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. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    “Don’t start playing until 60th” Freddie Masteclass

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

      "Football starts at 60th"

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

    My hatred for Auba in FPL deepens significantly.

    Utter troll of an asset.

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

      Agree. Hate the sight of him.

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

        Having owned him at all the wrong times since he joined the league I spew at the site of a GI from him now... horrid

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

      The sooner you realise you can’t own every single player in the game, the better for your mental health and more importantly, better for the rest of us on here..

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

        No I get that obviously. But Auba is one that always hurts.

      2. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Come on mate! Surely you've had the odd player who you simply never toned right. Walcott and Auba for me. Don't think I ever had a good run with them

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

          He gets it. So annoying

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

          Ask him about Vardy

        3. IRBOX ⚽
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Can’t stand Vardy or Mane at all.. my two most hated players, no point complaining about them at the detriment of FPL points though

        4. Not again Shirley
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Has Walcott even ever had a good run. Terrible footballer. Talk about rabbit in the head lights.

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

            Was fantastic for Arsenal alongside Sanchez in 16-17

    3. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      What exactly are you talking about? You owned him for one week and then wced.

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

        This season. Much pain last season. Hence my post.

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

      I owned Auba from GW8 to GW13 ... and captained him 4 times GW 8, 9, 10 & 13 .... painful

  3. Party time
      4 years, 4 months ago

      David Martin with Roberto's gloves

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

        Crisp packet hands

        1. Party time
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Lol

      2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Roberto warming up

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

        Are hammers fans invading the pitch yet? Must be nearly that time...

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

        Well played lads. You've done us proud.

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

        Westham are the boggy boys, awful defending, how did they keep Chelsea at bay?

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

        Freddie tactical genius, give him the season

      7. Milk, 1 Šuker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Auba bap-tastic! On 3 at the mo

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

          Keep'em all

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

          Ridiculous

      8. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Match forfeited by Pellegrini - Haller on

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

        Wow Auba showing off

      10. Smurf
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Auba 🙁

      11. Mo Salah No Mane
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Auba and Pepe please
        We don't need anymore attacking options.
        Please stop scoring!

      12. EL tridente
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Auba to Rashford or keep?

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

          Strong KEEP. It's starts now

        2. Milk, 1 Šuker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I did this already. Have you seen Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures?

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

          To rashford

        4. o0Ash
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          I've done it; I just think Rashford will outscore him slightly and the money allowed me to do Tielemens -> Alli.

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

            Slightly? Hugely 🙂

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

          to Rashford

      13. The Mandalorian
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        PEA owned by about 8% in the top 10k bloody hell

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

          Why do so many have Chicharito?!

          1. The Mandalorian
            • 11 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - P E A 🙂

        2. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Would have thought it was 88% by the bellendery on here

      14. Vamos Los Celeste
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Aubaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

      15. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        Son --> Pepe?

        Pepe playing one of the worst defences in Europe next GW.

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

          No doubt. KDB > Son > Pepe (-4) done.

      16. It’s gonna Ben Mee
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        My rank will take the express elevator down again

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

        Auba is a rank destroyer

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

          Yes. Whether you own him or not 🙁

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

            Sold him for Alli and Tammy. Thought that it was decent move...

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

              Twas indeed!

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

          Also destroyed LiveFPL

          1. POLSKA GOLA
            • 10 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            This

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

        Remember when Fanderson was a thing. Total fraud.

        1. Maddi Son
          • 6 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Glad you said Fanderson and not Anderson. I'd have no idea who you were talking about.

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

          It's all about Shartinelli now

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

            (His first name is Shaun)

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

        Not rocket science. Stop messing about at the back and get the ball forward quickly to that front 3

      20. Pras (FPL)
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 4 months ago

        The sound of all small green arrows becoming red arrows

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          Can't imagine many have Auba

          1. Pras (FPL)
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 4 months ago

            If only there was a website that could tell you that over 20% players do

            1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Bizarre! Hopefully Dead teams in the depths of 1 million plus rank

        2. Mr. O'Connell
          • 11 Years
          4 years, 4 months ago

          My red is now crimson.

      21. Party time
          4 years, 4 months ago

          West ham fans singing "we want our Arnie back"

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

            Where is he actually? Which league?

            1. Party time
                4 years, 4 months ago

                Shanghai. CSL

            2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Haller must feel great...

              1. Party time
                  4 years, 4 months ago

                  He is so overrated. I remember the early season hype here on ffs

                • have you seen cyan
                  • 4 Years
                  4 years, 4 months ago

                  People were legit saying Haller would get over 20 goals this season, no joke 😀

                  1. George Sillett
                    • 8 Years
                    4 years, 4 months ago

                    Which people ?

            3. FFSbet.com
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Who should be on penaties now for Arsenal?

            4. Revival
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 11 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              Knew Auba would punish me for selling, not complaining Arsenal winning away do.

              1. George Sillett
                • 8 Years
                4 years, 4 months ago

                So why did you sell him if you knew it ?

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

                You sold before West Ham away?

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

                  I did. Alli had Burnley and I wanted also Abraham, exact money.

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

              I think Auba has just singlehandedly dropped my rank by c. 8k

              Lol

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

              Riots & pitch invasion before or after the 80th minute?

            7. pstokes2010
              • 13 Years
              4 years, 4 months ago

              How many points needed to qualify for the cup?

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

              Aubameyang is one of those players I want to have but never get around to actually buying.

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

                Hes too stressful to own. Captaining him is even worse. A bit like hazard for much of last season

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

                Why would you want him?

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

                  He’s productive for Arsenal.

                  1. Not again Shirley
                    • 7 Years
                    4 years, 4 months ago

                    Over priced I reckon.

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

              So what do we think the cut off score for the cup will be?