Dugout Discussion

Lacazette among the substitutes as Aubameyang leads the line for Arsenal

The final match of Gameweek 9 takes place this evening, as Sheffield United host Arsenal.

Kick-off at Bramall Lane is at 20:00 BST.

There were no major shocks upon the release of the two teamsheets, with Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) only among the substitutes after his return from a seven-week absence.

Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) has to be patient for his first Arsenal league start, too, as Sead Kolasinac (£5.4m) keeps his place at left-back.

In fact, Unai Emery has made only one change to the Gunners’ starting XI from the side that defeated Bournemouth a fortnight ago: Joe Willock (£5.0m) replacing Dani Ceballos (£5.5m) in midfield.

Lacazette’s benching means that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) will again lead the line for Arsenal, flanked by Nicolas Pepe (£9.3m) and Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) in attack.

Aubameyang has yet to blank in an away fixture this season and averages 8.25 points on the road.

John Lundstram (£4.6m) is the most-owned player in this fixture and he features in more Fantasy teams than the rest of the Sheffield United squad put together.

Over 40% of his owners have benched him for this match but it’s probably fair to say that he’ll be an ‘auto-sub’ for many of us, given the high-profile no-shows over the weekend.

His 14-point haul against Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane in August has been followed by three blanks at home but he remains the best-value FPL asset in the game, based on points per million spent.

There are no surprises that Chris Wilder’s only two changes for this fixture come up front, an area in which he has regularly rotated over the past two months.

Lys Mousset (£4.9m) and David McGoldrick (£5.4m) are the strike pairing this evening, replacing Callum Robinson (£5.3m) and Oli McBurnie (£5.9m).

Sheffield United’s four home games this season have only seen six goals scored: only St James’ Park and Selhurst Park average fewer goals per fixture than Bramall Lane in 2019/20.

Sheffield United XI: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Stevens; Baldock, Norwood, Lundstram, Fleck; Mousset, McGoldrick.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Chambers, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Xhaka, Guendouzi, Willock; Pepe, Aubameyang, Saka.

Lessons learned from Gameweek 9

1,292 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jarnathan
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    It it looks like Sheffield are playing with an extra man.

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      They kinda are.. Considering Pepe is playing for Arsenal.

  2. TAT
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I hate being an Arsenal fan.

    1. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Come support Utd with us bro

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

        I dislike Ole even more, so that would never happen.

    2. VanDijksToWatchOutFor
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      The joys of being a neutral

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

        Indeed.

  3. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Pepe is a strange one, he has plenty of tricks and is a good dribbler but is strangely unable to strike a moving ball

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

    YEAAHHHHHH

  5. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Too many yellow shoes... Always looks like lundstram is there

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

      This would be a great rule to make players easier to recognise!

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

    I was so sure that was Lunny with the assist

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

      I thought it was too.

    2. FOO FIGHTER
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Lund corner

  7. Evasivo
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    That was not Lundstram...

  8. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lundstram involved in celebrations, surely worth a few baps...

    1. Evasivo
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Absolutely!! If not I want VAR on it

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

    Since Lundstram isn't playing as a defender I don't think it's fair that he should lose all of his clean sheet points when they concede. Midfielders only lose one point and forwards don't lose any at all. So why should Lundstram lose all four points and be held responsible for something that isn't his fault?

    1. Pedram
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      You only want the good stuff then

    2. Don Van Vliet
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      You would also give back clean sheet points?

    3. Pranav Santhosh
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      That’s fair if he gets 1 point for a clean sheet instead of 4

    4. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Why should he get 3 extra poiints when it's the defenders who's job is to defend and deservingly get extra points

  10. Boomerang V
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    That goal will put some pressure on Arsenal. It is good for Auba owners I suppose.

  11. Abra Dubravka
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    A) Salah & Greenwood
    B) Vardy & Maddison/Martial
    C) Aubameyang & Traore

    One of them can be benched most weeks if needs be.

  12. Ógie
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Saka booked for diving

    1. The Overthinker
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Neymaresque dive

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

        Needs to work on his rolling to be in the same league as Naymar.

        1. The Overthinker
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          He is young. Will learn as he grows

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

    Another stonewall penalty not given. Sack VAR right now

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

      No way was that a penalty

  14. Don Van Vliet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Arsenal look so lethargic at times.

  15. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Clear pen

    1. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Specsavers

      1. JBG
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This

    2. Hy liverpool
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      You need eyes

    3. Corgz Dark side of the Loon
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Dont be ridiculous.....and it deserves the yellow card

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

    Same old Arsenal, always cheating

  17. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    WTF that was a clear penalty

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

      No way was it a penalty

  18. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Saka YC

  19. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Blades wont be able to maintain this pressing all game, Arsenal will get their chances later they better take them

    1. Cookie Kid
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      How did this end?

  20. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Saka diving

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Streetwise or dive?

    Is Saka English?

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Steve Saka is one me old muckers.

  22. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Spot on. What a dive!

  23. Tasty Jerk
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    What a dive. Shef def pulled out

  24. Pukki Party
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ljungberg triple captainers fail

  25. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Lol at mike dean

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

    Haha, lol at Kola

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

    Ljunberg yellow

  28. The Overthinker
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Yc for assistant manager 😀

  29. Salah’s Sonnet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Ljundberg YC

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

    Went down like a Saka potatoes

    1. Pompel
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      😆