Dugout Discussion

Fit-again Vardy only among the substitutes as Barnes looks set for forward role

Jamie Vardy (£10.0m) returns from injury for the final Premier League match of the day – but the long-serving striker is only among the substitutes for Leicester City’s clash with Arsenal.

Kick-off at the Emirates is at 19:15 GMT.

Vardy is joined on the bench by Kelechi Iheanacho (£5.7m) and it appears from the teamsheets as if Harvey Barnes (£7.0m) is leading the line for the Foxes in north London.

James Maddison (£7.0m) is also handed his first Premier League start of the season, with Ayoze Perez (£6.2m) making way.

Brendan Rodgers has changed to a back three for this game, with Christian Fuchs (£4.5m) drafted into the centre of defence alongside Wesley Fofana (£5.0m) and Jonny Evans (£5.0m).

Arsenal are much changed from the midweek win over Rapid Vienna but compared to their starting XI at Manchester City last weekend, there are only two alterations.

Willian (£7.8m) isn’t fit to feature and Nicolas Pepe (£7.7m) drops to the bench, with Alexandre Lacazette (£8.5m) recalled and Thomas Partey (£5.0m) given his full Premier League debut.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.7m), Arsenal’s most-owned FPL asset, is aiming to avoid a fourth straight blank – he previously hasn’t gone more than three successive Gameweeks without an attacking return since moving to England in 2018.

All of Leicester’s midfielders, including Barnes, are owned by less than 5% of Fantasy bosses.

Their two most popular options are wing-backs James Justin (£4.8m) and Timothy Castagne (£5.8m), who each sit in more than one in five FPL squads.

Those two defenders are the only players from either side who have a double-digit “effective ownership” among the top 10,000 FPL managers.


Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerin, Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney, Ceballos, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette.

Leicester City XI: Schmeichel, Castagne, Fofana, Evans, Fuchs, Justin, Tielemans, Mendy, Praet, Maddison, Barnes.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

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

654 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Del Griffith
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    If Under is nailed he could go under the radar, defo under priced

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hasn’t started a game has he?

    2. LSK
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Underrated

  2. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    my two returns this week - Castagne and Chilwell

    goes to show fixtures mean nothing

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

      Add Saiss and Jimenez for me and that's it

    2. Danno - Emre Canada
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Same here

  3. BobB
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Auba has done an Ozil - rested on his big fat contract.

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No he’s been played in entirely the wrong place. All on Arteta, why beg one of the World’s best strikers to resign with you and then play him left midfield? Gutless punk.

      1. Utopsis
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        It really does begger belief. I would understand if it was accommodate another top class striker, but for Lacazette / Nketiah?!

  4. Cok3y5murf
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Qaiss around? 😀

  5. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    lost two cleanies at the death this week.

    1. Dthinger
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      same. Leno and Semedo

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

    Chilwell Castagne Saiss ... not expecting these points from them

    1. Andre W
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Meanwhile I had Robbo and Kilman expecting points but not to be. Hopeful for Lamptey tomorrow

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

        Exhausting GW

    2. skodaole2
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I have the perfect combo McCarthy, Castagne, Reed, Justin... on my bench

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

        Oh my world ... unlucky mate

        1. skodaole2
          • 11 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          This GW has been so wrong that i m only glad i have 4 incl captain to play. Luck is always involved in this game but how can someone bench Rob vs SHU and play Justin vs ARS or bench Martinez vs LEE and play McCarthy vs EVE. Nicely done this week mate, enjoy the green arrow! Plan to keep all of them for next week i guess?

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

            Yeah sit tight and do transfers in GW8 eyeing WHU MUN ... ta!

            1. skodaole2
              • 11 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Will try to avoid any distractions and save FT for the first time this season to get a half WC in GW 8 (3 transfers for -4 or 4 transfers for -8 if needed depending on who i will want badly to have)

  7. skodaole2
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Need Dier to not start tomorrow to get Castagne's points, cant find anything related to his fitness level, that would be interesting.

  8. Londongeezaa
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    I’m just going to take my Saiss and Justin points and leave the room slightly embarrassed.

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

    Zaha in for Klich or Podence?
    Have Jimenez and Saiss in the team

    1. Begbie.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Podence.

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

      Klich. Podence is mini-Hazard

    3. Mr. O'Connell
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Podence. 65 mins 3 point merchant.

    4. Klaren
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Klich

  10. The Frenchie
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Need help guys 😉

    A) Alexander-Arnold / Maupay
    B) Alexander-Arnold / Bamford
    C) Zouma / Vardy
    D) Zouma / Bruno Fernandes

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      B from those

  11. Joey Tribbiani
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Justin on the bench, oh well didn't expect that result

  12. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Is this too bold tonight? Exact money! TAA+Ings >> Chilwell+Kane(C) -4?

    McCarthy
    TAA, Saiss, Justin
    Pulisic, Salah, Rodríguez, Son, Grealish
    DCL, Ings
    (Nyland, Mitchell, Davies, Davis)

  13. Piggs Boson
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Vardy, you're 34 in January, will you start losing pace already?!

  14. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 5 months ago

    Best move here?

    A. Brewster -> Bamford
    B. Podence -> Zaha

    Martinez Forster
    Robbo Saiss Chilwell Lamptey Mitchell
    Salah Son Rodrigez Grealish Podence
    DCL Kane Brewster

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      A

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Cheers mate

    2. Utopsis
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      I have pulled the trigger on A.

      Hoping Kane doesn't force me into a - 4 tomorrow

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

    2 years ago, Mesut Ozil ripped Leicester to pieces.

    Today he’s at home on 350k a week, not in the 25 man squad over the likes of Willock, because he spoke out against China torturing Uighurs in China.

    1. Fudgy
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He also defended Erdogan but let's forget about that lol

      1. Nightcrawler
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        And rightly so

        1. Begbie.
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Yikes

        2. Fudgy
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Lol

        3. Klaren
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Apart from the uneducated part or the Islamist minority no one agrees with that even in Turkey, let alone rest of Turkey or any country that has anything to do with them in foreign policy.

          He is an extremely corrupted dictator.

    2. Well you know, Triffic
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      No, it's because he gets bonuses for being in the squad.

      Stop trying to make this into something that it isn't.

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

        Those bonuses would be paid back with CL football which we will not get having zero creativity and instead having Willock and Elneny in there.

        1. DickFranDyke
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Willock and Elneny didn't and have hardly played...duh. Stupid comment.

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

            Nah man you’re stupid. Those 2 aren’t good enough for Arsenal, Ozil is. We have zero creativity. I was talking about the 25 man squad, why are they good enough and Ozil is not.

    3. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      He also played a bunch of games for Lungard and was crap

    4. Party time
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Yeah although I think it is because he gets bonus + he earns a lot, some players & the coach envy him for this yet they still lack creativity in midfield.

        Wenger spoke about it 2 weeks ago. In summary, Arteta is a simp while Özil is too good for Arsenal

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

      Very unsure who to sell or buy. Guess I just wait few days with those ft. Was about to sell Jomenez but he ticks over. Maybe Saiss to Kilman for cash.

      1. Piggs Boson
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Same.

        I have 2FTs, so I can afford to make an early transfer, just not sure yet.

        We might as well wait until after the European games and the pressers. Something might happen...

    6. jonnybhoy
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      TAA, Podence + Jiminez to Konsa, Zaha and Kane for -4pts?

    7. AgentRed
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      The players who I thought were the weakest links in my team this week (Justin, McCarthy, Wilson) have been basically the only ones to return anything for me (+Saiss). Incredibly hard to predict things at the moment.

    8. 1912 F.A Cup Winners
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Sorry repost folks -
      Early thoughts for next week here chaps, Digne red card thrown a spanner in the works around my Getting Kane plans, so best option here......
      A- Son(C) and Ings
      Or
      B- Kane(C) and Son(VC) -4
      Thankyou folks!!

      1. Sloane426
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Justin > Kilman or save FT?

    9. nkhoughton
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      1ft 1.7itb

      Pickford
      Saiss Chilwell Kilmen
      Salah Rodriguez Klich Sterling Zaha
      DCL Kane

      Nyland Mitchell Justin Davis

      A) Davis to Bamford
      B) Sterling to Son
      C) Pickford to Martinez/meslier

      1. jonnybhoy
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Save the transfer

    10. Jordan.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      26 all out mcarthy,chilwell,justin benched aaaaarrrrrrggggghhhh goodnight ....

    11. Del Griffith
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Leicester still on course to do a Leicester, anything goes this season

      1. ivantys
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Maddison's back now, anything can happen

    12. HollywoodXI
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Oh course I benched Justin

    13. Naby K8a
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Big Sam to Arsenal?

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

        We’re already playing like he’s here..

        1. Naby K8a
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          If you're going to embrace Big Sam's style why not go all in and hire the man himself?

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

            To be fair, he’d have kept that CS and get a point.

    14. HippY
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      This is a strange GW for sure.

      Sat on 33 points, my Everton triple scored 1 between all three, and somehow I could still come out smelling of roses with 3 left to play (Ryan/Son/Kane(C))

    15. FC Hakkebøf
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Hi FFS community. What transfer(s) do you guys prefer?

      Martinez
      TAA Chilwell Saiss
      Salah Son Pulisic Grealish
      Kane DCL Maupay
      _____
      Forster Lamptey Stephens 3.9

      2 FT 0.4 itb

      A) Maupay (TOT) -> Watkins/Bamford/Mitrovic (one week punt before getting Antonio)
      B) Maupay + Grealish -> Bamford + Hamez
      C) Stephens to Bissouma (thought the former would be nailed)
      D) Something else

      1. Dexters Laboratory
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        D) Bruno? E) TAA to Robertson F) 3.9 to Kilman
        .. wouldn't mind being in your position and trying to figure out how to get rid of a FT

    16. Nightcrawler
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      Jiminez to bamford done.

      5m itb and stii a ft left now

      1. HippY
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        I'm not a huge fan of that move tbh. Jimi has some okay fixtures and he's still getting returns

        1. Nightcrawler
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Allows barnes to mane or kdb tho

          1. Nightcrawler
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Also jomi cant hurt me with single figit hauls and prove fiff is 2 big

            1. Nightcrawler
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Huh

              Jimmy cant hurt me with single digit hauls and price diff is too big

    17. FER FUSCH AKE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 5 months ago

      what was the reaction like when wolves lost their cleanie today???

      1. Steve The Spud
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Just smug Saiss fans cheering and depressed Semado owners like myself, at least owning jimi softened the blow

        1. Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          lol semedo peasants got rekt by saiss geniuses noob

          1. Party time
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Got both Semedo & Saïss. Semedo is average at best... Can’t remember the name of the fella here that calls him class, Semedo can’t even trap a ball ffs

      2. nerd_is_the_werd
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        Sure the answer is obvious: Is Zouma nailed to start?

      3. FER FUSCH AKE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 5 months ago

        ML leader had Zaha, Bumford, Castagne, Ings, Ayling with Son and Kane to go. Tell me how you compete with that kind of luck?

        1. Utopsis
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 5 months ago

          Why is it luck?

          1. FER FUSCH AKE
            • 7 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Grealish goal cleared off the line by Ayling, he transfered out Hamez for Zaha and got Ayling in for Mitchel, Castagne getting a cleanie now and Everton getting a RC to the delight of ings.

            1. Utopsis
              • 4 Years
              3 years, 5 months ago

              Doesn't mean it's luck though does it - he probably had reasons for each transfer that made perfect sense to him that have paid off.

          2. Bushwhacker
            • 4 Years
            3 years, 5 months ago

            Its all luck ; unless you have the Marty McFly almanac