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

    Vardy straight to 3 bonus?

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

      Always does that

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

      Excellent

  2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Come on Barnes lad just a wafer thin goal

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

    Pathetic from Perez

  4. Twisted Saltergater
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Correct decision, thankfully.

  5. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Party's back

  6. Champions united
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son to puli or willian

    1. Karhumies
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yes.

    2. JonSnow
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Willian looked more threatening tonight, was pretty impressed by him

    3. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Toss a coin. Don't think you can go wrong with either. For me, Willian just edges it for set piece duties

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

    If Nacho hadn’t wasted that superb Vardy ball earlier he’d be on another haul

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

      Vardy is their whole team

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

        Vardy is FPL

  8. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Had already deducted my Martínez 4pts after the red.

    1. bench boost for every gamew…
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yep this is what you cant foresee. I was confident before game and until red it looked good.

  9. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Could be Jimenez or even Rashford out for Vardy ahead of BOU...

  10. FPL ZB
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Surely if that’s not a Pérez assist then it’s offside?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Perez didn't touch it.

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

        Yes he did

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          But he didn't.

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

            His cleat changed the spin, it wasn’t clear in slow motion, you can see it better real time.

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              Didn't the ball pass under his boot?

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

                I think he got a touch and slowed it down

      2. Volley127
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Vardy looked off from when the ball was played.

    2. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      You have to ask, was that conclusive enough to overturn the on-field decision? I would say no.

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

        Definitely not

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

    Sold Vardy last GW. Lol to me

  12. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Martinez cs lost 🙁 to make it worse I got vardy on wc then moved him to rashford 🙂

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

      Not worse until Rssh plays

  13. Peteex
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Strange VAR decision. It looked like it was offside either way

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      How so?

      1. Peteex
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Well I think you know what offside is?

        1. Twisted Saltergater
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Vardy was inline with Mustafi when the ball was played. He was offside by the time the ball got to Perez, but as he didn't touch it, it was still the same phase of play. So good goal.

          1. Peteex
            • 11 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            It did look to me like Vardy's shoulder was slightly offside when the ball was played to box

            1. Twisted Saltergater
              • 14 Years
              3 years, 8 months ago

              The first camera angle showed that, but it depends which frame VAR use.

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

      Depends what part of the body but he did look slightly ahead to me.

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

      I feel like it definitely touched the boot there

      1. Twisted Saltergater
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        We've just seen replay after replay showing it didn't 😀

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

        From one angle it looked like he touched it, from another it didn’t. Anyway, Leicester deserve a goal

  14. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    ML rival : Vardy
    Me : Martinez

    Good night

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

    Vardy stealing the baps

  16. Lucy2019
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    No one serious has Vardy. Relax people.

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

      Good point well made

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      One person triple capped him in the top 10k!

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

        One very happy person!

      2. Weasel Boy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Wasted it

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

      Your username is out of date

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

      Yep 1-1 with low owned scorers/assisters is the corner stone of non-owners dreams.

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

      I brought in Pulisic/Giroud/Vardy/Auba on my free hit 🙂

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

      LOL

  17. DycheDycheBaby
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Vardy now looks essential with Bournemouth up next!

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

    Never get any luck with keepers.

  19. jdp219
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    With Bournemouth behind them, is it time to move Son?

    Son > ...
    1) Martial (already have Bruno, Greenwood)
    2) Mahrez (have KDB)
    3) Willian (have Pulisic)
    4) Keep

  20. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    There must be a few people with Nketiah first sub sweating...

    1. FPL_Gyarados
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Me :/

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

      Some with Nketiah and some with saka I would think. Mixed fortunes

    3. The Ejiptian King
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      My rival is getting him for Pepe who he hasn't had a chance to get rid of since punting on him/making a terrible mistake, I'm way behind though so it doesn't really matter.

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

      Me

    5. V-2 Schneiderlin
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yup

  21. Scholes Out For Summer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Who to ditch for Vardy:

    Kane or Jimi?

    1. DycheDycheBaby
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Kane

    2. Hulk Smash
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Just a thought but maybe watching them play will help you decide.

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

    8 mins for an Auba or Vardy Party!

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

    Late Vardy G or A would be truly epic here

    8 minutes stoppage time!

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

    That awful decision from VaR costed me 6 points.

    1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Season over

  25. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Good day for current world #1
    Has FH left too

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      and wildcard

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

    Auba off

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

    Willian or Pullisic?

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

      Both?

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

        Can’t

    2. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Reminds me of the Alli vs Eriksen dilemma a couple seasons ago

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

        Or even Alli vs Son earlier on this season

  28. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    lol last week it was Kane now its Vardy.

    This site is great craic.

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

      Love it

    2. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Isn't it? 🙂

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

      Who we reckon next week? Reckon Salah/Mane will be back in vogue

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

    Arteta settle for the draw 😡

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      bizarre sub

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

    Arsenal need to do the right thing for football here and concede.