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.

GET IN-GAME DATA AT LIVE FPL

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

1,131 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Rupert The Horse
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Just imagine we play a high line against Vardy, it could be a slaughter.

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

      Highly unlikely

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

      Hope Klopp isn't that naive.

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

      Klopp very rarely changes the style.

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

        That midfield is sketchy

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

        Klopp after playing Arsenal:

        "We played a constant high line, how can you defend Aubameyang with a high line constantly? But without a high line, you cannot defend Arsenal. We don't play that way in every game. For a team that builds, you need more players where they build."

        Suggests he doesn't always play a high line and press high, it depends on how the opponent builds. Leciester don't build slow like Arsenal, they're quite direct, so I can't imagine he'll use a high line.

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

          Thanks GB.
          Tabasco forever!✊

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

        He parked bus against city

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

        We rarely play a Villa high line

  2. Rhodes your boat
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Early thoughts please, defence an issue 1FT 1.5itb

    Martinez Forster
    Chilwell lamptey** balbuena Mitchell dunne
    Sterling Bruno son soucek Burke
    Vardy Werner dcl

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

      Lamptey->Cancelo

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

        This

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

      Dunne > Coufal
      Assess Mitchell
      Lamptey upto you

    3. Carefree Crew
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      I've got Lamptey he's only suspended for one game which is against Liverpool, so I'd planned to bench him anyway.

      I'd address either of your 2 non playing DFs, assuming Mitchell has lost his place to PvA.

      Target is a cheap option but doubles up on villa defence. Clyne for palace another cheap option.

      Cancelo for attacking threat & City's fixtures is a popular pick.

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

    Mane must cash in on his xG

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

    *bottomed
    Bench one please:
    a)James
    b)Coufal
    c)Targett

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

      See if James plays midweek

    2. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      Targett

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

      cheers

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

    Which of these differentials do you think will have the most points by the end of the season?

    A) Bale
    B) Pulisic
    C) Jota
    D) Havertz
    E) Mahrez

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

      C

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      D

    3. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      D

    4. Catastrophe
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      C/D

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

      B

  6. Catastrophe
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Which do you prefer? The hits would be spread out over next few GWs...

    A) Vestergaard, Son, Ziyech, Coufal (-4)
    B) Zouma, Son, Grealish, Vestergaard (-4)
    C) Cancelo, Ziyech, Grealish, Coufal (-8)
    D) Cancelo, Son, Grealish, Balbuena (-8)

    Vestergaard could be anyone up to 4.7, Coufal up to 4.6.

    Heading towards A as no other Spurs/Chelsea attacking coverage although would also like Cancelo for city's run-in as only have KDB.

    Cheers

  7. chrismoo75
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    at the point when bruno 'missed' the penalty I was effectively 5 points from 6 players and my 11 year old son laughing his head off. Somehow ended with 60. Red arrow still incoming but was fearing the worst.

    Now to the dilemma of fixtures over form in the way of getting KDB for Salah and swap Kane for Vardy. Was always planning on the latter but now backtracking as it would be a -4

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

      Not sure 60 is red Capt Humble

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

    Mane + Jota,
    how many points do you think they will get today?

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

    Keep Rodriguez for 2 more gw ?
    Tempted to get rid of him.

    1. Plant Based FPLer
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 4 months ago

      If you transfer him out, make sure you're not transferring sideways. With those two good fixtures it almost certainly will be. I didn't watch the game but even if he looked bad, the game was after the international break with travel, and the team is just gelling back together after suspensions.

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

    Wich city players are you looking at? I will do robbo to cancelo i think

  11. Dosh
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    On wildcard..

    A. Ziyech
    B. Werner
    C. Both

  12. CroatianHammer
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 4 months ago

    Zaha hattrick please. 38 after Lamptey I can accept.
    My midfield 5 are sweet.