Dugout Discussion

Arsenal and Leicester retain three-man backlines for Emirates clash

Mikel Arteta and Brendan Rodgers have kept faith in their respective clubs’ recent switches to a three-man defence for their Emirates Stadium meeting on Tuesday evening.

Arsenal have now been operating in 3-4-3 since Gameweek 31+ winning every match since then without conceding a goal.

As has been the case throughout that run, Sead Kolasinac (£5.2m) sits in the back-three, joined there by David Luiz (£5.7m) and Shkodran Mustafi (£5.1m).

That means Kieran Tierney (£5.3m) and Hector Bellerín (£5.3m) are handed wing-back roles one again, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) and Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) flank Alexandre Lacazette (£9.2m) in the front-three.

As Mason Greenwood‘s (£4.6m) stock continues to rise, Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m) Fantasy credentials are still travelling in the opposite direction. After blanking in the Gameweek 33+ win over Wolves, the former Leeds loanee has been named on the bench for the second time in three matches.

Leicester’s back-three is the foundation for a slightly different shape, featuring Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) and Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m) at the front of a 3-4-1-2 formation.

Changing to this system played a big part in the Foxes’ 3-0 win over Crystal Palace last time out, a game in which both of their centre-forwards found the back of the net.

Ayoze Pérez (£6.1m) supports them in a number 10 role tonight with James Justin (£4.7m) and Marc Albrighton (£5.1m) acting as the left and right wing-backs respectively.

That means Ben Chilwell (£5.6m) and James Maddison (£7.4m) have not passed their fitness tests in time, while Harvey Barnes (£6.0m) is named among the substitutes for the fourth match in a row, despite his two assists against Palace.

Arsenal XI: Martínez; Kolasinac, D Luiz, Mustafi; Tierney, Xhaka, Ceballos, Bellerín; Aubameyang, Lacazette, Saka.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel; Söyüncü, Evans, Bennett; Justin, Tielemans, Ndidi, Albrighton; Pérez; Vardy, Iheanacho.

1,215 Comments Post a Comment
  1. shearer9
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    5pm FPL deadline is absurd. Some of us are actually employed

    1. GOTHAM City F.C.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Casual

      1. FPL_DON
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        haha, but agree

    2. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Get your priorities straight 🙂

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm not doing well even though i was available on deadline ....

    4. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes, but presumably you knew that last night?

    5. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Majority of fpl crowd is from asia

      1. GOTHAM City F.C.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        its 3am here now zzz

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

          So 12 at deadline. 9 30 in india

    6. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I get the butler to do my transfers

    7. Chandler Bing
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I mean you don't have to set your team 5 minutes prior to deadline.

    8. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You’ve had since 12PM GMT Saturday to set your team out.

    9. Greek Freak
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      That will probably work to your advantage, with everyone taking hits for Kane while you beat them with the same team as last week.

    10. Podge
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I missed it too but I was off today 😆

  2. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ashley Cole thinks Arsenal defence will have no trouble with Vardy. Has he seen them?

    1. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      They have been improved a lot under Arteta

    2. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Always been thick as ****

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

      Arsenal have been one the best teams defensively since arteta took over

    4. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I actually agree with him. Vardy's record vs big 6 this year is abysmal. And Arsenal have 3 clean sheets in a row.

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy has already destroyed arsenal earlier in the season, and scored a stunner away to man City not long after that

      Arsenal have improved a lot under Arteta though - they’re top of the form table with Man Utd over the last 5-10 games

      If they switch off for a split second tonight bough Vardy can punish them, particularly if they try to push up too far & leave him acres of open prairie to break into

  3. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Any chance that Pulisic gets the first goal?

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

      50/50

    2. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      no chance

    3. Oggle22
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is this actually still being debated?

  4. Dacra
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    0 from 0 any good?

    Will be same after this game too.

    1. Fred54
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Better than -7 from 1.

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        WTF

    2. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      How about -4 from 0

    3. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      -4 here

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

      -3 from 1 so good actually yeah

  5. MGMT
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Willian or Pulisic? Who looks more dangerous?

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Both good options

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

      Pulisic but don’t looked good there. Should have had more points and that’s without Willy’s set pieces.

      Tough call!

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

        but both* looked good.

    3. FPL_DON
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Puli for me but close

    4. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Currently thinking Willian because if set pieces + pk

    5. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Willian is more clinical and has set pieces to go with it

  6. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Score check

    -5 from 2 here 😀

    1. Tempestic
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      respect

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

      Which 2

      1. pundit of punts
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Kiko and James 🙁

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

    I have PVA benched and hopefully won't be needed but how on earth hasn't he been given the assist for the first goal? Zaha was the intended target. Zaha got the ball

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

      He hasn’t.

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

        Mb, Zaha was not the target.

    2. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Im going to have to agree with you here 100%. If Martial got the assist on the weekend then it’s only right PVA gets this assist. I dont own him but if i did, i’d be frustrated.

    3. the snazzy viking
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      people at fpl towers own Martial but not PVA

      simple

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

    Still worth getting one of Willian or Pulisic in?

    1. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Surely one of them is due a rest before the FA Cup semi?

      1. seanie3
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Won’t be rested, no one else In the team is brining home the bacon like them, lamps knows it

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Lampard would be very foolish to run both of them into the ground

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

            Norwich on Tuesday
            FAC on Sunday

            Helps in that sense, likely get team news too.

            1. Syd.
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Yeah it is the ideal game to rest both of them

      2. The Suspended One
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I’ve been expecting puli rest each of the last two games, would figure that I buy him and he’s rested. Surely have to prioritize the CL...

        1. Syd.
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Surely the Norwich game is the ideal game to rest them?

          From an FPL perspective that would be shite but it does make sense

          1. The Suspended One
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            You seen our def lately? 😉

        2. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          CL is way more important than FA cup (with all due respect)

  9. Amey
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy
    Stay calm
    No need to score.
    Arteta do one favour ...
    Share them the points 😛

    1. seanie3
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      2-2 final score with Vardy brace and lazacette and Saka goals please

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Settle for that as non Vardy onwer

      2. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Boooooooo
        😀

    2. TwiggsJameson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      0-0 please

      1. Amey
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        1-1 would be better
        Nacho Laca goals

        1. Old Man
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Settle for that too

          1. Amey
            • 5 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Ha ha

  10. Soto Ayam
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son, Bruno, Mahrez, martial, William
    Radford, ings, Jimenez

    Worth doing rash + Jim > vardy + greenwood for -4?

    Works also facilitate Mahrez to kdb the next week

    Cheers

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martinez the new pope haul coming

    1. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pope is the new pope

  12. Rinseboy
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    My rival is 5 behind me! who scores more this week you recon?

    Me - Salah Maguire Mahrez +4 points
    Him - Kane Rashford Foden

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Think you’ll be sound. Mahrez haul incoming

      1. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        hope so Dazz mate. Could do with Salah outscoring Kane too

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He could easily beat you this week. I hope he does because I have all the 3 on the bottom and none of yours!

    3. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      So you saved transfer did you? I took plunge at 4.55 pm with Salah DCL to Foden Kane!

      1. Camzy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Kane would be nowhere near my team if it wasn't for the fact I have a WC...

        1. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I’m playing the attack Bournemouth strategy this week and gives me some differentials To rival in ML - and will move him on next week

      2. Rinseboy
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        haha yes saved just couldn't make up my mind and thought 2 FTs next week would be easier in the end. My rival did the Kane Foden move the same tho so I could have matched him! annoying!

  13. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Wow feels odd to root for Arsenal

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

      2nd week in a row for utd and chelsea fans

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Lol
      Underdogs

  14. dee_top
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    GUYS! need help with transfers! Don’t know what to do:
    Pope
    TAA Maguire Doherty
    Son Bruno KDB Martial
    Jimmy Auba DCL
    Subs: 3.9, Saint Max, Holgate, Lascelles
    2FT, 0 INB

    A) Auba Saint Max to Vardy Foden
    B) just Auba to vardy
    C) Martial Auba to Salah Greenwood
    D) Something else??

  15. JohnnyRev7
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    "Leicester’s back-three is the foundation for a slightly different shape, featuring Jamie Vardy (£9.7m) and Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m)"

    Back-three? Yet another reason why I won't be renewing my membership after nine years. The standard of writing on here is shocking. And this was written by the "Editor".

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I can't tell if you're joking.

    2. The Suspended One
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      What are you on about?

    3. Egg noodle
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Is it the hyphen that annoys you?

  16. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Hey fam!

    Salah & Nketiah to Vardy (C) & Antonio for -4?

    Will bench Foden probably. Or Greenwood. Depending on their game time!

    1. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy doing well tonight then a yes from me

      1. Greek Freak
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        I took a hit for Kane even after yesterday's horror show so I see nothing wrong with a hit for Vardy regardless of how he plays tonight!

        1. Magic Zico
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Regardless for you but not for me, got other plans

          1. Greek Freak
            • 8 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            I just brought it up as an example of how targeting Bournemouth is a legitimate strategy even if someone isn't at the very top of his form.

            1. Magic Zico
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 5 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              I did not say it's not legitimate but for me I want to see good performance

              1. Greek Freak
                • 8 Years
                3 years, 8 months ago

                Yeah fair enough. I saw enough from Vardy vs. Crystal Palace personally - even if he blanks vs. Arsenal I wouldn't hesitate to buy him for Bournemouth.

                1. Magic Zico
                  • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                  • 5 Years
                  3 years, 8 months ago

                  No probs good luck - just different style of playing FPL

    2. Pep Roulette
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Cheers fam

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

    Time to see up close what Saka is about - need a Cantwell replacement

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Foden

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

        I'm terrified of Pep, plus would introduce real selection dilemmas.

        Also couldn't afford without a hit.

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

        Kid's not bad

  18. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martinez CS and Auba blank please.

  19. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    We’re live 🙂

  20. Syd.
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    C'mon Number 77

    Get another goal

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I really rate him. He should've seen his contract out though. Too much uncertainty at Arsenal and their recent record of developing youth is awful.

      1. Syd.
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yeah he does look good

        Starting to see quite a few youth players getting chances as clubs just don't have the money anymore to keep buying.

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

        Why would he not sign a new contract with arteta on board now and playing him regularly... Would agree if emery was still there

    2. Wild Rover
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      7 + 7

  21. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pulisic is fantastic and a joy to watch.

    Kepa is the complete opposite. How's he even a professional GK let alone the most expensive in history?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Chelsea have looted others many a times. High time they got taste of their own medicine 😀

      Pulisic will be a superstar

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        His goal was so good. I'm surprised at how well he's settled in. This is already his best goal scoring season.

        1. Amey
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Being a star at old club might help.
          Also no already settled stars in the team also i guess.

          He might make everything about him next season. Hazardesuqe eh 😉

    2. james 101
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Chelsea taking the old Real Madrid approach to winning?

    3. Dannyb
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He's awful

      1. Dannyb
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Kepa i mean lol

    4. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Bet somehow Chelsea manage to flog him for 50m euros +

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Kepa

  22. FPL_Devil
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who is most likely to keep a CS in 35?

    1. Miguel Sanchez
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Liverpool or West Ham

    2. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Pool.

  23. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    LIKE THE WAY EVERYONE STARTS ON MAX BPS, but Nacho has fouled so drops 3 points.

  24. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Why is Arteta still picking David Luiz?

    1. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      They're playing as a back three

    2. Syd.
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      He still can do a job and every mistake he makes is amplified

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

      Good in a 3.

  25. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Damn Nacho

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

    Martinez 2nd save.

    Solid backup.

  27. EWH2020
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can I get some score predictions?

    Hendo
    Wan B
    Foden
    Kane

    McCarthy
    Aurier
    Martial
    Sterling
    Mahrez

  28. The Suspended One
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    This should be a top match, was excited to see it. Looks like a training session or a friendly.

    Nice save there

  29. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Cmon martinez rack those saves up

  30. Dybala10
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Remember the time this season we had trash like Ayoze and Tielemans in our teams?