Dugout Discussion

Aguero starts for De Bruyne-less Man City as Sterling shakes off minor injury

Sergio Aguero makes his long-awaited return from injury this evening as Manchester City play host to Arsenal.

Kick-off at the Etihad is at 17:30 BST.

Aguero hasn’t kicked a ball in a competitive match since June but returns to spearhead the City attack in Saturday’s penultimate Premier League match.

The Argentine’s inclusion sees Raheem Sterling, who has shaken off a minor hamstring problem to start, move to a more familiar wide-midfield role.

Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez keep their places but Ferran Torres drops to the bench, with Bernardo Silva replacing the Spaniard.

The other three of Pep Guardiola’s four changes were enforced, with Kevin De Bruyne‘s unavailability having been confirmed on Friday.

Aymeric Laporte or Benjamin Mendy also miss out through injury, with Nathan Ake and Joao Cancelo stepping up to replace their teammates.

As for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has made two changes from the side that defeated Sheffield United.

Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah drop to the bench, with Granit Xhaka and Nicolas Pepe returning to the visitors’ starting XI.

Rob Holding had originally been named in the team but picked up an injury in the warm-up and has been replaced by David Luiz.

New signing Thomas Partey is only among the substitutes, along with Alexandre Lacazette.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks set to lead the line for the Gunners at the Etihad, then.

A red flag for De Bruyne saw the Belgian transferred out by almost 1.4 million Fantasy managers ahead of the Gameweek 5 deadline, making him the most-sold asset of this round of games.

Aubameyang takes second place in the table of Gameweek 5 sales, with over 610,000 FPL bosses losing faith in the Gabon international.

Not one City or Arsenal player was in the top 30 for transfers in.

It’s not often we can say that not a single member of Guardiola’s starting XI is owned by more than 10% of Fantasy managers but that is the case today, with De Bruyne ruled out.

Aguero is a veritable differential as he sits in just 1.4% of squads.


Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Cancelo, Rodrigo, Mahrez, Foden, Bernardo, Sterling, Aguero.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Saka, Xhaka, Ceballos, Willian, Aubameyang, Pepe.

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849 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    38-8 vs the scouts so far!!!

  2. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Barnes to Grealish for a hit ?

    1. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      no why, is he injured?

    2. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Both good. So no

  3. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Have this defense and my team is set to play just 3 defenders. VVD is the obvious one to go first. Have 2.4 ITB.

    Martinez
    VVD James Lamptey Dallas Mitchell

    Which is the best option:

    1) VVD to Robbo
    2) VVD to TAA
    3) VVD to a 4.5 and upgrade Foden/ Podence in the midfield

    1. Iceball
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I have TAA but I would go Robbo

  4. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is it safe to bring in Robbo tonight ?
    No chance that he will be additionaly charged about the painful foul on Allan ?

  5. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Mata clear offside

  6. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Too many issues tonight: VVD, multiple price drops, Greenwood out of squad, didn't take a hit to sell KDB and now can.
    So Wildcard, what about this?

    Martinez, 4.0
    Robbo, Diaz, Balbuena, Sakho, Mitchell
    Mo, Raz, Grealish, Foden, Jorginho
    Werner, DCL, Watkins

    Is it pointless having 8 good and viable attacking players that in theory I could play every week?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No, there is a point.