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. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Rodrigo shot off the bar

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

    Feel sick at my -8. If Barnes scores pray for me I won't handle it well guys.

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

      If FPL affects you this badly, you need to consider taking a break or quitting it completely.

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      BARRNEEESSSSSSSSS

    3. Stormbringer22
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      What was your -8?

      1. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        He sold Barnes

        1. Stormbringer22
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 4 Years
          3 years, 4 months ago

          As he should have! Has been very wasteful and not nailed

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

    Drop one of these for Vardy.
    (Money in the bank)
    Grealish, Ziyech or DCL?

    Was going to be DCL but thinking one of the others

    1. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Not DCL anyway

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

      Wouldn’t sell any of them

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

      Grealish

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

        I’m thinking Grealish too. Lots of hype and not as much end product atm

        I have Fernandes, KDB and Kane as my other 3

        DCL, Ziyech and Grealish

    4. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      DCL easy.

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

    Pen incoming

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

      arrr why not pen????

      1. The Train Driver
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        Leg first, read the rules...

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

          ok thanks

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

        Deflection

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

          ok

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

      Nah, it's not Man Utd

      Bruno(c) here.

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

      Absolutely robbery if Arsenal get this

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

    Quick poll who is your first attacking sub ? (mid or forward)
    I've got Bamford but I've seen so many teams with Brewster/Bissouma/Davis etc
    Why ?
    I known it's a squad based game but these players will probably only score 2points max if they come on

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

      Burke

      1. CRO KLOPP
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 4 months ago

        +1

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

        Again cheap but no points

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

      Bamford as first is a waste of 1.6m. That’s the difference between Son and Ziyech, DCL and Bamford, Cancelo and a 3.9

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

        I've got Kane, Son , Bruno ,DCL , Grealish ,Jrod & my only "punt" Jota
        Who would you bench ?

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

      Dale Stephens 😆

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

      You are wasting money on the bench every single game week

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

        So far only 2 points from him (one better than Grealish & the same as Jrod
        I might not bench him every week

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

      Foden! lol

  6. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No penalty

  7. FFSbet.com
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    At least Wenger was creating chances Arteta tactics are painful to watch.

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

    Saka should have acored

  9. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Good keeping

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

      Neuer-esque. Great sweeping.

  10. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Just 1 goal Bamford!

  11. The Train Driver
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Alioski looks really good at 4.4 if he can keep his place.

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

    3 - Alioski (32)
    2 - Koch (30)
    1 - Leno (29)

  13. Clam. ☘️
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Nelson goal pls

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

      Anyone that's not Bamford, Dallas or Bellerin.

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

      Yes he returned with Elneny a couple of days ago on a private jet but both were still positive.

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

        Ah, old news then 🙁

    2. Hazz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Specially prepared private plane as they both still had COVID. Old news, but at least proof they definitely flew.

  14. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Saka wastes a Bellerin haul

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

      Cooper gets a yc next

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

    Cooper YC

  16. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    No VVD, TAA, Gomez, Salah, Henderson. Leicester will never have a better shot at beating LFC this season, i reckon Leicester 3-2 win Vardy brace.

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

      We drew away to City without Trent, VVD, Fabinho and Thiago. People underestimate our squad depth

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

        I agree brother. Im a LFC fan myself for what it’s worth. Thiago in the squad today aswell.

  17. Over Midwicket
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Cooper has been shambolic

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

    Bamford off the post

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

    Bamford post

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

    Bamford hits the post

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

    Bamford header hits the post!

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

    Bamford post

  23. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    ffs Bamford

  24. ivantys
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Trossard's wearing the white jersey today

  25. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    1-0 Liverpool win from a Robbo goal would be extremely unlikely and extremely lovely

  26. jimmy12
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Saka so close

    https://i.imgur.com/e9Cn2l9.jpg

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

    35k transfers in for Vardy already before he even plays for the current GW!

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

    Bam soooo close to a 9 pointer

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

    Bamford or Watkins?

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

      Bamford. Leeds can score against anyone.

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

        Except Arsenal.

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

          "Can" is the key word. A "good chance" of scoring against anyone is probably a better way of saying it.

          They've had plenty of opportunities today.

    2. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Watkins. Fixtures and Pens.