Dugout Discussion

Flores back in the Watford hot seat as Ceballos and Ozil return for Arsenal

The penultimate match of Gameweek 5 sees Watford take on Arsenal at Vicarage Road. Kick-off is at 16:30 BST.

This is returning head coach Quique Sanchez Flores’ first Watford match in charge since departing the Hornets at the end of the 2015/16 season.

Flores has made three changes to the starting XI that drew 1-1 at Newcastle a fortnight ago, with Jose Holebas (£4.8m), Gerard Deulofeu (£6.2m) and the fit-again Etienne Capoue (£4.9m) replacing Daryl Janmaat (£4.4m), the injured Craig Cathcart (£4.4m) and Roberto Pereyra (£5.8m).

The release of the teamsheet had the Hornets lining up in a 4-2-3-1, a formation Flores had favoured on and off during his managerial career.

Andre Gray (£5.9m) leads the line, with Ismaila Sarr (£6.4m) among the substitutes.

There is no place in the matchday squad for Danny Welbeck (£6.0m), however.

Unai Emery has made two changes to the side that rescued a point in the north London derby.

The injured Alexandre Lacazette (£9.4m) is replaced by Mesut Ozil (£7.3m), while Dani Ceballos (£5.7m) returns to the side in place of Lucas Torreira (£4.9m).

The Gunners may well be playing in a 4-4-2 diamond, given the number of central midfielders in the starting XI.

This corresponding fixture last season saw the Gunners keep their only clean sheet of 2018/19.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.0m) scored the only goal of that match.

The Gabon international is the sixth most-popular captaincy choice of Gameweek 5.

Aubameyang starts up front with Nicolas Pepe (£9.4m) this afternoon.

Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Dawson, Kabasele, Holebas, Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes, Cleverley, Deulofeu, Gray.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Ceballos, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Ozil, Aubameyang, Pepe.

1,887 Comments Post a Comment
  1. DeathoftheParty
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ozil, sigh...

  2. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    The article image is the grin of a man about to be bent over by Pepe

    1. Drexl Spivey
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Sigmund Freud would have a field day with that.

    2. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I dare say Flores would have his pick - handsome chap 🙂

  3. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Will be interesting to see how Aubameyang plays without Lacazette in the team.

  4. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Ozil, Auba, Pepe up front looks sexual. Ceballos playing too. Gervinho 2.0 might actually score.

    1. THE SHEEP HUNTERS
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      It does,no excuses in this game with loads of creativity.
      Looking forward to it. Go Pépé!

  5. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Looking for a new defender to replace KWP. Max 6.1
    Got TAA/Soyoncu/AWB & Lundstram

    Best defender to get ?

  6. LewanGOALski
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    was all set on dropping Kane & King for 2 out of: Barnes, Haller, Abraham for GW6

    now think I may keep King 1 more week and wait on Tammy as he faces Liverpool and follow this plan:

    GW6: Kane & Ceballos/McGinn ➡ Son & Barnes for 2 FTs
    GW7: Zinchenko & King ➡ 4.5 DEF & Abraham for (-4)

    thoughts? Sensible plan?

  7. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Is that 17 blanks in his last 24 for Siggy?

    Is he coming due a customary little flurry of returns soon

  8. gilean
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Pope Button
    TAA Otamendi Christensen Lundstram Rico
    Sterling Mane KdB Mount Cantwell
    Wilson Abraham Pukki

    1. gilean
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Decent WC team?

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I would get Sonny

        1. gilean
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Had many draft with him in. But would require alot of sacrifices. Who would you drop for him though?

    2. gilean
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I took out Christensen for Aurier.

    3. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Why do you want a MCI defender?

    4. Guy Demel
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I'd replace Otamendi tbh

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

      The last two weeks, people WC team have Haller and Barnes now Wilson and Tammy ... what nexts? Good team btw

    6. gilean
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      I think City are still gonna keep CSs the way they play. May be wrong but who would you replace Otamendi with? I can afford Zinch, Stones or someone from another team

  9. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Jota to Callum Wilson as my free transfer this week turned out nice!!

    1. TiAgoFPL
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      True!

    2. Zenith UK
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Fax

  10. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 6 months ago

    Still feel stupid today for benching Pukki over one of my defenders. Just didn’t see that result at all with all of Norwich’s injuries.

    Fair play to them. They were running rings around Citeh at times.

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Some of those moves breaking out of citys high press were impressive.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Crazily good considering the second string defence.

    2. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 6 months ago

      Was back and forth but ended up playing Pukki. Expected City to concede and felt more silly to rely on Sheffield keeping a cleanie than Pukki scoring.

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I didn’t even consider benching Lundstram tbh! It was either Maguire or Pukki that I was flipping between. On the bright side , I can consider a loss of only 6 pts then but it hurts seeing 12 pts as 1st sub!

    3. MTPockets
        4 years, 6 months ago

        I would have done the same (dropped him on wc...)

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          When FPL punishes you it takes no prisoners!

          1. Party time
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Hahaha... It leaves no prisoners behind

      • WVA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        A. Wilson
        B. Abraham

        1. gilean
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I have both on WC, but would choose Abraham if choosing just one of them

        2. ChelseaGuy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          B imo but I maybe biased

        3. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          ITB are equally good picks

          1. La Roja
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Both are*

        4. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          0.5 goes a long way at this stage

      • La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Anderlecht lost again at home and are now in relegation zone.

        Can Kompany retire from retiring?

      • Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Feel like this is going to be one of the few games each seasons where Arsenal assets look absolutly essential

        1. Touré De Force
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I fancy Watford here

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            No arsenal assets then

          2. Hazz
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            New manager bounce incoming.

        2. Ask Yourself
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Auba actually playing at striker is too good to miss out on

        3. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Pepe time

      • BrutalLogiC
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Spent 40m across starting gk/def for 6 points:(

      • Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Aguero
        Firmino
        Wilson
        Vardy
        Abraham
        Pukki
        Haller
        Barnes

        Are teams just not very good at defending any more??

        1. TiAgoFPL
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          This

      • Ask Yourself
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Good abternoon

        1. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          You missed the Rico love-in/Digne hatefest

          1. Ask Yourself
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I enjoyed the Digne hate I WC’d our Rico ffs so was a bit sad but happy he finally came through for people x

        2. The Ejiptian King
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Abternoon!

      • Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Any defenders 0.5 cheaper than Digne worth it this week?
        Would help fund my Barnes to Tammy move?
        Got 2 FTS and no idea what to do!

        Pope
        TAA Digne Soyuncu Lunds Rico
        Salah Sterling KDB Mount Cantwell
        Pukki Haller Barnes

        1. TiAgoFPL
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Your team looks good

      • La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Is it time to switch good old 3-4-3?

        Premium defenders are having a mare and forwards are firing consistently

        1. Weeb Kakashi
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yes im doing it.
          352

        2. Fpl Richie
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Annoyingly yes. Zinchenko and Digne looked good in my team on Friday....

        3. Hotdogs for Tea
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          yip, just done so ... admitting defeat of the ‘power of 5’ defence

        4. The Sociologist
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yep, Zinchenko out after next GW I think.

      • Weeb Kakashi
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        How is Eriksen as a pick on WC.

        At 8.8 and with set pieces.

        Thoughts??

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

          Not bad at all

        2. ChelseaGuy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Nah

        3. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          0.7 for Son

          1. Weeb Kakashi
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Cant find the 0.7.

            Eriksen has all set pieces now with no trippier.
            Not explosive but still does well in bonus.
            If you see he has outscored Son in the last 3 seasons and hardly gets subbed off early.

            1. PrettyDick
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              I would say find the 0.7 somewhere or just focus somewhere else. Not worth it for me

      • Hotdogs for Tea
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        every time i buy Digne and Vardy they stink my team out ... be warned

        1. Drexl Spivey
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Digne template coming to an end I hope. Sub-£5.5m looking more enticing by the week.

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

            Only 3 mids at equivalent price have outscored him 🙂

            1. PrettyDick
              • 6 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Digne gets forward and takes a bunch of corners and FKs. I think he's a good option still, just don't expect too much away from home. Coleman on the other hand.. can't sell him soon enough

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

                Quite

                Away from home. The 0 pointer was a bore but it’s hiw he rolls after all

                1. PrettyDick
                  • 6 Years
                  4 years, 6 months ago

                  As a Coleman owner (sold Digne for him on my WC because apparently I'm an idiot) I was just hoping Digne wouldn't get anything. Wouldn't sell him if I owned him. While Colemans greatest contribution was avoiding picking up a YC..

                  Owning Digne is a bit like owning Emerson, it's fun to watch and it feels like big points are possible. That's good enough for me

            2. Drexl Spivey
              • 5 Years
              4 years, 6 months ago

              Two Norwich mids amongst them.

      • Captain Kakaroto (I blame R…
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Lets see how it goes today, but you rather have
        A. Mount + Auba
        B. Pepe + Abraham

        1. TiAgoFPL
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Good question Kakarotto
          O have pepe and gonna Bring Abraham in gw7

          1. TiAgoFPL
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            I have*

      • rodragon
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Pickford button
        Taa awb digne Kelly Lundstram
        Salah Cantwell Dendonker Tielemans David silva
        Aguero Vardy Jota
        Play wildcard? Or any transfer suggestion?
        Thanks in advance.. .. Tyt

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Double Everton defence etc = wildcard.

          1. PrettyDick
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            ahead of Sheffield at home though? I'd say just use transfer this week and play it the following game week

      • Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Who is the most sacrificial defender to set up a formation change?
        A) Zinchenko
        B) Digne

        Non-committal yet but its worth investigating. Can afford 4m def with A and 4.5 for B.

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          The one who’ll be losing minutes soon.

          1. PrettyDick
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            yeah, also the other one gets into many more offensive point scoring positions

      • Modest Bob
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Can someone please help. Is Rico nailed for Bournmouth? Cheers.

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          No

        2. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Time will tell. One loss and he could be dropped.

        3. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          No.

        4. Modest Bob
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Cheers for that gents.

        5. Brosstan
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          He only wins for Bournemouth on september 15th

        6. PrettyDick
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          apparently he's 4th choice so not nailed at all.

      • schwing
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Auba and Onions haul incoming please!

      • Tsparkes10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Nahh the way Cahill just pronounced Ozil... Sack him

      • Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Pope (Heaton)
        Rico Digne TAA Zinc (Lund)
        Salah Sterling KDB Mount (Dendo)
        Haller Pukki (Gwood)
        1.2itb 1ft

        Was all set to go Dendo to Ceballos/Cantwell, but the lure of a hit to take out a big defender and have a 3rd striker is a lure. Any thoughts?

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Zinc down. Greenwood upgrade

        2. tafrère
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          I think your defense is great, I'd upgrade Dendoncker to Cantwell.

          1. Fpl Richie
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            That was the original plan!

      • Don Kloppeone
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        The conflict of having Haller and Heaton left to play. I don’t think my GW is getting saved somehow!

        1. Pukki Blinders
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Try having Haller, Heaton and Mings autosub

          1. Don Kloppeone
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 6 months ago

            Oof. Good old Mings

      • FPL Forward Thinker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Holebas starts: Olive Branch

      • Pukki Blinders
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 6 months ago

        Is Mane Sterling KDB Son too much? If so who would you drop?

        1. Tsparkes10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Yup. Sterling to Pepe hehe

        2. WVA
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 6 months ago

          Sterling