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. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    this is boring. Hottest bird in the Crown?

    - Princess Margaret (s1-2)
    - Princess Anne (s3-4)
    - Princess Diana (s4)
    - Queen (s1-2)

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

      Claire Foy 100%

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        I'm liking Erin Doherty (Anne). She can tell me what do to 🙂

    2. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      First one without a doubt

      1. TRIPOS TOPPER
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        connoisseur's choice

    3. Je suis le chat
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Princess Anne by a mile for me.

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

      A

  2. pundit of punts
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    These 3 spots doing my head in on my FH. Please opine -

    A. Antonio + Foden + Targett
    B. Watkins + Foden + Dawson
    C. Watkins + Soucek + Dias

    1. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A

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

      A then C then B imo

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

      C - city def

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

      C

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

      Antonio Soucek Dias

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

    Well hoping for Saka points is off the cards now 😀

    1. Chrisitis
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Isnt he playing like robbo now?

    2. Traction Engine Foot
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      You can hope he keeps the clean sheet

  4. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Having a terrible FH score but had I kept my GW 17 team I’d be on 31 now. Rock meet hard place.

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

    Time for Pepe convince Roy to buy him for 80m

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

      Pepe / Zaha swap deal?

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

        Pfft. Not inspiring. Maybe if we sell Zaha immediately to get a chunk of money back on the Pepe signing

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

          I mean, I'm just playimg the game. Obvs this won't happen

  6. Lucky Z
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Laca goal ot Mitchell cleanie?

    1. Chrisitis
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mitch cleanie

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

      Mitchell is higher owned, so you want a Laca goal.

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

        Behave

      2. Lucky Z
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Think same

    3. It’s gonna Ben Mee
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Definitely Laca goal

  7. Sid123
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Any help on what to do here really appreciated.

    Current team
    Martinez forster
    Dallas stones cancelo dier coufal
    Bruno rashford kdb saka smith rowe
    Bamford kane dcl

    1 free transfer - any suggested moves?

    Possible thoughts are:
    A Dcl to Antonio for free
    B Dcl + saka to Antonio and soucek -4
    C Dcl + kane + saka to salah Antonio and Watkins -8
    D Something else but what?

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

      Like C

      1. Sid123
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks for your input

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

    Bring in Pva to handle fresh legs Pepe you Woy

  9. Drogo
    • 11 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is it worth playing BB-chip with McCarthy, Raphinha, Dallas and Bamford on the bench?

    1. Geordie19
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Depends on other players you will field really to for BB

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

        Huh? Why is that relevant? It's the player on the bench that is affected by BB

        1. Geordie19
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I’m playing BB with 3 Leeds players. But I will have 11 of the 15 playing a double game week. If I had less then it may be worth holding

      2. Drogo
        • 11 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Got a full squad of DGW-players

        1. Geordie19
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Yeah I’d say it’s good enough personally

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

    Holding on 2 BPS, HOLD

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      In tights

  11. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Luiz' knee in Zaha's face. Ouch

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

      And always plays the nice guy when he sees ref incoming

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

    David L is so dirty

  13. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    What's a good FH score this week?

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

      100

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

      I think a 50 pointer is standard

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

      None

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

      Anything less than 70 is disappointing

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

    This is painful really. FH failed big time.

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

    Partey Time

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

    Cmon Roy,react

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

      *Woy, weact

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

    This is why I got in Tierney, garanteed cleanie!

  18. Egg noodle
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I'm getting tired of this Mitchell BS

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

      Mitchell non bench wonkery spotted

  19. Geordie19
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Not the most exciting question but who you prefer for double
    McGinn or Lookman?
    Looking for a sub 5.6 midfielder- thanks all!

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

      Lookman, easy

      1. Geordie19
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Thanks

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

      Gundo?

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

        But out of those probably Lookman

        1. Geordie19
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Great shout, just not sure if he’d play twice. But could go big! Thanks

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

    Holding got his first assist last week, a goal this week?

    Also non football, but I forgot how great A Knights Tale film is

    1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I forgot, too. Shall I watch it again?

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

        I would, great for a crappy jan night when we’re all locked down

        1. Iwantmorepointsthanks
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Hahaha, true 🙂

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

    I just dont get the free hitters. You had 4-5 gameweeks to prep your team for the blank, stop complaining.

  22. yanky
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    not going to BB, but are any of these transfers worth -4 pt hit? I'm bloody 0.1m short of Son > KDB!!

    a) Son Dias/Cancelo > KDB Stones
    b) Son TAA > KDB Chilwell
    c) Son James > KDB Justin
    d) Son Fabianski > KDB Areola
    e) No hit and do Son > Sterling for free???

    1. Sid123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      B or e i think others are relying on fitness a bit too much.

      1. yanky
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        thanks sid, safe play is prob B but will see if im feeling risky enough for E. cheers bro!

  23. It’s gonna Ben Mee
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Get Mitchell off so the SakaLaca goal fest can begin!

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

      This

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

      Thiss
      But SmithaLaca

  24. In a Rush
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Did Dyche have a presser today? Can’t see it in the tweets, any news on Taylor?

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

      According to scout tweets he was supposed to but didn't find anything.

  25. TheDragon
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    This is a disaster result for me

  26. Top Lad Dakes.
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Legit just one goal will do Laca....

  27. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Could be a red arrow on FH in a blank week :wow: 😆

    1. Top Lad Dakes.
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I’m getting one. Useless team

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

      I find that whenever I play a chip, WC included I do awful, mane TC captain etc

  28. TRIPOS TOPPER
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Laca, Pepe and Auba all awful

  29. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Holding almost

    1. Guru Mediation
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bad miss really

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

    WTF are the chances of my rival getting Mitchell clean sheet in for Tierney FFS

    1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well, he must own him then place him on the bench. It's covid era so chances are high.