Dugout Discussion

Lacazette and Luiz benched as budget FPL forward Martinelli gets first start

The final match of Gameweek 16 takes place this evening, as West Ham United take on managerless Arsenal.

Kick-off at the London Stadium is at 20:00 GMT.

Interim boss Freddie Ljungberg takes charge of the Gunners for the third time and has made a big call with his team selection, dropping Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) and David Luiz (£5.8m) to the bench.

Nicolas Pepe (£9.1m) and Calum Chambers (£4.4m) come into the side, as does Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) at left-back.

Budget Fantasy Premier League forward Gabriel Martinelli (£4.5m) is handed his first-ever start in the English top flight, meanwhile.

Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) and Joe Willock (£4.9m) are also cut from the starting XI, with the latter failing to make the matchday squad.

Hector Bellerin (£5.4m) was injured in the warm-up, meanwhile, so Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) comes in at right-back.

The West Ham United team news is far more straightforward: Manuel Pellegrini’s only change sees the fit-again Michail Antonio (£6.9m) replace Sebastien Haller (£7.0m) in attack.

Robert Snodgrass (£5.2m) recovers from a minor knock to start, while there is no place for Andriy Yarmolenko (£5.6m) even among the substitutes.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) is by some distance the most-selected player on show this evening and the only FPL asset from either side who can boast a double-digit ownership.

The Gabon international sits in more than one in five Fantasy squads and in 8.59% of the teams who were in the top 10,000 at the point of the Gameweek 16 deadline.

Aubameyang has scored 50 FPL points on the road this season, compared to just 39 at the Emirates – and has played one fewer away fixture.

FPL’s cheapest playing goalkeeper, David Martin (£4.0m), gets his third straight start for the hosts.

Martin has already banked one clean sheet, three save points and two bonus points in his two appearances so far.


West Ham United XI: Martin, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Snodgrass, Fornals, Anderson, Antonio.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Tierney, Torreira, Xhaka, Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli, Aubameyang.

1,065 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Maybe Ljungberg should try Luiz as a DMF with Torreira... Think it would work slightly better

    1. Rust Cohle
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Been thinking the same. Not sure he has the legs for 90 in the engine room.

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

        Doesn't have the legs for 90 mins at CB so likely.

  2. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Rmwct
    Gazzainga Martin
    TAA Lundstram Soy Kelly Rico
    Mane Son KDB Grealish Dendonker
    Vardy Rashford Abraham

    0.8ITB

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Solid

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

    Score predictions if no injuries this week?

    Arsenal vs Man City
    Southampton vs West Ham

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      0-3
      2-0

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Fair

      2. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Clean sheets? Shocking 😀

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Solid City defence 😉

    2. Ze_Austin
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      1-3
      2-1

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Arsenal 2-6 City
      Southampton 2-1 West Ham

      1. HashAttack
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Otamendi hat-trick?

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

          Jesus hatty.

    4. Henryyy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      1-4
      1-1

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

      1-4
      2-1

    6. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      1-3
      3-1

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

      Fair predictions 🙂

      1. Warby84
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Soton Vs West H more like a 0-0

    8. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2-1
      2-2

    9. Patio Kev
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      1-2
      0-9

      Would make my weekend.

  4. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    I was hoping for a high scoring game

    Think I will be disappointed

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

      Had Lacazette been playing, I was too. But yeah agreed

  5. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Another sniper in the stands

  6. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Jesus Christ

    Somebody please pass the ball forward

  7. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    It’s embarrassing the way big strong players are felled like rotten trees when anyone gets within six inches of their face. And the way they touch their face then look at their hand as if expecting to see blood. Pathetic

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Yip it is hilarious, embarrassing and makes me want to give them a good kick on the balls for being pathetic

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Pussies is the term you are looking for 😉

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

    Score predictions for the following?
    CHE BOU
    WOL TOT

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

      4-0
      1-2

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

      4-1
      2-2

    3. drughi
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      3-0
      1-1

    4. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      5-0
      2-2

    5. Eat my goal!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      3-1
      3-3

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

      4-1
      2-1

    7. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      3-0
      2-3

    8. manu4life99
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2-1
      1-2

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

      4-1
      2-3

    10. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2-2
      2-1

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

      Wolves are 1-1 five times so far this season after EL!

    12. Triple P
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      2-0
      0-2

  9. manu4life99
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Save FT?

    Hend
    TAA Lund Soy
    Mane KDB Maddison Pulisic
    Vardy Jiminez Tammy

    Heaton Kelly Aurier Dendonker

    1. JelliedSpark968
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      yeah roll transfer

  10. JelliedSpark968
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Bench Trossard or Kelly next week?

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

      K

    2. Arse Craic
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Trossard

  11. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Think a 0-0 here will be a blessing in disguise 🙂

  12. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Why cant VAR give Torreira a card for that? Would stamp out pathetic diving in a few game weeks.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Agreed

      Alan Shearer would say it is intelligent play

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

    This is pretty damn boring so far, not sure I'll make the 90 with no FPL involvement.

  14. George James
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Best down grade to do Jimenez >> Rashford?

    A) KDB >> Dele

    B) Zaha >> Grealish

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

      B. Get Dele another way if possible though. Do you have Son too? If so maybe one Spurs enough for now, similar ppg

    2. pingissimus
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      B

      Zaha was a trap

  15. Aubamewho
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Suggestions would be appreciated!
    1.4 itb, 1ft
    Pope
    TAA Aurier Kelly Rico
    Mane KDB Son Alli
    Vardy Abraham
    Button, Cantwell, Connolly, Hanley

    A) Abraham > Rash
    B) KDB, Connolly > 7.2mid, Rash (-4)
    C) upgrade def
    D) save

  16. All For One
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    B

    1. All For One
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Was directed to George James

  17. Sarri-ball
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    was all set on kane to abraham but now nit sure a or b

    a) kane to abraham 2.9 in bank
    b) Jimenez/taa to abraham/aurier 2.2 in bank

  18. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tierney down injured.

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      He is done

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Shoulder popped out?

      1. JustPark
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Looks like it.

    3. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Looks like I'm not gonna find out why he is the best LB in the league since Ashley Cole.

  19. el polako
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Everytime I watch Hammers Pablo Fornals looks utter shite, why is he still getting chances ?

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

      Cost a lot?

  20. ‘Tis the Season
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Jeez didn’t realize Auba was even on the pitch until I saw him talking to Freddie..

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Ozil is playing too...

      1. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        No wonder it’s 0-0

  21. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Not one for feeling sorry for millionaire footballers, but do feel for Tierney there, kid looks heartbroken.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Pretty rude from Antonio to purposefully injure him. Prettty ruuude!

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      He needs to man up.

    3. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Rumour has it he has been homesick for a while

      How you can be homesick of Glasgow is staggering

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

      Money has no correlation with happiness, past a certain point.

      Poor lad.

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

        Well said

      2. ‘Tis the Season
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Rubbish the more money the happier your life...or wife, can’t remember which one

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

          There was a 100-year long scientific study where they monitored the lives of hundreds of people in detail. The main correlation with happiness was how many meaningful relationships they had with other people. Their salary had no correlation.

          1. tisza
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 9 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Do that survey again now and it would be the correlation between FPL points and happiness

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

              😀

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

          So wife 😆

  22. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Kolasinac on
    Tierney off

  23. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Tierney CS locked 😎

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

      You're getting no luck at all.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        I deserve it. I've been a bad boy this year.

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

          I've been a pretty good boy and still doing rubbish, you can turn it around though, always enjoyed your punts, I was lower than you've ever been at one point this season I think.

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

      That is terrible luck.

  24. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Kola ON

  25. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Antonio is a brick wall.

  26. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Double fullback fail inside half hour

  27. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Kolasinac getting a CS for only 60 minutes played will having him rocket up the PPM ranks

  28. Nomar
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    This is a pretty crap game, to be fair.

  29. Ron_Swanson
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Anyone else considering Abraham (C) this upcoming gameweek?

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

      I'm not averse to differential captains and do it pretty often but I can't look past Vardy this week.

      1. Ron_Swanson
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Me too and I’m not chasing so I’ll probably stick with Vardy. Just can see Chelsea go sick this weekend

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

          I'm chasing but still gotta be sensible some weeks.

          1. HashAttack
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            same .. even if another captain (e.g. Kane) scores a couple more points than Vardy, the upside is negligible compared to the downside. I just can't see Vardy blanking given both form and opposition

    2. El Matador
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Mane. Counting on him to outscore Vardy.

    3. Over Midwicket
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Vardy and Mané way ahead of him

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

      Did Salah this week for a differential captain & Vardy just laughed and matched his haul

      Thinking of going Salah once more this week... but then again, with Vardy’s form & fixture, is there really any need to captain anyone else this week

  30. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Arsenal should have kept Emery

    This is brutal

    1. ‘Tis the Season
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Good ebening

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      You knew ljunberg was a blagger when he did his "dratts" gesture after the norwich game