Dugout Discussion

Injury latest as Tierney misses Arsenal’s Blank Gameweek 18 fixture

Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) has left his Fantasy Premier League owners with Blank Gameweek 18 frustration as he missed out on Arsenal’s Thursday-night meeting with Crystal Palace.

Fresh from an 18-point haul against West Bromwich Albion, the left-back was the most-selected defender by managers playing their Free Hit for this midweek round of fixtures (53.7%).

However, Mikel Arteta has taken the decision to leave Tierney out of his Arsenal squad to face the Eagles as a precaution due to “muscle tightness”.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) comes in to the replace the Scottish international on the left-side of defence, allowing Hector Bellerín (£5.1m) to hold onto his right-back berth.

Tierney is not the only Arsenal defender to miss out due to muscle issues, as Pablo Mari (£4.4m) has also been rested for the same reason.

That means starts at centre-back for David Luiz (£5.4m) and Rob Holding (£4.5m), the latter now featuring from the beginning in 11 of the last 12 Premier League matches. Meanwhile, Gabriel (£5.0m) makes a return from self-isolation on Arsenal’s bench.

The Gunners line up in much more predictable fashion higher up the pitch, with Emile Smith Rowe (£4.5m) handed a fourth-straight start at number 10.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) and Bukayo Saka (£5.3m) flank the budget midfielder behind Alexandre Lacazette (£8.3m) who has four goals in his last three Premier League appearances.

Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m) is one of the main Fantasy interests in Crystal Palace’s team, owned by 16.1% of managers worldwide.

And Free Hitters were also a big fan of the Eagles’ left-back, Tierney and João Cancelo (£5.8m) the only defenders selected by more managers using that chip for Blank Gameweek 18.

Wilfried Zaha (£7.4m) has blanked in five of the last six Gameweeks but remains in 19.9% of Fantasy teams.

Arsenal v Crystal Palace – Starting Line-ups

Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Holding, D Luiz, Bellerín; Xhaka, Ceballos; Aubameyang, Smith Rowe, Saka; Lacazette.

Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Guaita; Mitchell, Kouyaté, Tomkins, Ward; Eze, McArthur, Milivojevic, Townsend; Benteke, Zaha.

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1,247 Comments Post a Comment
  1. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts, Kane & Zouma > Vardy & Cancelo?

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks good on paper. The only issue is Cancelo's minutes might be managed.

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

        Diaz?

        1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          More nailed for sure. But just cannot trust Pep. Zouma if fit, will definitely play both. Kane to Vardy makes sense.

    2. _Ninja_
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Do you not have alot of value on Kane or want him back in a few weeks? I think Vardy outscores him but that's a tough one.

      Zouma has a dgw so getting rid for a hit not ideal.

    3. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias over Cancelo for me. He starts every game, Cancelo doesn’t

      1. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        And yes to the move for free, but not for -4

  2. _Ninja_
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL/Taylor->Antonio/Cancelo and BB?.... Cancelo or Dias?

    Martinez Johnstone
    Stones James Coufal Dallas Taylor
    Salah Bruno Son Grealish Soucek
    DCL Kane Bamford

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nice

    2. 2hotty
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias nailed

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You keeping both Son & Kane
      Or may get Vardy instead of Kane

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Think it's worth a hit?

        1. OptimusBlack
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yes

    4. WWW.
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      team value? must be high?

      1. _Ninja_
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        106.2..decent but I've seen a few higher.

  3. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Holding 12pts let's go!

  4. @fpl_phenom
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    any news on Leeds? the scout has Strujik starting on the team news?.... will he start... how fit is cooper?

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Phillips is suspended so Struijk set to replace him in the CDM role

      1. @fpl_phenom
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        incredible! cheers!

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

    You gotta be f kidding gim
    Where the f is Tierney?

    1. kennethrhcp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rested due to tiredness

      1. JJO
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That was a retorical question 🙂

        1. kennethrhcp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          If you read back... oops 🙂

  6. 2hotty
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Best Goalie for GW19 BB already got Martinez

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Is money an issue?

      1. 2hotty
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        No

        1. BeWater
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Ederson, De Gea or Darlow.

        2. BeWater
          • 3 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Or Fabianski.

    2. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Johnstone

    3. ivantys
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Fab/Johnstone

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

      Maybe Schmeichel

    5. @fpl_phenom
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Fabianski

  7. FPL Daniel
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Come on Mitchell you legend

  8. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wtf man where is Tierney

    1. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Rested due to muscle tightness. Only time I've ever owned him.

  9. ChickenTikkaMoSalah
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    DCL to Watkins for free?

    1. STEP rOVERS
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep considering this move ahead of Antonio

    2. Revival
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Prefer Antonio or Bamford myself

    3. OptimusBlack
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Watkins or Antonio is better ?

  10. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Non FH, Bellerin owner ... great to see Tierney not starting, makes up for the Kane goal yesterday

  11. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I've had double Arse defence for most of the season, and now only Tierney. Gonna feel weird to suddenly hope for Arsenal to lose their CS after finally getting some defensive resolve back, especially as an Arsenal fan.

    1. DARK SIDE OF THE LOON
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Things this game does to you! #COYG

  12. Ady87
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cup opponent on FH: Tierney + Laca
    Me: Leno + Saka + 9 points

    His first sub : Holding

    How am I looking?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I think you got it

    2. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Do you have to ask? You win unless Holding scores

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

      Who's he /she got coming on for Tierney?

  13. Scratch
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Two decisions to make this week

    Start Martinez or DDG
    and
    Triple captain Salah or KDB

  14. Ted Bovis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Smith Rowe starting, absolutely beautiful!

  15. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Tierney was the big I am a couple of weeks ago going about in a T shirt in the snow.
    This week he can't play cos his muscles are tired.
    Give me a break.

    1. tambourineman
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I hate these f***ing southern fairies!

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

      Well said

  16. Alisson WondHaaland
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thoughts?

    Kane + Grealish to KDB + Antonio

    Was kinda set on it until Villa v Newcastle got announced but now not sure

  17. Fernandito
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A Sterling & Stones
    B KDB & Coufal

    1. WenzelK
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B. hate Sterling

    2. SilentLemonMan
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B for sure

  18. Calculated Risks
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mane and c. Taylor to kdb and stones minus 4 is a no brainer right?
    Own Salah.

  19. have you seen cyan
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hope Arsenal lose in an embarssing fashion after esting Tierney, screw you Farteater

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Farteater?
      Impressive cursing!

    2. thegaffer82
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      He’s not rested.

      He has a tight muscle. Would be daft to play him if he’s complaining of a muscle issue really, FPL aside of course!

    3. BeWater
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bald fraud with hair.

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Detachable lego hair

    4. have you seen cyan
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      all of the above plus Captain Black and Micaela Farteta

  20. thegaffer82
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Are any Sterling owners ‘over’ yesterday yet?

    Nope, me neither 🙁

    Oh, and had captained KDB too just to really rub salt in the wound

    1. Dion D's Solo Shower
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Watched the pen again a couple of times today. Everytime thinking "the next time I watch it, it'll go in", but no...

      Rotten luck

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

      Same situation as you... Sterling owner and kdb captain.. still hate it

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

      Stering cap, KDB vice - really all kinds of bad

  21. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A) Antonio & Dallas or B) Rodrigo & Cresswell - already have Coufal & Soucek

  22. Lukakuna
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Just need 9 points from Zaha to stay in the cup! No problem...

    1. Here's Tom with the We…
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      As long as it’s only 9! 10 and I’m out the cup lol

  23. Revival
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    In Laca we trust!

  24. Muchentuchel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Super jammy Shaw points. Didn't even deserve this.

  25. BeWater
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone get worse than 3 points with their bench boost last year?

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

    Anyone hoping for holding goal, ceballos assist in 1-0 arsenal win?

    1. SM001
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I'm hoping Leno gets sent off, Lacazette misses a peno and Palace win 1-0 thru a Holding OG.

      1. have you seen cyan
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Laca hatti but Arsenal to lose due to 4 OGs from Holding, Saka and Smith-Rowe get reds for mistakenly celebrating the OG's too much

    2. Tasty Jerk
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well a Laca goal with a Saka assist would be fine as long as Zaha points and a palace win 😉

  27. SM001
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    LOL at everyone concerned about their teams in the upcoming gameweeks.

  28. FPL Doctor
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    R James fit for 2 games in DGW?

  29. Zolaaaaaaaaa!!!
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Tierney out means I have Ampadu coming in off the bench with a 9 pointer.

    No reason for the post other then the fact feels good to get a bit of luck!

  30. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    ESR with Grealish-esque socks... 🙄