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. REDMOND IN SANDALS
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    if mitchell gets two cleansheets in a row i would laugh my ars off

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

      Everytime my rival starts him he gets a clean sheet

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

        I had Tierney and Laca going in with Mitchell on the bench - he's about to make my GW a much brighter affair

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

    Couldn't have asked for a better week if this stays 0-0. Holding, Mitchell, Zaha and Smith Rowe.

  3. Gross Blank Point
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    On an 18K red arrow so far with no FH played, I woulda taken that any day of the week at the start of this GW!

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

      Ok

      1. Gross Blank Point
        • 3 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yep, I thought so.

  4. The Polymath
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Heartbreak minutes of the match. One goal either way will leave a lot of managers cursing their luck.

  5. Heisenberg W. W.
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    For Lacca owners - Remember, practice what you preach 😀

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

      I'm so happy he's already out of my team without having to make a transfer. Hallelujah!

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

      This is why you only go for these type of players on a FH.
      It’s a one week punt then run.

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

        Yep, this! Happy to have taken the FH punt, no worries at all

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

    Holding needs to get a firm grip on those 2 baps.

  7. Babit1967
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB TC activated

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

      Just cancel it before the deadline and you'll be fine

      1. Babit1967
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Not a fan then ?

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

    I do enjoy how there was no mention of Tierney's 'muscle soreness' in the team news. His absence from the team not only means no clean sheets for owners but that missed creativity has blunted the effectiveness of the Arsenal attacking players that many of us have got.

    Was really looking forward to this game with Tierney, Saka and Lacazette in my team. Another 2 hrs of my life wasted hoping for points but watching paint dry instead.

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

      lol

    2. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Haha

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

        Clueless casual mini league rival who is somehow above me brought David Luiz in with his FH who hasn't played for ages and there is me with zero from Tierney. Just unreal

  9. Punty McPuntface
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which mid under 9.7 would you have going forward?

    A rashford
    B grealish
    C zaha
    D other

    1. Babit1967
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I have Zaha and I would steer clear

      I’d say A

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

      B

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

      1 more yellow for grealish and a ban. Can see that happening sooner than later

  10. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Someone score. Get rid of some cleanies.

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

    I should have played Mitchell over Wilson.

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

      I shoulld’ve benched him ahead of Yedlin.

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

    £70m for Pepe. Damn.

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

      Maguire say's hi

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

      Thought he was 19 when Arsenal bought him. He mysteriously aged to 25 overnight

  13. MMN
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I laughed too soon when I saw rival get Mitchell on FH ... Holding over Tierney too. I think he's on 64 points ...

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

    I haf forgotten how painfull it is to warch Arsenal. They spend more time looking behind their backs than looking ahead.

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

    Sold holding on my FH for Tierney, he's now outscoring Tierney Lloris and Son combined... any skill left in this game?

  16. Euro Raiders
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Should have watched Tom & Jerry..

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Unless it is your team that is playing, watching Tom & Jerry is always the best decision. Imo.

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

    45 all out, pathetic GW, better off starting Mitchel then Tierney or Saiss

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

      Mitchell coming off the bench for Tierney?

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

        No Holgate is coming off my bench for Tierney, I assumed that Arsenal surely had to score and that Holgate isnt terrible. How wrong I was

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

    Pépé is worth about £5m. God knows what Arsenal saw in him to pay £72m.

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

    Anyone doing worse than 5 points from 3 Arsenal players?

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

      I've got the same but I also support arsenal

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

    Holding on 2 baps get tf in.

  21. alstal
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Son or Antonio?

  22. Jdpz
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mitchell 1 bonus point?

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

      Yes I’d like to know the same

  23. Jersey Boy
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Mitchell is knocking me out of the cup on goals conceded tie break...ouch

  24. sminkypinky
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Remember when Auba used to be a threat and score goals?

  25. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      What tha hell happened to Aubameyang?

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

        $$$$$$

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

        Got his pay day.

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

        Signed a big money contract and now only switches lambos and parties all the time.

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

        Red Dwarf remake, Cats been busy shooting the new series

    • Jon Snow
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      We all deserve points for sitting through this boring ass match

    • That Was Easy!
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well, with Sterling (C) I'll take 43.

    • Neevesy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Anyone else really annoyed with themselves that they have watched the whole game?

      Terrible.

      1. That Was Easy!
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Only watched 2nd half, winning.

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

          Congrats. The 1st half was equally poor.

    • Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      8 goals in 6 games.

      What an anticlimax

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

      Bellerin or Holding YC will get Mitchell BAPS