Dugout Discussion

Foden makes first league start of season as De Bruyne takes up advanced role

The penultimate match of Gameweek 17 kicks off at 16:30 GMT, as Manchester City head to the Emirates to take on Arsenal.

Without the injured David Silva (£7.6m) and Sergio Aguero (£11.7m), Pep Guardiola has sprung a surprise by naming Phil Foden (£5.1m) in his starting XI for the first time in the Premier League this season.

With midfield anchors Ilkay Gundogan (£5.2m) and Rodri (£5.4m) in the visitors’ line-up, Kevin De Bruyne (£10.2m) looks to be playing in a more advanced role behind Foden, Raheem Sterling (£11.8m) and Gabriel Jesus (£9.6m).

Nicolas Otamendi (£5.0m) and Benjamin Mendy (£5.5m) also come into the side from the team that was defeated in the Manchester derby, with Angelino (£4.7m) and the sidelined John Stones (£5.3m) making way.

Bernardo Silva (£7.9m) and Riyad Mahrez (£8.3m) are only amongst the substitutes.

Freddie Ljungberg has made two enforced changes to the side that beat West Ham last Monday, with Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) and Matteo Guendouzi (£4.5m) coming in for the injured Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) and Granit Xhaka (£5.1m).

Alexandre Lacazette (£9.3m) is again among the substitutes as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) leads the line for the Gunners.

Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) makes his seventh straight Premier League start.

At the risk of jinxing it, there ought to be goals in this fixture: Arsenal and City are without a league clean sheet in eight and six matches respectively.

Bernd Leno (£5.0m) has made more saves than any other Fantasy Premier League goalkeeper this season.

City have scored at least two goals in each of the last seven league meetings with the Gunners.

Fantasy managers have been deserting the premium players from these two clubs recently: De Bruyne, Sterling and Aubameyang were three of the four most-sold FPL assets of Gameweek 17.


Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Chambers, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Torreira, Pepe, Özil, Martinelli, Aubameyang.

Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Otamendi, Mendy, Gundogan, Rodri, Foden, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus.

1,617 Comments Post a Comment
  1. drughi
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    This gonna be a bloodbath

  2. Yank Revolution
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    #21's fault right there, gotta cover KDB

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

    Anyone “risk” the KDB(c) over Vardy/Mane?

    I’m jealous! Should’ve had the cojones

    1. Unfathomable Ruination
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      If only ...

      But never get rid of an attacking player before they play Arsenal!

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

    compound that misery KDB!

  5. Ginkapo FPL
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Kolasinac at fault for two goals

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

    City to reach 10 goals today?

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

    KDBBBBBBBBBBB

  8. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Punish those sellerssss Sterling and KDBBBBBB

  9. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Raheem!

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

    Stop it Kevin!!

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

    I’d like to report a murder that’s taking place.

    1. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Kevin the Ripper

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

      Prime suspect is 5 ft 10 and ginger

  12. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    If season keepers exist, KDB is one.

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

    Season absolutely over... Cant believe I dont own KDB

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

      This is rough with no City.

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

    KDB 😀

  15. twoplustwo
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Five vs two in that box

  16. Jenas
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Starring at J. Fleck and Rico points on the bench. So frustration.

  17. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    KDB & STERLING SAVING MY GW!!!!

  18. Miguel Sanchez
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    No KDB assist currently

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 4 months ago

      Corrected now

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

      Been given.

  19. moment
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Can't believe having KDB is actually a differential

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

    Sterling scores when Mark doesn't captain him.

  21. Sailboats
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    KDB MONSTER HAUL INCOMING BOYS

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

    Anything shy of 20 points from KDB here would be a fail.

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

      yaaaas ;D

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

      Against Arsenal anything less than 50pts is a fail 😀

  23. Collie01
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Fern YC

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

    Sterling rewarding those that have stuck with him 😆

  25. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Sold Sterling for Son.

    I hate this game.

  26. Camzy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    KdB is playing as a LW this game. Amazing.

  27. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    So KDB to Son as a part of my reshuffle went well...ffs end of the season.

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

      It was nice talking to you here this year!

  28. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Surely that’s a KdB assist...

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

      Who is debating that it’s not?

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

      Yes. Has been given on FPL.

  29. Shatner's Bassoon
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 4 months ago

    Ridiculous. Own Sterling for months without him getting a chance like that.

    Bin him & there you go. Rubbish.

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

    Could be 6 or 7 at this rate