Dugout Discussion

Saka back for Arsenal as West Ham visit Emirates Stadium

Bukayo Saka (£5.4m) is back in the Arsenal team as they host West Ham in Gameweek 2.

The FPL midfielder lost his place in the team as Willian (£8.1m) dropped in to make his debut at Fulham on opening weekend, but Mikel Arteta has found a place for him this time out.

While Saka spent most of pre-season on the right-hand side of Arsenal’s front-three, it appears as if he will be occupying the left wing-back role performed by Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£5.0m) in Gameweek 1, who drops to the bench.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s evening match is a crucial one for the Gameweek 2 captaincy, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£12.0m) was handed the armband by over two million managers.

The Gabonese international is, once again, joined in the front-three by Alexandre Lacazette (£8.5m), who opened the scoring this season.

Arteta retains faith with the same back-three that kept a clean sheet at Fulham, naming Kieran Tierney (£5.5m), Rob Holding (£4.5m) and Gabriel (£5.0m) in the team to face West Ham.

Meanwhile, Michail Antonio (£6.4m) keeps the Hammers’ centre-forward berth for another week, supported in attacking midfield by Arthur Masuaku (£4.5m), Pablo Fornals (£6.5m) and Jarrod Bowen (£6.4m).

There is still no start for Ben Johnson (£4.0m), the budget defender named on the bench once more, still behind Ryan Fredericks (£4.5m) in the right-back pecking order.

Arsenal XI: Leno; Tierney, Holding, Gabriel; Saka, Ceballos, Xhaka, Bellerín; Aubameyang, Lacazette, Willian.

West Ham United XI: Fabianski; Cresswell, Ogbonna, Diop, Fredericks; Rice, Soucek; Masuaku, Fornals, Bowen; Antonio.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

Check your own rank and in-play FPL stats on LiveFPL.net every Gameweek

1,778 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Let's go Auba(c)!

    1. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Auba(C), Antonio, Soucek

      Goals please!

  2. sirmorbach
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Guys, Greenwood-James Rodriguez worth a hit?

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Yes

    2. sirmorbach
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Cheers!

  3. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Irrelevant game really. Everyone (relevant) with Auba (c)

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Saka punt also...

    2. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      We’re three games into the second gameweek. Most playing the game are still relevant at this stage.

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A lot capped Martial/Bruno

  4. thehodge
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Wildcard played. Disaster class.

    1. Old Gregg
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I’m with you. Worst 2 Gw ever

  5. sully29
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    The key thing to take away from that United game is that both the penalty decision and the retake decision were correct as per the rules.

    Which means that not only are penalties more likely this season, the likely success from them is also higher. As goalkeepers will either have to stay on the line or be penalised with a retake if the taker doesn't score.

    Underlines the value of penalty takers in our teams.

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      got klitch, kdb, Salah, Werner, jimi,zaha in my wc so far

  6. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I'm not at all surprised by this result. Even during their good form post lockdown, United's underlying stats were poor, and the final few games of the season were turgid. The phenomenal finishing from Martial and Greenwood was papering over the cracks. No United players here, but was still hoping I'd be proven wrong 🙁

    Palace on the other hand are looking so well organised. Compact defensively, and lethal on the counter. Should be a tough game for Everton next GW. I thought Ward put in a good performance, do you think that could be a concern for Ferguson's prospects when he's fit?

    1. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Team is simply still too thin on quality.

      Lindelof still a starting CB and relying on James once any of the front three are out were always going to be issues. Both cost them today.

      That's the price of being lacklustre in the transfer market.

    2. MGMT
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Its gonna be tough for Roy to change this backline once PVA and Ferguson are fit...

      1. MGMT
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Mitchell is playing really solid

      2. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        Nah, it’ll change

  7. Captain Hindsight
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Keeping Bruno on the bench gw1 instead of getting Salah from the off looks like a bad move now

    1. Cok3y5murf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Even without hindsight

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      😆

    3. Clam. ☘️
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Where have you been?!

    4. sully29
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Just a little.

    5. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Looked like a bad move last week.

    6. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      it was a horrible move, good lesson to learn

    7. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      A victim of Camzy

    8. FPL Daniel
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Hi Granville

  8. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So, will Auba(C) yield points like my DCL and Mitro, or like my Martial and Rashford?

    1. HonestBlatter
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Maybe straight red

  9. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Time for Auba to blank for this random GW

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      100%

    2. 1zverGGadeM
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Brace at least 😉

  10. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Already fed up with this season.

    1. Salah’s Sonnet
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Zero fun anymore

  11. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Soon to be on 40 points with 10 players to go. Feelsgoodman

    1. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Auba captain?

    2. WVA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      I've already had 3 play, 0, 2, 9. Dead

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

    Being a United fan, this doesn't affect me anymore! Just another dreadful start to another dreadful season!

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      cry me a river, been such a hard ride for Utd hasn't it

  13. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Defenders are no longer allowed to run with their arms moving then?

  14. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    AUbaaaaaa!!!!

  15. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Bamford-DCL-Mitro on WC?

    1. Ghost Ship
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Think you will regret three cheapies.

  16. PocketZola
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    joke of a day, but this is fpl

  17. mbsoz45
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    What’s the current thinking for GW3: Auba for KVD or Sterling?

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Whoever scores vs Wolves.

    2. Arn De Gothia
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      OR MAYBE KEEP? sry caps

  18. Yome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Zaha and James R to rise by 0.2?

  19. Says
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Souness: "it's a handball by the new rules, but it's unfair"

    how is a rule unfair if it's applied equally to both teams?

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Because it was United

    2. Ghost Ship
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Unfair on the offender. Unfair on punters wanting a good game. Unfair on life.

      But of course it wasn’t as it helped palace stuff United.

  20. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    This week would be complete with Auba blanking and getting a yellow.

  21. Rolls-Royce
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Yep, that's WC active for me.

  22. teneighty
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    4 goals from 3 players. Good start!

    1. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      5 goals*

    2. Cilly Bonnolly
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Six and an assist from three here.

  23. Naby K8a
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Maybe Greenwood can sneak in a few new signings in the changing room before next game

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

      Iceland players are ready

  24. FPL Blow-In
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    The WC button is awfully tempting. 3 united, Bertrand, Dier, Egan, 3 players dropping in price and the incomings rising!

    1. Pedram
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Don't do it

  25. Fero1905
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    I was a little bit sad that i didnt bought DCL but i am happy now to have Zaha 🙂

  26. Coys96
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    5 from 4 !!! Buzzing...

    Highlight was Pereira... 1st (on bench)

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      🙁

    2. Azathoth
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      ouch!!!!!!!

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

      That stings.

      I had Lundy & Mousett on the bench last season 43 points in total 🙁

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

      Are you me? Also a Spurs fan with 5 from 4 and Perieria 1st on bench.

  27. lordkippe
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    AUBA(C) please save me

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      Nice differential.

      1. lordkippe
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 6 months ago

        ty.

  28. FPL_trail_runner
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    So the non chasing this weeks points would clearly favour getting Werner (c) next week. May have to bite the built and see Rashford for a hit to get him.

    That WBA is an easy target.

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 6 months ago

      People capping Werner purely for his opponent, im not convinvced I even want Werner let alone cap material

  29. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Sky apology. Bold Paddy 😆

  30. thepeen555
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 6 months ago

    Why people get excited about United and martial and just them as picks in general always makes me wonder.

    And I am a United fan. It is so lackluster a lot of the time.