Dugout Discussion

Martinelli benched as Nketiah comes in for Arsenal

Gabriel Martinelli‘s (£4.5m) recent form was not enough for him to hold onto a place in the Arsenal starting line-up for Gameweek 26.

The centre-forward has averaged 4.75 points per game over his last four starts, better than any of his colleagues, but Mikel Arteta has seen fit to name the youngster on the bench.

Instead, the Arsenal manager has opted to hand Eddie Nketiah (£4.3m) a first start for the club since returning from a loan at Leeds United.

The young Englishman spearheads the Gunners’ attack, supported by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.8m) and Nicolas Pépé (£9.1m) in the wide areas and Mesut Ozil (£7.2m) in the number 10 role.

Meanwhile, there are several changes for Newcastle, as Steve Bruce names new signings Danny Rose (£5.3m) and Valentino Lazaro (£5.5m) at left and right-back respectively, the latter, an FPL midfielder, deployed in reverse-out-of-position.

The Fantasy interest in Newcastle’s defence remains largely on the low side but those discussed as budget differentials recently in Jamaal Lascelles (£4.2m) and Federico Fernández (£4.4m) are both in the starting line-up.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Saka, D Luiz, Mustafi, Bellerin; Ceballos, Xhaka; Aubameyang, Ozil, Pépé; Nketiah.

Newcastle United XI: Dubravka; Rose, Clark, Lascelles, Fernandez, Lazaro; Almirón, Bentaleb, S Longstaff, Saint-Maximin; Joelinton.

804 Comments Post a Comment
  1. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Laca owners are stunned

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Can't have a huge ownership surely?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Surely

  2. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Urgh....

    1. Qaiss
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Blah blah blah, only casuals don't own Auba

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Just turning off this game. Season over...

      1. grumpyman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        That Pep goal too much?

  3. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pepe haunts sellers!!!

    1. Majestic Chanka
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nobody owned him to sell him though?

      1. FPL Pillars
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Net transfers: -7832 🙂

  4. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    We want more we want more. Come oooonnn Aubaaaaa!!!

  5. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Amazing Saka!

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He has talent undoubtedly

  6. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Need more from Auba.

  7. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Damn you Son

  8. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pepe HAUNTS Gw 4 sellers

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

      😀

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Hahaha. Never gets old.

        Thank you Munday

    2. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      stop it 😀

  9. Qaiss
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Unreal striker, play him down the middle Mikel!

  10. Wolfman180
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pepe essential?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Son and Pepe and Auba all 3 are essential :)))

  11. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lazaro done twice now. Shouldn't be starting again anytime soon. Should be eased in.

  12. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Lazano at fault for both goals.

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

      Always captain Pepe against Lazano. Learnt my lesson now

  13. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pepe stuns haunted Lille!

  14. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Is Lascelles a good pick?

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Won’t play the mighty Arsenal again this season.

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I went Fernandez. He has bonus and goals in him

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Not to play in XI

    4. COLLIN QUANER
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I was thinking of getting him. Won't play every week but good to have on the bench for emergencies

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        What I like about New defense that is kind of predictable. They deliver when you expect and can easily be benched when playing difficult game

        1. COLLIN QUANER
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          My thinking exactly, Daniel. I think I will get him when I play my wildcard, which will be quite soon.

          1. FPL Daniel
            • 14 Years
            4 years, 1 month ago

            Go for it

    5. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Benched like a pro.

    6. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Time will tell. Cheap and good on set pieces.

  15. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Strong interest from Liverpool in Saka and you can see why.

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Would be a nice 3rd choice LB.

  16. TyroneGAA
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    The commentator just said ‘ when Pépé scores arsenal win’ can someone confirm how many goals he has scored this season? Lmao

    1. Rainer
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      United game...

      West Ham

      Maybe 1 more?

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Villa home too

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          4 years, 1 month ago

          Cant beleive this will only be 5th win all season

      2. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        He has scored 4 goals.

    2. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Scored in every win except gw 1 vs newc

      1. TyroneGAA
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        you missed the point

    3. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      His celebration was him holding up one finger. I assumed that was a reference to his goal scoring record.

      1. TyroneGAA
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Lmao

    4. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      He has scored one PL goal per manager during his Arsenal spell, correct me if i'm wrong

  17. Agger
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Pepe triple captainers, where you at?

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

      Side splitter.

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      They are haunted by Mane since they sold him for Pepe :))))

  18. JRD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    acting cool after a goal but what a poor poor team

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Reminiscent of the west ham game. They were garbage but scored 2 goals within 10 minutes to mask the performance.

    2. Poseidon.
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Agreed, they shouldn’t be celebrating. They should be hanging their heads in shame

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Arteta’s a fraud. Should have kept Emery another year and another summer window.

  19. selig
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    pepe (c) came through

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Link please

    2. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Nicely done.

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Bravo. Standing applause

  20. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    3 - Pépé (51)
    2 - Aubameyang (35)
    1 - Saka (28)

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Booooo. Auba owner. Pepe had goal and assist?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        He does. Just checked. Ignore me. Thanks

    1. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Next season

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah, hopefully they buy proper players to compete.

  21. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Clark...

  22. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Only 4 teams have lost to arsenal this season and newcaslte about to achieve this feat twice. Deserve relegation just for this

  23. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Need a auba hatty to save my season

    1. Regin
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      I'm quite happy he scored 1

  24. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Hey, look at that. Some time in the past couple days, I must have hit my 3-yr anniversary on the site. Good times.

    You'd think I could pick a captain by now.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Late January.

  25. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Clark. Would've been a thorow in if Luiz didn't get a touch 😆

  26. Rash
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    Another aubameyang goal please

    1. TyroneGAA
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Arsenal pen in 6 mins

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Auba is one of the worst in the league at pens

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 1 month ago

      Auba and grelaish i can ubderstand but son?

      1. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 1 month ago

        Yup. Stupid move i know. I needed differential in my mini league and i downgrade Son to Bergwijn to get Aguero.

  27. Regin
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 1 month ago

    I was just about to sell auba to Jimmy. Now I have to rethink.