameweek 12.

At Brighton, there is another game at false-nine for Eden Hazard (£10.9m) who leads the Chelsea line, flanked by Pedro (£6.3m) and Willian (£7.3m).

Alvaro Morata (£8.5m) was not considered fit enough for the bench, where Olivier Giroud (£7.7m) has been named.

Meanwhile, Mateo Kovacic (£5.8m) comes through his injury doubt to start the match in central midfield.

Glenn Murray (£6.6m) leads the Brighton line with Pascal Groß (£6.7m) operating as the number 10.

Brighton XI: Ryan; Bernardo, Dunk, Balogun, Montoya; March, Stephens, Pröpper, Knockaert; Groß; Murray.

Chelsea XI: Kepa; Alonso, Rudiger, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Jorginho, Kante; Pedro, Hazard, Willian.

Southampton XI: McCarthy; Targett, Yoshida, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Valery; Redmond, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Armstrong; Ings.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Monreal, Koscielny, Lichtsteiner, Bellerín; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Torreira; Mkhitaryan, Iwobi; Aubameyang.

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the price of just £15.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

2,219 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    That Brighton midfield is Propper Gross

    1. SPorting
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Two man midfield? Rubbish.

    2. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      in the voice of shaken stevens - lovely stuff

  2. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    That girl in the ad asking her dad for data so she can switch her fantasy captain 😆 I'm sure there are lots of kids on her asking their parents the same every week.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      on here*

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I like to imagine I'm talking to adults on here. The alternative would make me uncomfortable.

        It's a challenging delusion to maintain on matchdays.

    2. Pierce34
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Hopefully she'll learn that late switching back-and-forth rarely works!

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Kevin Bacon probably advised her to captain Arsenal's quarterback cos he was due to haul

  3. The Mighty Hippo
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    I wish Sarri would decide on his best team and stick to it. I want to get Pedro back, but I just can't see him being a consistent starter.

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I think Sarri knows that his team is Hazard and everyone else is an interchangeable cog there to serve Hazard in different ways depending on the circumstances.

      What I'm trying to say is: there's no point looking beyond Hazard.

    2. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      He will sign a winger and striker and then you will know his best team.

  4. JELLYFISH
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Gutting Kolas is out. Made more painful with 1pt from Schindler off the bench

    1. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      just unlucky mate

      don't worry too much about it

    2. Garlana
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Success coming in for me, you're not alone

    3. mojoindojo
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Glad you changed your mind about eviscerating Kolasinac.

  5. Bury94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 4 months ago

    Tempted to get Aguero back in for Laca, got the money to do it, it's a tempter!

    1. DantheManinaPan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      I'm thinking Laca -> Auba

    2. AndyCook
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Nah with Jesus scoring there might be rotation I wouldn’t

      • altan8797
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        aguero could be benched more than once in the next 4-5 gw's imo.

    3. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      The default comment on here when your player isn't playing and you're clasping at straws and consoling yourself.
      Against tired legs...

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Obvs. But reality is they should expect 1pt at most.

        1. Differential C (Mark)
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Son couldve hauled yesterday, to be fair. Unlucky.

          1. diesel001
            • 7 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            He got 1pt though. And that is standard for benched players

    4. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Getting lucky with Kola no show with Bennett coming of the Dame Judi!

      Any indications on how long Kola will be out for?

    5. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Anyone see the Dortmund goal? Very cheeky, clever idea!

      https://mobile.twitter.com/ironicguerreiro/status/1074254461386833921?s=19

      1. Sarcastic Warnock
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Clever.

      2. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Nice. Love stuff like this.

    6. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      is there any good utd attacking option ? their fixtures are incredible really, same thing cant be said about their assets...

      1. El-Kloppico
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Rash

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          he could be a bit of a differential couldnt he ?

          1. El-Kloppico
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 4 months ago

            From nxt week am sure he won't be differential anymore

            1. Ajax Hamsterdam
              • 9 Years
              5 years, 4 months ago

              🙂

      2. Spokey
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Martial and Rashford. Shaw or Young could be options at the back.

    7. El-Kloppico
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Would love a Murray goal..
      + Auba haul
      + Hazard haul

    8. kime67
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      kane isnt as hungry for goals anymore. it was so nice back in the day when he was even claiming the goals.

    9. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Auba captain, but want a Saints win. Talk about conflicted!

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        4-3 saints then with Auba hattie

    10. J T
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Bennet in for Kola 😀

    11. bigbudgie
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Gun to your head, who do you get rid of?

      A) Sane
      B) Sterling
      C) Richarlison
      D) Anderson

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        None

        1. Limited & Mediocre Mana…
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          This

      2. ILOVEBAPS
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        C

      3. Ajax Hamsterdam
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        sterling.

      4. Chirsbom
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        C. If any of them. Want all though..

    12. ILOVEBAPS
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Captain options abound next two GWs! That'll be huge wins or fails depending on your pick.
      Eek!

    13. drughi
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Hide behind sofa time, feel Aubameyang will haul today

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Yep. Us Laca owners will be feeling even sicker shortly

      2. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Doing the same with Hazard 🙂

    14. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Vestergaard looks like he’s from Mordor

      1. ClassiX
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Sorloth sounds like he's from Mordor

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          True! 🙂

    15. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Kola and Laca owner here after bringing them both in last week....just what I wanted to see when I woke up 🙁

      1. 4-4-who?
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Laca has been a rotation risk...

        1. F_Ivanovic
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          He wasn't GW4-12 was he..... I thought he was just getting minutes managed slightly after an injury before I brought him in against Huddersfield (as did lots of people, especially a decent amount of the top FPL players made the same mistake)

    16. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Good to see the Dinger back

      1. Fantasy Gold
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Digne?

    17. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Xhaka as the third CB, wtf?!

    18. Fantasy Gold
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Southampton 1 Arsenal 3

      Armstrong

      Auba x 2
      Ozil off the bench

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Would take that

      2. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Agree, but Ings for Southampton

    19. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Alright, let’s go Auba Alonso Hazza!

    20. EMERGING STAR
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      AWB and Bennet 6 pointers stuck on bench. Kamara 1st sub and Richa, Fraser in starting 11

    21. 4-4-who?
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Very happy with my Aubame (c) today vs other options this weekend... how are you feeling about your (c) choice?

      1. LSK
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Same captain, feel good.

      2. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Like dog dung...

      3. Chirsbom
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Sterling. Cant complain with double digit.

    22. LSK
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Keep kola to see if he plays against Burnley and then switch for Digne for Everton's improved fixture run?

      1. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        yep

    23. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Commentator said Kola suspended yes? How?

      1. Bolivian Seaman
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        injured just before the game

        1. My heart goes Salalalalah
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers

    24. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      Please don't do anything stupid Southampton

      1. My heart goes Salalalalah
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        Like scoring? Please don’t

    25. #FPLBhuna
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      no auba, no, haz, no salah

      squeaky bumtime?... nope

      that's what skybet's for - lose-win situation

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        5m in the bank?

        1. #FPLBhuna
          • 7 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          haha

          you know it

      2. Drip Doctor
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        I don't own Auba and i'm not worried tbh. Maybe its because i'm an Arsenal fan. Both he and Arsenal have overacvhieved of late given the few chances weve actually created. Iwobi and Mkhi starting, no Kolasinac, none of this is good for Auba.

    26. XabiAlonso
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      4 non starters this week 🙁
      Need Auba and Salah to go big

    27. Ajax Hamsterdam
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 4 months ago

      following very helpful advice earlier on i came up with this wc team :

      feedback more than welcome 🙂

      Fab / Hamer
      Alonso / vvd / Doherty / schindler / awb
      Hazard / Sane / Richa / Snod / masuaku
      Kane / Auba / Jimenez

      0.1 itb

      thanks a lot

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 4 months ago

        lovely

        how about Robbo+Luiz for VVD+Alonso. Feel Robbo's threat is more than Alonso

        1. Ajax Hamsterdam
          • 9 Years
          5 years, 4 months ago

          thanks. i had vvd from that start and am a bit attached to him haha but thanks for feedback !