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. Right In The Stanchion
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Arsenals final touch is so fecking bad.

  2. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    0-0 nailed on.

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

      How Now ?

    2. Doctor Evil
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Hope so Leno & Mitchell here

  3. Klopp's Kids
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How would you get De Bruyne in this team? I only have 6 DGW players.

    Mendy
    Dallas Coufal Holding
    Son Soucek Fernandes Salah
    Vardy Bamford Kane

    Bench: Taylor, Lewis, Stephens

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

      Son and Vardy > KDB and Antonio?

      1. Salah’s Sonnet
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        That would hurt losing Vardy

      2. Klopp's Kids
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Really like Vardy for the double.

        I'm tempted by Kane>Antonio and Son>KDB.

        Also simply Salah>KDB.

      3. Doctor Evil
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This

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

      Have to be Kane and Son unfortunately. I'll just skip him if you want Son and Kane back.

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

      Think you'd have to lose either Kane or Bruno.

      Which you probably don't really want to do.

    4. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Only easy way is lose both Kane and Son which I wouldn’t advise!

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

    ESR, looking better than Saka!

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

    Bellerin how about you grow up you clown

    1. The 12th Man
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Pot, kettle, black

    2. George Sillett
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looking in the mirror ?

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

    i expect no goals in games like this anymore, its so drab recently with all these spread out snooze fest fixtures

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

    I'm not sure how many games I actually enjoy when watching. It's like I'm watching them for the sake of it.

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

      You are

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

      The change in tactics and increased miles due to the schedule seems to have caused this.

    3. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      That's why they came up with fpl

  8. BinManJack
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    what do people think about this, am i mad?

    DCL | Son | Adams > Sterling | Antonio | Watkins (-8)
    Then play BB on this:
    Martinez
    Coufal Robbo Dias Cancelo
    Salah Sterling(c) Fernandes Grealish
    Antonio Watkins
    Bench: Meslier | Justin | Soucek | Brewster

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

      Sterling really??

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I wouldn’t bring in Sterling as part of a -8. Hasn’t done much to justify that

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

      Just do DCL>Antonio

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

        was thinking this but worried about my lack of City attacking assets consindering their double. KDB likely to get reduced minutes

        1. Sharkytect
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          KDB likely to get what? How often does he get rotated?

  9. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Trying to avoid taking hits to ditch premium players just because of a DGW. Are either of these options any good?!

    A) Raphinha, KWP, Adams > Foden, Stones, Brewster/ Davis (-8) - Play 4-5-1:

    Martinez (x2)
    Robbo (x2), Dias (x2), Stones (x2), Coufal (x2)
    Salah (x2), Bruno (x2), Son, Soucek (x2), Foden (x2)
    Kane
    (Forster) (Bamford, Dallas, Brewster)

    B) Same as above but with an additional -4 (total -12) to do Forster > Johnstone/ Areola and play BB

    The way I see it, Foden + Stones should be able to outscore Raph, KWP + Adams by over 8pts over two matches.
    The temptation with B) is that for the sake of another 4pts I am unlocking a minimum of 10 points from my bench.....

    Keen to hear your thoughts!
    Cheers

  10. Rushford
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which is better?

    A) TAA + El Ghazi
    B) Cancelo + Grealish (-4)

    1. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B

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

      A

  11. Atimis
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son to KDB gives me the team below.

    Thoughts ?

    Martinez
    Justin/Cancelo/Robo/Coufal
    Soucek/Bruno/KDB(c)/Salah
    Vardy/Bamford

    Martin/Dallas/Adams/Stephens

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

      Go for it...

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

    Tomkins off the bar

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

    Tierney owners were about to celebrate

  14. Bram
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    oooo Tompkins bar

  15. how now brown cow
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What minute does xhaka get booked for fouling zaha?

  16. KUN+10
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How is she looking fellas? Managed to get 8 DoubleGwkrs with a -4. Wouldn’t mind taking another hit if necessary. Thanks!

    Martinez
    Cancelo Diaz Holding Dier
    Son Bruno KDB Salah
    Antonio Wilson

    Steer Bamford SmithR Mitchell

  17. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Saka will be off soon. He’s being manhandled out of the game

    Time for the experience of Pepe or Willian

    1. Captain Vantastic™
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You love to stir sh*t on here don't you

  18. liiusions
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Everton to be the only team to score more than 1 goal this GW? 😆 what a week

  19. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Literally end this game now, garanteed 0-0 with Tierney missing out and everyone getting Mitchell off the bench!!!!

  20. Captain Vantastic™
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wasted FH on Arsenal. Been sh*t all season

  21. Henning
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What to do with this team?
    1. Dias and Gundogan in for Bednarek son/Barnes
    2. Taa and Son out for Dias and Kdb?

    1ft and 1.7 m in the bank
    Martinez Steer
    Taa Justin Bednarek Coufal Dallas
    Son Barnes Salah Fernandes Soucek
    Bammford Vardy Adams

  22. Abusive_Sgt_Daelrhos
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Double Arsenal defence? I must be mad

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

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/team-news/

    would everyone agree with this leeds lineup from the scout?

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

      thoughts appreciated

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

    Suddenly I'm stuck with triple Arsenal

  25. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Do we think Cavani is nailed on for both in the double? Just have the exact cash for a 7.8m forward.

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

      you couldnt say nailed on... he should start is the opinion of most utd fans...

  26. Sim Simma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Another Mitchell assist denied

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

    Any suggestions? 1FT 0.2 ITB
    Players with * have DGW.

    Martinez*
    Dias* Justin* Coufal*
    Salah* KDB* Son Bruno* Soucek*
    Bamford Wood*

    Steer R James* Dallas Adams

    A) Adams to Antonio ( ? To bench)
    B) Son + Adams + Steer —> Foden + Antonio / Cavani + GK with DGW (-8)

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

    Mitchell assist denied again..

  29. Scots Gooner
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Vardy actually dropping tonighy or are the price changes still screwed up from free hitters?

  30. Niho992
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mitchell owners in tears