Dugout Discussion

Pepe returns to the Arsenal XI as Pogba-less United head to the Emirates

The penultimate match of Gameweek 21 takes place between Arsenal and Manchester United this evening.

Kick-off at the Emirates is at 20:00 GMT.

There are three changes to the Manchester United side that beat Burnley on Saturday.

Full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka (£5.3m) and Luke Shaw (£5.4m) return to the starting XI as Ashley Young (£5.4m) and Brandon Williams (£4.0m) drop to the bench, while Jesse Lingard (£6.3m) replaces Andreas Pereira (£4.9m) in the number ten role.

There is, as expected, no Paul Pogba (£8.4m) in the United squad, with the Frenchman having not been sighted among the travelling party when the Red Devils journeyed to London.

Anthony Martial (£7.9m) leads the line, having been transferred in by more Fantasy Premier League managers than any other player apart from Adama Traore (£5.6m) ahead of Gameweek 21.

Mikel Arteta has made four alterations to his Arsenal line-up, meanwhile.

Granit Xhaka (£5.1m), Nicolas Pepe (£9.1m), Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) and Sokratis (£4.9m) are recalled, as Matteo Guendouzi (£4.4m), Reiss Nelson (£5.3m) and Bukayo Saka (£4.5m) drop to the bench.

Calum Chambers (£4.4m) was injured in Gameweek 20 and misses out – Arteta said in a pre-match interview that the club were “not positive” about his prognosis, with further news to follow after a scan.

Dani Ceballos (£5.2m) is among the substitutes after two months on the sidelines.

The reverse fixture of this game finished 1-1 back in September, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) on target for the Gunners.


Arsenal XI: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Torreira, Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Manchester United XI: de Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelöf, Maguire, Shaw, Fred, Matic, James, Lingard, Rashford, Martial.

1,410 Comments Post a Comment
  1. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Arsenal smelling blood here.

    Need to get another goal and then if they are smart, slow the game down, break it up and make it impossible for Man Utd to counter attack.

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

      They are not smart.

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I agree. That is something Arteta needs to teach them. Those dark arts (i.e. clever fouling) that Pep utilises.

      2. Free Hat
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        😀

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

    Has Luke Shaw been tucking into the christmas pudding again?

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

      he is the pudding

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

      All year round.

    3. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      dont bully Shaw 🙁

    4. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Choc full of gravy & pies

      Them carbs give him them energy

  3. Gringo Kid
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Come on you Gooners!

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

    Arsenal looking comfortable.

  5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Who the devil is that in the arsenal #19 shirt

    It sure as hell ain’t the same guy from the last 20 games

  6. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    pepe is world class man. would walk into any pl team

    1. YEAH PITCH!
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Couldn't disagree more

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

        this says otherwise

        shorturl.at/ntxP6

    2. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Barely gets into Arsenal's team.

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

    All Rashford captains & Vice-captains waiting for a Goal

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

    Maguire having one.

    Trying desperately to out do Pepe as flop of the millennium.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Pepe has already done more than di maria

  9. Woy_is_back
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Blanks for Martial and Rash and hatty for Salah(C) only way to save this gw

  10. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    so, looking ahead. Deulo cap vs Bournemouth anyone? What could go wrong

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Deeney? More likely to bully the Bournemouth defence. Like Haller did today. Sarr could cause trouble in a similar fashion to Snodgrass today.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        wanted Sarr, but fact is mid spots there is too much competition. I could have Grealish, Maddison or Martial over Sarr. Up front got Ings, Vardy and just did Pukki>Deul. Didnt really consider Deeny if im honest, I like Gerrard

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

      3 baps

      1. Epic Fail
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I do miss the man in the stand.

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

          Ohh, the times when Assou-Ekotto kept getting baps for his hair, that was amazing 🙂

          1. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            There was a birmingham mid..ferguson or something. Got 3 baps even when they got mauled week in week out

      2. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        He would get 3 bonus as an unused sub.

  11. Eat my goal!
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    As a Utd fan this is awful, silver lining is all those martial and rashford owners

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

      Isn’t this the norm?

      1. Eat my goal!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I guess but I’m considering alli to martial - god help me

  12. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Marcus Gashford is back

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

      *Trashford

    2. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Along with Tony Marshall.

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

    United fill me with zero confidence.

    I own 2 of their attackers, despite this...

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      There is always a calamity waiting to happen with arsenal. Patience

  14. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Guaita Button
    TAA Kelly Rico Lundstram Willems
    KDB Salah Alli Martial Grealish
    Vardy Rashford Greenwood

    1FT 0.2ITB

    What would you do with this shower of shi*e? Deleting team is not an option

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Willems Alli priority to go.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        im not convinced Alli should go yet, he seems overpriced. But as soon as he braces, everyone will want him. He is a scary player not to own when he is in form

        1. zotter
          • 14 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Spurs not playing well. Kane out won’t help either.

          1. have you seen cyan
            • 4 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            Alli could be even moe effective with Kane out, really dont know. Its a hold for me, I give him until the double. Nothing up to there he becomes Mane

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Arsenal rejuvenated

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Started similarly against Chelsea. Didn't end well.

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      This is a Kind of match United loves, counter attacks coming

  16. Nightf0x
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Which?

    A) ali to madds
    Gw23 martial to son
    Gw24 aurier/sidibe to gomez

    B) ali to mads
    23 martial to son
    24 sidibe ramsdale -4 to buton robo

    C) ali sidibe/aurier -4 to sterling 4.4/4.1 def.
    23 rams to buton
    24 sterling to salah

    1. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I like C

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

      Wait for an injury.

  17. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Id love Arteta's managerial career to get off to a continued disasterclass

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

      United fan?

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

        Football fan

    2. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      *Captain Black

  18. zotter
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Two FTs.... guess Target out?

    2.5 itb

    Gazza. Button
    Rico. Trent. Targett. Lund. Soy
    Salah. Kdb. Grealish. Martial. Cantwell
    Vardy. Jiminez. Abraham

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

    Ole is inept, doesn't switch Martial and Rashford around, game just passes him by.

  20. Lord of Ings
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    RMWCT?
    I feel I'm fine without TAA for the next 2.
    Fabianski button
    Soyuncu lundstram holgate cathcart dunk
    Salah kdb cantwell maddison martial
    Rashford vardy Jimenez
    Would you go double Leicester in attack or grealish over maddison?

    1. Lord of Ings
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Do help guys! I've had an absolute mare..

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Why wild card so soon ?

      1. Lord of Ings
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        I have triple spurs,no bench and a lot of points to catch up too.

      2. Woy_is_back
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Why not? I´m using it soon as well. All chips left

        1. Lord of Ings
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 3 months ago

          Yep same here.all chips intact.

    3. The Legend Squad
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      I prefer Mane over Salah.

      You need TAA. No point not putting him in now.

      Wouldn’t double up on Martial and Rash. Maybe Ings over Rash?

      1. Lord of Ings
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Yeah I'll get TAA in.
        United have Norwich though I'm really targeting points from that game, either that
        Or I'll punt on aguero vs Villa because Villa are probably the worst defence in the division.

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

      What is your default bench?

      1. Lord of Ings
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 3 months ago

        Elneny jannmat...
        I need Todd cantwell.
        Has a plum fixture vs bou coming up too could easily haul.

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

          You dont have Elneny or Jaanmat in that team.

          1. Lord of Ings
            • 8 Years
            4 years, 3 months ago

            I made this team rn..
            My current team?
            Gazza Roberto
            Soy Lund Kelly Montoya jannmat
            Elneny kdb Salah grealish Alli
            Kane Jimenez vardy
            Too many issues right?

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

              Holgate Cathcart and Dunk are equally as crap as your current trio. You havent improved your team. Attack is basically the same. You are just reorganising your bench.

              Just sell Kane and get Trent. That will be a massive facelift

  21. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Rashford blank confirmed

  22. Monkey Hanger
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Anyone else developing square eyes?

  23. Differentiator
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Surprisingly boring game

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Nothing surprising about a united game being boring

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

      I thought you were a football fan

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

        Nah, Arsenal fan

  24. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Would you do Alli to Maddison?

    Liking Leicester’s fixtures and also Spurs don’t look the best, even if Alli is playing higher.

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

      Definitely

    2. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Good move

  25. balint84
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    selling Kane:

    1) Rashford & Pukki

    or

    2) Abraham & Jimenez

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

      2

    2. zotter
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2 for me.

    3. Rt505
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      2

  26. Rt505
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is this worth a hit?

    Aurier, Alli, Kane out for TAA, Mane, Ings

    Would make my team:
    Ryan, McGovern
    TAA, Soy, Tomori, Kelly, Lund
    Salah, Mane, Maddison, KDB, Grealish
    Vardy, Ings, Greenwood

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah

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

    3 - Pépé (25)
    2 - Sokratis (10)
    1 - Leno, Torreira (6)

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 3 months ago

      How about now?

  28. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Is Sidibe going to be the the new Lundstram?

  29. Fred54
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 3 months ago

    Does anyone own any Arsenal players? A few Aubas maybe...