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. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Oh good 🙂

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

    Yes he touched it
    Not sure that means the goal should be ruled out?

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

    Goal given

  4. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy Party

  5. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Even if Perez didnt touch it it should be offside

    1. SuperMane Returns
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy non-owner?

  6. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Goal stands!

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

    Party

  8. SuperMane Returns
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy Party!!!!!!!!!

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

    I think VAR got that wrong??

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

      Same

  10. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Just give it, c'mon!

  11. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Ffs rival capped Vardy

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

    Another Leicester!

  13. Danstoke82
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Arsenal CS gone. Vardy in my team for Bournemouth. See you later Kane

  14. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy top 10k ownership?

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

      About 9. Martínez 11%!

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

        How do you know?

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      10%ish I think

  15. DandyDon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    With no players in this game I think a vardy goal is actually good this week. Martínez surprisingly higher ownership that vardy at top end of game

  16. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Oh god no, please no

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

      Phew!

  17. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    #justiceforarmpit

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

    Ffs VaR Perez obviously touched it. Mark surel doesnt own Martinez

  19. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martinez CS wiped. Beautiful.

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

      Do you own foster?

      1. diesel001
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Pope

    2. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      But Vardy overtaking Aubameyang at the moment.

  20. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    VAR so slow
    So obvious he touched it and yes he is offside but does that mean it should be no goal?

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

      Ummm....yes....

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

        How the hell is that a goal then?

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

          They said no touch

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

    Yes!

  22. El Magico5
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy is in for me next week, going for golden boot, got .1 spare so might pull the trigger tonight.

    Jimi > vardy

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      It's Jamie Vardy not Jimi Vardy.

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

        Jimmy is his pikey cousin

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

      I have exact funds for same move. Was hoping he didn’t score to go under the radar more so. Oh well. Leicester will need two wins next games if they don’t go on to win this so he’s surely best striker for those games.

      1. El Magico5
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Exactly mate, i wish he didn't score aswell might just get a price rise now. Going to hold off for any injuries but deffo pulling the trigger for form, fixtures, need champs league and golden boot to play for

  23. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Var dy goal

  24. pablospicks
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    faint touch of Perez stud meaning that 'pass' to Vardy is not off. Perez assist

  25. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    VAR is awful, ruins the game

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Agreed

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

    We love you Jamie

    Keep em coming

  27. George Agdgdgwngo
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Arsenal have been done over by var

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

    That goal had its own drop.

    Proper party banger.

  29. HuttonDressedasLahm
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    NKetiah first sub

    Guaranteed this is the first week I get a player off the bench !

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

    That tool Ashley Cole said Vardy wouldn't cause Arsenal's defence problems

    1. @persecuted_by_mods
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Stupid thing to say in general but at the same time they've been doing well recently and with 5 at the back they've shown they can be solid. He only scored once they were down to 10 men after all

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

        Setup a goal first half disallowed for nacho’s foul
        Put a goal on a plate for nacho
        Missed a decent chance himself
        Scored just now
        And already double returned vs them earlier in the season

        Yeah Ashley he’ll be no bother lad

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

        You are listening to Cashley?