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. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Come on ESR, score the winner!

  2. Colonel Shoe 肝池
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    i knew arsenal were a trap

  3. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    come on Legohead take Auba off so Laca is on Pens

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

    Need a Holding goal not own goal, with no assist.

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

    Leno + Saka on a FH. No Laca or Tierney. About as good as it could go.

  6. Vlekz
      3 years, 2 months ago

      If the keeper catches the ball, is it not a save?(referring to the ball that hit mcarther and then leno caught it during the last corner)

      1. The Mighty Hippo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Justice for Leno! He should have a save point.

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

          He will get at least 10 points, cup rival has him

    • Casual Player
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Late Arsenal goal for somebody nobody owns please.

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

        I'm ok with that

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

      Which ONE of these would you start:
      Bamford/Antonio/Grealish/Soucek
      Thanks

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

        All four

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

          One has to be benched...hence the question.

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

            Confusing

      2. Davros
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Sounds like you could play your BB?

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

      As a Lacazette and Mitchell of the bench owner this is all set up for a saka winner.

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

        From LB?

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

        No, Holding winner. Bullet header.

    • OneDennisBergkamp
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Grealish gonna drop tonight wtf??

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

        You still have him in your team?

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

          Surely you hang onto him now with a DGW coming up?

        2. OneDennisBergkamp
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          of course, guys unreal

    • evilfish
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I am not entertained.

    • Mane Mane Mane
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Martinez
      Cancelo Justin Dias Coufal
      Mane Grealish Salah Fernandez Soucek
      Bamford

      Bench - 4.0, Wood, Dallas, Adams

      Should I
      A) keep it as it is, no chip
      B) keep it as it is, play BB
      C) Watkins for Adams (-4) play BB
      D) Johnstone for 4.0 gk, Antonio for Bamford Watkins for Wood (-12) play BB.

      Please help..

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

      Martinez + Sterling + Laca -4 in for this GW gives me massive -3 points to the moment

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

      Silly me wasting my FH. Naturally a should have gone:

      Ramsdale
      Keane Ampadu Regulion Zinchenko Bailly
      Foden Pogba Cavaleiro Iwobi
      Kane

      It was the obvious choice. Casuals win again.

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

        Digne and Foden were pretty obvious ones we missed and a double up on Man United's defense.

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

        I own 1 of those.....

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

          Most of us do

    • JJO
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cmon Woyyy make those subs

    • mad_beer ✅
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Need another Leno save please.

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

        Or Benteke goal better 🙂

        1. mad_beer ✅
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Shut it you! 🙂

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

            Haha you are lucky,he is subbed off

            1. mad_beer ✅
              • 9 Years
              3 years, 2 months ago

              Maybe I can get a Leno goal then. 😛

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

      Need a Holding assist at least to stay in the cup. Neither of us free hitted. 40/38 to him 🙁

      1. Pat Bonner
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Might get bonus

    • Champions League Varane
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Take.off.Mitchell

    • Aaa
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      A - Grealish, TAA & Antonio (or other forward up to 8m)

      B - Foden, Cancelo & Vardy (-8)

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

      Laca fail

    • g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Laca waste

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Get on that BPS Holding

    • diesel001
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nketiah on
      Lacazette off

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        sh*t

      2. mr messi
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Pile of crap!

    • Netters2018
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone tcing this week and on who? Or are we saving it for someone later in season?

      Whats the general view, im 50/50 atm.

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

        KDB!

      2. The Mighty Hippo
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        KDB with two home games is very tempting.

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

      Lacalol

    • Kodap
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Someone please score hahaha

    • Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      come on saka and zaha, score please

    • Flair
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Time for FH19 to show FH18 how it's done.

    • Kaneyonero
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Holding OG would do

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

      What a bloody dreadful week, red arrow and a waste of a FH. Should’ve and was so close on many occasions to being so much better.

      Oh well 🙁