Dugout Discussion

Aubameyang set for more central role as Lacazette and Nketiah are benched

The penultimate Premier League match of the day sees Leeds United play host to Arsenal at Elland Road.

Kick-off is at 16:30 GMT.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.7m) – who hasn’t found the back of the net from open play in over two months – will be aiming to add to his paltry 2020/21 goal tally against a Leeds side that had the joint-worst defensive record in the division heading into this weekend.

And Mikel Arteta’s team selection may give him an additional boost, with the Gabon international set to lead the line given that Alexandre Lacazette (£8.4m) and Eddie Nketiah (£5.6m) are both among the substitutes.

Arteta has hoodwinked us before with his teamsheets, of course, notably when deploying Willian (£7.7m) as a false nine against Manchester City, but his pre-match comments to Sky Sports suggest there is no such deception this time:

I mentioned that it is one of the options we have. We think we have a squad who score goals, a lot with Auba in his natural position on the left, so we will modify that depending on the opponent and the games.

Lacazette’s benching is one of four changes that the Arsenal boss has made from Gameweek 8.

Two of the alterations are enforced, with Thomas Partey (£5.0m) absent with a thigh injury and Mohamed Elneny (£4.4m) self-isolating after a positive coronavirus test.

Dani Ceballos (£4.9m), Nicolas Pepe (£7.6m), Joe Willock (£4.8m) and Granit Xhaka (£5.3m) are the players recalled, with Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) only a substitute after his exertions for England over the international break.

Marcelo Bielsa makes two changes to the Leeds starting line-up following their thrashing at Crystal Palace.

Brazilian Raphinha (£5.4m) makes his first Premier League start, with Helder Costa (£5.6m) omitted.

Kalvin Phillips (£4.9m) is back from a shoulder injury, meanwhile, with Pascal Struijk (£4.0m) the makeweight to accommodate his return.

Rodrigo (£5.7m) is available after his recent stint in self-isolation but is only among the substitutes.

Patrick Bamford (£6.1m) is by some distance the most-owned player in this fixture, sitting in more than one in three FPL squads.

That figure rises to 41.5% in the top 10k.

Bamford has actually blanked in his last three home fixtures although did rack up a 14-point haul at Elland Road in Gameweek 2.


Leeds United XI: Meslier, Ayling, Koch, Cooper, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Alioski, Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford.

Arsenal XI: Leno, Bellerín, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Ceballos, Pepe, Willock, Willian, Aubameyang.

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1,131 Comments Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bamford close

  2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you consider Bruno to Salah if Salah is fit?

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      no but may be Son to Salah

    2. ⚔★Vibudh★⚔
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      No other issues in the team, newly WC'ed

    3. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      For free yes, always enough reason to consider Salah

    4. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      due to the amount of Pen united are getting

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

      Salah or KDB. No point in holding Bruno IMHO

      1. Tcheco
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        9 returns in 8 games

        4 double digit hauls

      2. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Why's that?

    6. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Yep
      Though Brighton defence is statistically pretty good and may leave less gaps if no Lamptey - so thinking of waiting a week

  3. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Sacrifice Bruno or Son for Salah?

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

      Bruno

      1. 1zverGGadeM
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        this

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Sacrifice Salah until GW12

    3. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Son

  4. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If you had to choose

    A) A fit Salah
    B) KDB

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

      City have the fixtures ; if Aguero is fit

    2. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

    3. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A

  5. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dallas should be scoring that

    1. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      yes scary he is last on my bench

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

      One will go in eventually %ages

  6. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dalass so attacking

  7. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Bamford faces Everton next

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

      I'll write that down.

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Frame it

    2. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      need to buy him

      and Vardy too
      but only 1 ft ffs

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

    Dallas OOP at 4.5 in this team. Essential

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      eSsEnTiAl

      1. Ginola
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Season keeper.

  9. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Arsenal tactics are very strange

    No goals in several hours in the league and they just don’t like scoring

    1. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Arsenal's away record for the past 4/5 years has been terrible. Arteta playing defensive football away from home.

      But agree with you re home form. Have lacked creativity.

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Arsenal's xG and xGC were both worse under Arteta than Emery last season. Despite the cup win, I'm not convinced he's a good manager...

      1. SackWenger
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        My son just said we are the new Burnley. Difficult to argue with it.

        1. SackWenger
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          We are struggling to link defence to attack.

    3. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Nothing strange about a boring defensive manager setting up his team to play 10 behind the ball at all times not scoring.

    4. Alan_T
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Were they this bad last season?

  10. Vazza
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Has salah been tested negative for covid?

    1. AC/DC AFC
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Apparently so.

      But how quick can you shed the disease.

      Likely false rumours with international interest in tonights match.

    2. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Can someone send me the link to this news?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Relax, Klopp will tell you later.

        1. asdf_1
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Seems true

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

            Only if you are gullible 😉

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

      Klopp will be asked tonight in the interview.
      Not trusting ‘internet wannabes’

  11. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I've been racking my brains as to who Bamford reminds me of
    Not his style of play but the fact that he scores a few but also misses some as well
    Very unpredictable & unreliable
    I go back a long may maybe Kerry Dixon /Clive Allen even Andy Cole comes to mind

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

      Andy Cole about right, 7 chances per goal.

      1. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Yeah that's the type of player I'm thinking of

  12. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rumours Salah has provided a negative COVID result

    1. Vazza
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Link please?

  13. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I thought Auba would come good if he plays up front

    how wrong

  14. R.C
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Salah is back

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

      Don’t post trash - where’s the ignore button on this site ?

  15. Doctor Evil
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    I just sold Kane, Robbo and Biss as part of a minus 8. Madness I hear you say? I have a master plan 🙂

    1. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Kane blanks away at Chelsea and life is great.

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Hopefully for no players who are involved in midweek games
      Particularly one that is travelling to Greece

    3. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Who did you buy ?
      Vardy plus who

    4. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Spurs will defeat Chelsea

    5. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I brought in KDB, Lampty and Bamford.

      My team now is

      Martinez

      Chillwell Bellerin Mitchell Kilman Lampty

      Salah Son KDB Bruno Grealish

      DCL Bamford Brewster

      1. Doctor Evil
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        I know Lampty isn’t playing this week coming but I would of benched him anyway and want him going forward

      2. Gudjohnsen
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        That's the ideal midfield imo

        1. Doctor Evil
          • 5 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks and I will now just keep it that way and adjust the rest of team around it

  16. Ragabolly
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    btw the main source behind Salah testing negative is a shady Egyptian site. Wouldn't trust it at all

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

      They are all shady....its hot out there.

      1. Kamara Police
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        hahaha....

    2. R.C
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      It has 1.8m followers?

      1. WWW.
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Trump has 89M

        1. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Amazing

    3. Gobigorgohome
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      why Salah is Egyption

      may be he made a call to them 😉

    4. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Apparently it was his brothers Instagram? But I'm not sure if he's got a public account or not

      1. R.C
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        No it's EPL Egypt - https://twitter.com/EPLworld/status/1330549324468674564

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          I saw that on this account
          https://twitter.com/ArabsFpl/status/1330547490505027585?s=19

          1. Sun Jihai
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            3 years, 4 months ago

            All looks shady though
            Assume we'll find out shortly

    5. THFC4LIFE
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Won’t trust anything until Liverpool/Sky Sports say he’s negative

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

      I am Egyptian btw, the very origin of the news is coming from a very unreliable site in Egypt. The main ones who usually have the correct Salah info have said nothing.

      1. Gobigorgohome
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        wow

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

        Cheers, stops that rumour from twitter hits nomarks

    7. Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      The king has given his verdict.

    8. SackWenger
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Pharaoh enough

  17. Tcheco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Dallas very involved high up the pitch. 4.5 defender hmmm

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

      Also booked

    2. turd ferguson
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      also rubbish

    3. Yank Revolution
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      And also doesn't keep clean sheets

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

    Arsenal can’t string any passed together. Aubamayang has been awful since signing his contract. Willian has been an awful signing.

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

      Isn't it amazing how well Auba was doing before signing Da Ting...

      1. Flair
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Ozil would be proud.

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

    Might just hold Wolves def, arsenal have 4 goals at home all season

    1. Tcheco
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Good point. Was thinking Semedo to Dias for a City defensive double up but might just hold

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

        Yeah, wouldn’t surprise me if burnley nicked one a set piece as well

  20. djoker_nole
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Leeds will destroy this lot

  21. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Will probably say this 50 times before GW38 but... Leeds are so good.

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      A couple of 4-1's don't agree.

  22. Brosstan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    If Salah starts Leicester should put in an official protest. He shouldnt be anywhere near other people.

  23. Orion
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Should I keep Zouma or Get R. James for free and bag 0.2 ??? Cheers guys

    1. jimmy.floyd
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Keep imo

    2. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      James may not start next game

      1. Orion
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        That’s what I’m being afraid

        1. Sun Jihai
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Wait till the midweek game in any case

      2. SEXY SOLO SAUCE
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Why?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Better opposition.

      3. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Started last 4 in the league, could see a back 5 v spurs

    3. circusmonkey
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Keep Zouma, goal threat.

  24. jimmy.floyd
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Would you do Maupay Auba Son to Vardy KDB Jota for -8? Have Kane

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Jota is an issue just like Foden, or almost. If he starts every other game, is it good enough? Imho not.

    2. Third Eye Vision
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Maupay & Auba to Vardy & Jota for a -4 and keep Son.

  25. Gobigorgohome
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    looks like it is a wrong decision to bench Dallas

  26. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Ayling chance

  27. TorresMagic™
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Might be worth keeping Jimmy vs Arsenal?

    1. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Two managers who are enemies of football. 0-0 incoming

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          3 years, 4 months ago

          +1000000 a titanic battle of who wants the ball less

      2. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        See how he does tomorrow, easy move to Vardy for me

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          Guess I could do that move.

    2. Slitherene
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Grealish + Ziyech -> Salah (c) + Berge (-4)

      Can this work out?

      1. jimmy.floyd
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        No

      2. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Looks painful.

      3. THFC4LIFE
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Crazy

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

        Where’s the bucket need to puke

      5. Yank Revolution
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Bizarre

    3. GROBARI
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      ArTeTa iS a GoOd cOaCh

      1. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Steady decline for Arsenal... Wenger -> Emery -> Ljungberg -> Arteta

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

        New keyboard needed

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

        Still won more trophies then your manager in the last year.

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

        Yes he is a good coach. Players know what is asked of them. Been here for 11 months and were so much better drilled.

        1. @persecuted_by_mods
            3 years, 4 months ago

            To the massive detriment of your attack, a Tony pulis/ big Sam solution. I like arteta but this season it's been weird and too negative/defensive/boring

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

              Yeah but it won’t continue like that forever. He’s been at Arsenal for 11 months, and we were in such a mess when he came. Why do people expect so much, it’s so stupid. In a year, if were still poor, then judge.

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

        Schoolboy stuff here. 7 arsenal players chasing after the same ball. Leaving big holes in defence.