Fixtures

Man City v Arsenal postponed as ‘precaution’ amid coronavirus fears

Double Gameweek 29 is officially off. That’s because Arsenal’s rearranged trip to Manchester City has been postponed amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak.

The news comes after it was revealed on Tuesday that Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis had recent contracted COVID-19.

As the Greek side were at the Emirates Stadium for a Europa League match less than two weeks ago, it has now emerged that several Arsenal squad members met Marinakis.

These players, who have not been named, are now self-isolating at home for the remainder of the 14-day period after the meeting.

Arsenal announced the news in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“The medical advice we have received puts the risk of (these players) developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact. As a result, the players are unavailable for tonight’s match against Manchester City and the Premier League has decided the game should be postponed. The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff – who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match – will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete.” – Arsenal statement

The postponement of Wednesday night’s match means that Arsenal v Man City will need a new date once again.

It also means that Gameweek 29 has now concluded so anyone who had Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) in their starting line-up will see their first substitutes come in.

It also means those who took a hit for Arsenal players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) or Nicolas Pépé (£9.2m) will have to make do with the blanks they registered against West Ham.

As things stand, Arsenal’s trip to Brighton in Gameweek 30 is still going ahead, as the self-isolating players can return to training on Friday.

“Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Mr Marinakis a swift recovery and we look forward to the players and staff returning to work on Friday in preparation for our match at Brighton.” – Arsenal statement

971 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Lev Yashin
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    A cancelled game is a cancelled game whether it's due to the corona virus, a waterlogged pitch or 6ft of snow.

    Get over it people.

    1. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Hear here

      /thread

    2. Dacra
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      What about if it's due to alien invasion?

      1. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Still cancelled i guess 🙂

        1. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
          • 10 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Just before the end of the world.

      2. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        FT to ET

        1. Wild Rover
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          And Captain Anthony Martian

          1. Fitzy.
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 18 days ago

            There's a joke about Uranus here somewhere

    3. FPL Pillars
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      It’s only a few people with their knickers in a twist, calm down.

    4. farmerfat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Yep, so true.

    5. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      The delusional will not get over it so stop baiting them 😛

    6. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Agree - It could have been postponed for any number of reasons.

  2. RichieW
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Would you bench anyone for Ings for this weekend? Will be swapping him for Wood next week

    Henderson
    TAA Lascelles Doherty Alonso
    Salah KDB Fernandes Maddison
    Deeney Jiminez

    Pope Ings Traore Taylor

    1. Make ManeMane Make ManeMane
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      He's got to be ahead of Lascelles

  3. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Would you do KDB and Pepe to Fernandes and Sarr this week for a -4?

    Henderson
    Stephen's Boly TAA
    KDB Pepe Mane Salah
    Jimi Jota DCL
    Pope Taylor Mooy Fernandez

  4. Wild Rover
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    On the plus side I can now watch Liverpool tonight whereas I would have watched the Prerm game 🙂

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Pity PSG vs Dortmund is today as well. Hard to call both ties atm.

      1. Wild Rover
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        I bet BT are loving it

      2. Niho992
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Empty stadion. I couldnt watch that

  5. Colind88
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Good article here on double game week planning - if for example the author is correct and double gameweek 34 is limited to Everton, Norwich, Newcastle and Aston Villa then using your FH in gameweek 31 may be a better option - just saying!

    https://www.fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk/fantasy-premier-league-double-gameweeks-scenario-planning/

    1. HTL
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      34 looks a rotten selection of DGW teams but I’m hanging fire on using the FH anytime soon. Can still put 8 out in 31 assuming all games go ahead

    2. dvdguy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      If there’s going to be a GW34 at all

  6. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Why Olympiakos-Wolves isnt postponed yet?

    1. farmerfat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Because their team members didnt shake hands with the infected virus dude

    2. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Test results of players were negative

  7. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    A cool and awesome 35 points with Auba, Kun, KdB and Saka not playing tonight.

    1FT. Wait till last hour Saturday for Kun out?

    Pope
    TAA Aurier Saiss
    Salah KdB Sarr Saka
    Aguero Auba Jota

    Gazzaniga Cantwell Cathcart Taylor

  8. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    The worst season of all time.

    1. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Far from it.

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Could be for him tho.

  9. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    KDB limited minutes vs Bur?

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      He will need a good run out to get fitness up for Madrid I wouldve thought

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        But the comments from Pep...

    2. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Ya CL is important so think of burnley as a practice session for madrid. KDB and Mahrez will start and play prob for 60 mins

  10. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    All of you DGWer owners will be rewarded this weekend vs Burnley and Brighton. Do not fear.

    1. Holmes
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Unfortunately getting rid of them

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Unless they FHed

    3. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Ha, cheers! This week was so bad I was looking forward to just an appearance from Auba tonight. That’s why I’d captained him - seemingly a minimum of 4 points and playing the percentages. Alas, it was a complete blowout.

  11. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    How many have ever sent a mail to fantasy PL and got a reply from them?

    1. wulfrunian
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      me

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Great 🙂

    2. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I have. A few years ago. Over some assist-gate issue. Can't remember who.

      It was given in the end.

      1. DOG GOD IT - KEANE 15
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        And FPL Towers replied.

    3. TRIPOS TOPPER
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      saying what?

    4. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      If there is a FAQ (e.g a disputed assist everyone is moaning about) they prepare a standard response which they ping out to everyone who emails with basically the same question. If it is an email about a specific team having a dodgy team name or something like that, they will reply personally. If you are just emailing them nonsense, you will probably just get ignored.

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        I will wait with baited breath.

      2. The Ejiptian King
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Could be emailing them saying to avoid City assets.

    5. FantasyHero
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Me

  12. 03farmboy
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Martial or Willian?

  13. denial
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Team for next GW:

    Henderson
    TAA VDV Boly
    Salah KDB Mount Barnes
    Jiminez Ings Auba

    // McCarthy / Saka / Stephens / Lascelles

    Save transfer or get Fernandes in? Utd are going to beat Spurs.

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Looks good for a save if you’re navigating 31 with FTs

  14. PascalCygan
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I’m going to step away from the game for a couple of days to clear my head after a terrible couple of weeks but in the meantime...

    What about these moves please? I’ve got 7 players for 31 but was thinking of doing FH31 and WC32. Do postponements mean all bets are off?

    A) Traore to Sarr (free and build towards 31)
    B) Traore to Mount/Barkley (free and think this week and 32 and beyond)
    C) Traore to Barnes
    D) Other

    1FT 1.0ITB
    Ryan
    TAA VVD Soyuncu
    Salah KdB Martial Traore
    Auba Jimenez Ings

    McGovern Williams Dendoncker Taylor

    Thanks!

    1. PascalCygan
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      By the way, Sarr could be any midfielder with a 31 fixture, basically shifting Traore so I can bring in Jota or a Wolves defender.

    2. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Traore may start,1 point is better than none in worst case scenario.

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Thanks, I’m concerned those one pointers are adding up past few weeks. I’ll keep an eye on Europa games

    3. denial
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      A looks good

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Thanks

    4. MOTHRA
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      That’s a FH imo

      1. PascalCygan
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Thanks. That’s the conclusion I’d come to earlier this week - just worried further postponements might wreak further havoc with my 31FH plan.

  15. SpaceCadet
    • 10 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Best 6.5m mid with a fixture in 31 to complete this lot?

    Salah mane Bruno xxxx dendo
    Auba Jimmy ings

    1. Dr. Mantis Toboggan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      McNeil or Sarr

      1. SpaceCadet
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Thanks

    2. FPL_Crisis
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Sarr or Antonio

      1. Tingate
        • 10 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Antonio is £6.9M

        1. FPL_Crisis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Selective reading. For some reason I saw 7m. Cheers

    3. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Sarr or forget about 31 and go Barnes

    4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Sarr

    5. SpaceCadet
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Thanks all

  16. Poseidon.
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Got to be having the unluckiest season in history. Be amazed if I even stay in top 10k at this rate

    1. villa_til_i_die
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Lol, I’d be ashamed too.

      1. Poseidon.
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Just can’t catch a break!!

    2. Surfeit of Lampteys
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Scholes*

      1. Poseidon.
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Huh?

      2. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Ouch 😆

    3. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Most unluckiest for me too..

    4. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Top 10k and you call yourself unlucky

      1. Konstaapeli
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Don't bite

        1. The Polymath
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Too late, I've got a nasty taste in my mouth. 😀

    5. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Back to your best!

      1. Poseidon.
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        😉

      2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Yeh trolls are great, we should congratulate them

    6. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      The Poseidon Adventure is a good film - have you seen it?

      1. Poseidon.
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Too busy living it mate

    7. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      You spelled “Scholes” wrong. We don’t believe you.

  17. Wensink
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Prepping for GW 31 and thinking Lascelles to Cathcart on a FT. No brainer, right? Watford face Burnley in GW 31.

    1. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      2 pointer swing
      Burnley are in good rhythm they will score for sure

      1. Wensink
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Charlie Taylor? My budget is 4.3m.

        1. MOTHRA
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Yep

  18. Angin out the Begović
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Anyone thinking Tanganga is a good replacement for Rico at 4.1?
    Has a good chance of playing BGW31 and could keep a clean sheet ?

    Anyone else looking at him as their 5th ?

    1. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Yeah

    2. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Haven't they only kept 2 cleansheets since Jose took over? They look abysmal.

    3. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Already got him though just for filler. It will be a bonus if he plays and gets points 31.
      Ngakia at 4 is also an option while Fredericks is out

      1. Angin out the Begović
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Janmaat?

  19. KUN_DE_BRU_YNE
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Chances of wood scoring Vs city > chances of ings scoring Vs Norwich ???

  20. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    What if any Arsenal player is diagnosed with Coronavirus? All Arsenal matches in the next few weeks postponed? West Ham team put into quarantine? It would be interesting times in fpl...

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Would get interesting for sure.

  21. Test Eagles
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Potential FH team for GW31

    Pope
    Alderweireld Doherty Saiss TAA
    Alli Sarr Mane Salah
    Jiménez Woods

    Thoughts?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Four at the back for a FH seems a bit odd, but doesn't mean it can't work.

      1. Test Eagles
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Struggling to find worthy midfielders. Ideally another Spurs but they’re all crocked.

        1. Whats the Huth
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          You could do Jota and Jiminez. And get another defender instead of Saiss

          1. Test Eagles
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            4 years, 18 days ago

            Not a bad call

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Double wolves defence is best. I agree. I’m FH too. And I will be doing double Wolves at the back

    3. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I don’t see the point in Sarr if you’re playing Pope

      1. Klaren
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        With that logic you might as well triple up on the defences that you expect highest % chance of CS.

        It's just spreading the risk. Also with chances of save points/penalty save etc, it's not a 100% inverse correlation anyway.

    4. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I'd get Aurier over Alderweireld.

  22. Whats the Huth
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I’m hoping the Wolves game gets cancelled this weekend.
    Means I can do my Doherty to Alonso transfer without fear of a Doherty haul

  23. as33
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Any1 decided what to do with Grealish, r u still keeping him? Thinking to swap to Barnes(got Vardy asvel)

  24. Sgt Frank Drebin
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Forgive me my ignorance but can't the postponed game be played later but the points added to this GW score? And the prizes for highest score in the GW given later? It could be a complication for the FPL Cup tho...

    1. The Polymath
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Nope. A GW is finished for good when a new GW starts.

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        But why though? In my opinion that would be much more fair solution

        1. The Polymath
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          There is no problem, so a solution is not required. Postponements are just bad luck and part of FPL.

        2. The Rumour Mill
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Because its in the rules of the game

          1. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 18 days ago

            So maybe the rules need to be changed...

            1. The Rumour Mill
              • 7 Years
              4 years, 18 days ago

              I guess they could change it for future seasons, I imagine the game code is fixed for this season though.

              But wouldn't it cause more issues than it solves? You mention the FPL cup but you would also have the situation where you have picked players for a match in a particular week - what if when the game is eventually played all those players don't play anyway as theyre injured, suspended, out of form etc. It would be blind luck what points you get and even less skill-determined than the game already is. No planning or preparation would be rewarded in this scenario.

              1. Sgt Frank Drebin
                • 7 Years
                4 years, 18 days ago

                Yeah I think it will never happen because of the reasons you mention. The current situation is also a bit unfair but I guess there won't be perfect solution to a sudden postponement of a fixture

            2. Whats the Huth
              • 8 Years
              4 years, 18 days ago

              So, if it was cancelled because of a snowstorm or other reason. Would you still have the same complaint?

              When the Man City match was postponed a few weeks back due to the weather, yes, there was a lot of grumbling - including from myself. It was accepted as bad luck and we moved on.
              We was lucky that it got rearranged in the same week. But the team that went out was weaker as it was very soon before the Real Madrid game.

              It’s just life and the rules of game. You need to move on

        3. Now I'm Panicking
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Life ain't fair Drebin. It's a topsy-turvy world, and maybe the problems of two people don't amount to a hill of beans. But this is our hill. And these are our beans.

    2. Whats the Huth
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Nope.
      All games been played this week. The double was just a bonus - it’s not happened now. It’s over

    3. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      “... Forgive me my ignorance but can't the postponed game be played later but the points added to this GW score? ...”. No.

      1. Sgt Frank Drebin
        • 7 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        I know how it is done usually but I just wonder why is it the way it is.

        1. The_Fish
          • 5 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          Because games go in the gameweek they are played, not when first scheduled. There'd be no blanks and doubles this way, and it's a nightmare to plan your team around.

          Also monthly prizes would be all over the shop.

          1. Sgt Frank Drebin
            • 7 Years
            4 years, 18 days ago

            On the other hand blanks and DGWs are announced way before they take place so you can plan accordingly. Here you planned for the DGW and it was announced postponed after the deadline. I mean I understand the reasoning all those rules, just wanted to maybe provoke a discussion

        2. jtreble
          • 7 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          FPL Rule No. 1: No custom programming.

    4. dvdguy
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      If you don’t agree with the rules don’t play the game.

  25. Crystal Alice
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I’m in the top 20k after some jammy Barnes points. I’ve still got all my chips- when is the best time to TC?

    1. jtreble
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Read NOMONEY HT.

    2. CONNERS
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Salah GW33 or perhaps someone like Vardy when Leicester play their DGW.

  26. tm370
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I've got all my chips but I very much doubt I will be able to use them all.

    Exponential increases of the virus will kill off the football. I particularly don't see how the Europa league and Champions League will be concluded this season, despite UEFA's stubbornness.

  27. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Is this enough for 31?

    C.Taylor, VVD, TAA, Doherty
    Salah, Traoré, Alli
    Jimenez