Dugout Discussion

Son and Lucas return to Spurs XI as Saka is benched for north London derby

Two clubs in contrasting form meet in the 187th north London derby this afternoon.

Kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is at 16:30 BST.

Spurs produced a limp display on Thursday night, failing to register a single shot on target in a 0-0 draw with struggling Bournemouth.

That came a week after a poor showing at Bramall Lane, although the Lilywhites are unbeaten on home soil in three post-restart matches.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have taken 10 points from a possible 12 in their last four fixtures, conceding only one goal along the way.

Jose Mourinho has made three changes from the side which drew at the Vitality Stadium.

The pacier Davinson Sanchez (£5.3m) returns at centre-back in place of Jan Vertonghen (£5.2m), while Son Heung-min (£9.6m) and Lucas Moura (£7.0m) are recalled on the flanks in place of Erik Lamela (£5.7m) and Steven Bergwijn (£7.1m).

Harry Kane (£10.9m) leads the line yet again, while Serge Aurier (£5.1m) starts once more at right-back.

There’s just the one change for Arsenal, with Bukayo Saka (£4.7m) only among the substitutes and Nicolas Pepe (£8.9m) taking his place on the right flank.

Mesut Ozil (£7.0m) is once again omitted from the matchday squad, while Eddie Nketiah (£4.4m) misses out through suspension.

Son and Kane were both jettisoned by over 100,000 FPL managers ahead of Gameweek 35+.

Of all the players in today’s two matchday squads, Saka was the most transferred in, with almost 75,000 Fantasy bosses recruiting the teenager.

These sides drew 2-2 when they last met in Gameweek 4, although both clubs have changed head coaches since then.

Kane and Son both registered attacking returns in that match, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.9m) on target for the Gunners.


Tottenham Hotspur XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Lucas, Son, Kane.

Arsenal XI: Martinez, Mustafi, Luiz, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka, Tierney, Pepe, Lacazette, Aubameyang.

1,285 Comments Post a Comment
  1. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Can't trust Arteta as Arsenal manager when he persists with Luiz, Sokratis and Mustafi while Holding is on the bench.

    Also when Auba isn't signing a new contract. Arsenal aren't getting CL football so may as well build for the future.

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

      Holding not exactly proved anything. He had about 2 good games in his Arsenal career

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

        Luiz has had numerous shockers in his careers. As has Mustafi. Build for the future. Instil a new culture with players that have time to develop. Not 30+ year olds who have had their career.

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

          He probably wants to try and win the game

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

        That's 2 more than some Clowns out there

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

          Not true

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

            Repeating mistakes continuously isn't good enough.
            Genuinely think Arsenal need almost a new line of defence

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

              Irrelevant

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

                Fine ..........

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

      They dont have any CBs that are top 6 material. Holding is not exactly a colossus in the back....

      David Luiz in a back 3 is the best CB they have

  2. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    People are blindly blaming Luiz. It wasn't his fault

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

      Eternally mocked and deservedly so.

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      I'm sure everyone knows. Arsenal fans are fun to wind up though! 😉

      1. Right In The Stanchion
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        We can't all support Man U

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

      Wasn’t his fault really, but when he obviously haven’t got the pace he should atleast have the muscle. Bottom line is that Arsenal have a defence problem all over, and actually gave Luiz a new contract...

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

    Pick 2 for next GW;

    A) Ings (BRI)
    B) Jesus (BOU)
    C) Giroud (NOR)

    1. Bunk Moreland
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      AB

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

    Top10k

    Son EO 6%
    Laca EO lol%
    Aurier 18%
    Martinez 15%

    None of that was too damaging owning none of those players

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

      Sold for sterling

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

    About 50 great midfield options - surprised many still have Son.

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

      There aren’t many with him - 94% of the top 10k don’t

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

        Sorry - missed "if" between surprised and many 🙂

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Yeah, a Jose attacker just doesn't make the cut...

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

    Martinez & Aurier CS wiped! Lovely!

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

    The best of games often come from the worst of teams.

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

      😛

  8. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    *Locks in Salah (c)*

  9. TomSaints
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    It’s getting beyond funny now. 21 points this week... every decision punished and couldn’t have scripted worse scenarios.

    Jiminez and Son -> Pulisic and Vardy

    1. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Good moves on paper, Son and Jimmy both blanking for weeks, Pulisic and Vardy both in form. That’s FPL for you

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

        Top players do not continue blanking for multiple games very often

    2. Dirty Leeds
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Did the same. All the way down from 4k to currently 8k... brilliant haha

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

        6k to 26k last 2 game weeks. On paper all good and results lategrly gone the right way but horrendous blanks everywhere!

    3. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Vardy not even played yet

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

      I did also Jimenez Son to Willian and Vardy. I was inside top 1K, no idea where I will end up. Mane cap did not help either. Watching Bruno will be scary.

  10. mad_beer ✅
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Stupid Son. Weeks of doing nothing and this week boom!

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

      I sold Salah last week and Jiminez this week. Still have Son though so... bright side!

  11. HurriKane
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Imagine Salah vs Luiz Mustafi next gw 😀

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

      You know what, I will keep Mane after all...

  12. Paul Psychic Octopus
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Son to Pulisic for -4 worked out well.

    He's also gone and spoiled Martinez's clean sheets.

    I give up for this season.

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Were you expecting instant payoff?

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

        This late in the season? He probably did.

        1. Ginkapo FPL
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Massive lack of respect for Sheff Utd if so

      2. Paul Psychic Octopus
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Yes/no. I want Pulisic next GW vs. Norwich anyway, and have another transfer to do as well, so I have to take the hit. It was whether to have Son or Pulisic for the game this weekend.

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

      Is this your official transformation to your final form

      Paul the Psychotic Octopus

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

    Son already looking more invovled than he has last 3 weeks

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

    need to fit Salah in my FH team...

  15. Hybrid.power
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Time to score Aurier

  16. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 8 months ago

    Pepe looks completely disinterested

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 8 months ago

      Shouts > "Show some passion"

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Fining him a seasons wages

        • Louis Van Gaalstones
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Did someone say that? I missed it, he looks so switched off, not running for things or anything

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            It's a Football Manager joke.

            Whenever anyone has a "Disinterested" body language you use that shout to improve their performance 🙂

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

      Which will you have for the fodder spot in a 352 next year?

      A) Kane
      B) McGoldrick

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

        B

      2. Chucky
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Rashford...

      3. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Depends on Kane's price.

      4. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Both, Kane the 4.5 DM and McGoldrick 3rd striker

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

        Assist for son who was ?

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

          Kola

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

          None

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

          kola

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

          No one

      6. Siva Mohan
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        did Son + Jimenez >> Pulisic + Vardy (2 FT) .. nightmare GW 😀

      7. Ze_Austin
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Spurs defence versus Arsenal defence. A tale of two laughs

        1. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          and CHE defence ..

          London can't defend..

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

            London Has Fallen

          2. Ginkapo FPL
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Very broad brush. Barnet can defend

          3. Traction Engine Foot
            • 6 Years
            3 years, 8 months ago

            Palace were keeping it respectable until recently..

        2. ClassiX
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          A Tale of Two Shitties?

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

        Sold Son, got in Vardy.

        Damn Son.

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

          Vardy yet to play though

      9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Aurier is having an aurier type of game

      10. The Red Devil
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Wow! That defence! Definitely keeping mane imo

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

        2 points for aurier would be a miracle here

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

        How many starts for David Silva in last three GWs:

        A) one
        B) two
        C) three

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

          2

        2. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          I recon he will play the final 2.

        3. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          not A

        4. fr3d
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          C

        5. Duke Silver ☑
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Confident of 2 but think 3 is very possible.

        6. Gobigorgohome
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          b

        7. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          36, 37 (sub) & 38 .. 3

        8. antis0cial
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          B

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

        I didn't see the Liverpool game yesterday, how did Mane and Salah look? I have Mane but exact money to switch to Salah, might be a luxury move but did he still look as desperate to score as he did against Brighton?

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

          Pope was on a one man mission to stop Salah scoring points

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

            Benched him for Martinez, would you make that move? Even though I can't win, I'm still only putting in people that others in ML don't have incase they randomly score 10 goals or something, other idea is to switch Doherty to Alonso if leaked team news says he starts.

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

              I’d make the switch then

              Other option would be Mane -> City Mid if you don’t have 3 already

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

                Got Jesus, Foden, Mahrez and won't/can't go KDB or Sterling so think I'll do that move, might even cap.

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

          it was all about Pope

        3. Traction Engine Foot
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          As an Arsenal fan, I expect both of them to score against us.

        4. FOO FIGHTER
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Salah better than Mane.

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

          Lackluster finishing mostly, his best strike off his right foot produced a great Pope save.

          Unlucky not to have a pair of assists.

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

            Sh.t
            I thought he had an off game

        6. Siva Mohan
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          on a Salah day .. he would have score the winner in final minutes .. 2/3 baps and TAA would have got an assist ..

          it was just a Pope day!

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

          Thanks everyone.

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

        This is the day.

        This is the day non-Aurier owners.

        This is the day Aurier finally gets sent off.

      15. Gobigorgohome
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 8 months ago

        Davies take a bow

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

        Currently on 11 points from 7 with no (c) left...

        What a week...

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 8 months ago

          Bruno will save you.

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

            Bruno is 150% owned and he hasn’t captained him....

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

            I have no (c) left haha. Mane (c) fail.

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

          What’s your team?

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

          Similar to me. All time bad week...