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

    Horay! Pepe off, Arsenal could win now

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

    Pepe cost more than the entire Sheffield squad

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

      *Entire Sheffield city.

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

    Come on Wildling, give Lundy a well deserved rest my son

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

      Let him score his goal first though

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

    How is Pepe still 9.3m? So overpriced!

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

      Bargain bin soon

    2. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Try £72m.

    3. Grand Thibauto
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      FPL protecting his underpriced status

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

    Lund surely to up his baps

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

      nope

  6. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Sheffield United and Chris Wilder are a breath of fresh air.

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

      Not wrong

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

      I'm really impressed. They're calm as you like, but incisive. Very few mistakes and they just keep frustrating Arsenal who look like they've run out of ideas.

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

        I think all 3 promoted teams offer something fresh. Not sure Norwich will stay up, but Villa and Sheffield should be fine if the opening weeks are anything to go by.

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

    Jess Ennis should be proud. Crowd behind her lads, team playing great. Go Blades! Brings a year to the eye

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      As the great Ortis Deeley once said:

      We have a gloriously sunny day here in the studio, we’ve seen some action this morning as well. Jessica Ennis - Good night 🙂

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

        Lol. She's pretty awesome.

        1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 5 months ago

          Not like Ortis’ broadcasting 🙂

          https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rj9y9ApEkG0

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

            Classic 🙂

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

      Jessica Ennis is not proud of the team.

      The bramall lane stand was named for her. She asked for her name to be removed following the re-signing of Ched Evans.

      He was proven innocent.

    3. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Rather unfortunate mention of Jess Ennis bearing in mind her relationship with the Blades after the Ched Evans saga.

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

    Kola’s hair costs him a goal

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

    Coca Kola almost

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

      Yeah I hate that syrup crap too. Free refill my arse.

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

      Lol

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

    2 BPS...

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

      Don’t

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

      For?

  11. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    International break followed by midweek Champions League and Europa fixtures to come

    = Terrible week for fantasy

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

      I can’t take another

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

    Kola you clown

  13. IRBOX ⚽
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    2 more passes for Lundstram and he should sneak into the bonus (clean sheet pending)

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

    Who's this Auba chap everyone is chatting so much about?

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

      Arsenal winger.

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

        Nice

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

      World class player, surely you’ve heard of him? Plays for Arsenal

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

        Just trying to get him his goal 😛

  15. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Come on Arsenal time to score !!!

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

    Guendouzi trying hard.

    He looks very out of place in this Arsenal team.

  17. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    McGinn and Pepe -> CHO and KDB nobrainer? Got KDB and 6.5m midfielder.. are there any better options at max 6.5m mids?

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

      Certainly looks good

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Tielemans maybe?

      1. Duffy Dunk
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        This guy

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

      Easy decision that

  18. FPL_DON
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Double up at sheff at the back

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

    Drink driver on for Sheffield

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

      Clubs have no shame these days

    2. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      Should have subbed Lund instead of Norwood

      1. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 5 months ago

        Yes...

  20. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Wilder WC manager.

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

    Come on equalize!

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

      Who’s equalize?

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

    worst fantasy gw i ever saw in my life and I thought last week was bad! My only two returns are from players who cost me 4.0 originally, you couldnt write it.
    At least I got two returns where as some got none

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

      Don’t say it yet

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

      It’s incredible isn’t it, every week though, not just these last two gameweeks

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

      You should’ve been a non Timmy Cahill owner in snowgate week!

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

        lol when was that

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

      *worst till date

  23. Rash
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Need that lundy clean sheet wiped!

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

      Please

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

      Need that Lundy goal**

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

      Rashfraud

  24. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I think it's safe to say that Sergio Busquets has posters of Lundstram in his bedroom.

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

      Doesn’t everyone?

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

        I make sure my wife wears a Lundstram mask in bed.

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

          Oof

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

      Andreas Iniesta wears John Lundstram pyjamas.

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

    Come on Lundstram get into baps

    1. IRBOX ⚽
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 5 months ago

      2 more passes will do it

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

    McBurnie's beard is awful.

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

      Maybe the problem at Arsenal is that that players are never sure whether they're passing to Luiz or Guendouzi.

  27. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I thought are defence was the issue, not the forwards.

  28. nerd_is_the_werd
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    Anyone captained Lundstram this week?

  29. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 5 months ago

    I've benched very. single. Lundy. cleanie.

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

      There's unlucky, and there's not learning

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

    Commentary fail