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. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Arsenal with that kind of performance that masks how awful they have been and also makes people forget for a short while how bad they are. West Ham just somehow even worse. How is Pellegrini surviving...

    1. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He looks like a dead man walking at the best of times.

    2. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Sullivans best customer, Razzle is his favourite

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

        Such a lovely scrupulous man.

  2. EL tridente
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Keep Auba or sell to Rashford?

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

      Rashford

      1. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        why?

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      How many did Rashford score today?

    3. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Rashford

    4. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      sell

  3. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Looks like Laca getting full rest is he injured?

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Don’t even care at this point lol. Did Laca to Rashford on Saturday.

  4. The Mandalorian
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Auba now ruining a good week

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      he's making my week!

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

    KDB >> Pepe done

    1. Pras (FPL)
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Did he order spicy wings?

      1. DAVESAVES
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Lol

  6. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Salah, Kane and Auba revival ... is it Sterling next? Now money has been distributed in the team ... uuughhhh

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

      Still wouldn’t touch Kane or Auba, Sterling has the plague so would never go there either 🙂

      1. Tommy Tynans Left Shin Pad
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You'll be getting Kane soon!

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Hear hear 😉

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

          No chance. Alli and Son for the win

          1. Magic Zico
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 5 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Sissoko says hi

  7. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Southampton playing Westham at home next, Ings brace incoming.

    1. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Very tempted to captain Ings

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Westham make this Arsenal team look like the invincible Arsenal.

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

          This.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Only brace Ings' due is a leg one 🙁

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

      I need another forward slot...

  8. Arteta
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guess who sold Aubameyang after 2 months? 😀

    1. tucaoneo
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Didn't you just become manager like a week ago?

    2. Not again Shirley
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Surely you brought in someone who also did well though?

  9. Maddi Son
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Auba only hurting the rank by about 40k. Not too bad.

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Dropping 3K for around 50K OR

    2. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      yeah 330k to 340k for me. Still nice green overall

  10. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Tonight Auba becomes the fourth player to break 100 points

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      And we are mocking him 😉

    2. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Has been the gem in that poor poor team

  11. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Did Auba to Rashford on Sat, nice parting gift but slightly fearful now

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Their fixtures are atrocious

  12. DAVESAVES
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Arnautovic still injured?

    1. melvinmbabazi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      lool

  13. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Big money strikers strike back this week

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Aye, imagine when Kun's back

  14. Firminooooo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    OR now 9975. No more goals.

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

      Brag?

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not a good rank. Do better

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Only GW16 ... 22GWs to go

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

      Thanks for letting us know . We were all waiting for this.

    5. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah think my HOF rank just went to 4 figures darn it

  15. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Auba (c) is simple set and forget for the season.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah, Arsenal are fixture-proof.

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      *Vardy

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nah, he only scores when starting for Leicester.

    3. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Lol

  16. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Get 3 BAPs Pepe you superstar, never doubted you!

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Had him for so long earlier in season

    2. Longlatini
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Auba to get all 3?

  17. ZAMUNDA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Arsenal assets won't impress me as they failed with their hefty price tags apart from today's outcome.. Their upcoming fixtures would be another reason to not consider them

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

      Wouldn’t consider them with the easiest fixture run, let alone the one they have coning up 🙂

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

        coming*

      2. ZAMUNDA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I already brought Auba and regretted it thinking the easy run of fixtures could help but he only got a double-digit return in Norwich game... out of 10 games. When we have the likes of Vardy, Rashford, Jimi, Tammy and Ings.

    2. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Not all hefty though

      1. ZAMUNDA
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Those who are not hefty aren't nailed. Even Pepe and Laca ain't nailed.

    3. Milk, 1 Šuker
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Agreed

  18. ratchet
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Does the LiveFPL rank include all the VC points as well?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yes.

      1. ratchet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Nice. Thanks

  19. Runaway
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Auba turned my little green arrow to a little red one. I hate him, only brings misery either from the inside or outside of the team 🙁

  20. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Imagine paying 70m for the French Gabrial Obertan

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

    The average standard in the PL this season is piss poor.

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Very much so.

    2. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Woeful!

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

      What is average though ? Same in many national leagues over . Tge combination of money and decent coaches makes all the difference. Always has and always will.

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

        I think many of the bigger teams have gone downhill compared to 1-2 years ago.

        None of the others have seized the chance apart from leicester.

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

          Only through having poor coaches and bad signings . Spain & Italy are hardly thriving leagues either.

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      These are two teams in the relegation battle however

  22. Paulie Walnuts
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Kdb > Pepe -4?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Before FT to get tonight's point!

    2. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Err...No!

  23. Ron_Swanson
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Through to the next round in both FFS cups 🙂

    Who else made it? I'm normally out by now...

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Is 82 enough to get in?

      1. villa_til_i_die
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Could be close!

      2. Ron_Swanson
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        You're already in if you entered, this is a knockout round

  24. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Shirt off Granit

  25. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Lacapoop tbh

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Who's the autosub?

      1. Top Lad Dakes.
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Dendoncker 😆 2>1.

        58 all out caps a meh week. Laca to Rashford already done, will probs roll w Puli one more week before Alli in (or Son if I downgrade elsewhere)

  26. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Sold Auba for Jesus.

    So I did.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Christ thats rough.

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

        How did the move even cross his mind?

        1. Rainer
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          No Kun meant a nailed Jesus.

        2. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Upgraded Perez to Rich.

      2. ratchet
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I wouldn’t feel merry with that move

      3. De Gea Van Dijk. 10
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Got this weeks points.

  27. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Auba to Rashford makes sense?

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      What’s your third striker spot (assuming you have Vardy)?

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Tammy

    2. ratchet
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yup. That’s what I’ve dine given fixtures

    3. The Knights Template
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      does it?

      1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Well, I used the question mark first!

      2. Dthinger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        maybe. Rash has good fixtures and either team could implode again

  28. The Knights Template
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Ah fiddlesticks, Guendouzi costing me 8 Kelly points.

  29. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Laca is not getting back into the team is he ?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      He will score a hatty once Dakes sells.

      1. Ginkapo FPL
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        2022 then

        1. Top Lad Dakes.
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Already done. MCI loss incoming

  30. Ci Siamo
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Maddy to Son a wise move?

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

      I wouldn't this week

    2. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      With Leicester at home to Norwich, I wouldn’t!