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. Drop Dead Tsimikas
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Laca, you bald fraud.

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

    If you were an Arsenal fan you'd have to feel like this every game, christ almighty.

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

      They have improved. Usually they would be losing in a game like this. See Burnley and Aston Villa.

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

    Mitchell buried 3rd on my bench. Lol

    So it’ll be Yedlin coming on for Tierney. Just gotta laugh.

    1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same, except I am fortunate to have trash in front of him, so he'll actually be on.

      Cue jammy Xhaka goal.

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

      x3

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

    imagine subbing on Nkethiah for Lacca. Rookie manager

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

    Free $hit

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

      With you there my friend 🙁 43 all out and a red arrow. So close so many times to being so much better, especially in the City game

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

      Blank GW, does what it says on the tin.

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

    Saka OG is a necessity now

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

    Son, KWP, DCL -> KDB, Dias, Davis (-8)?

  8. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Arteta is not the Messiah

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

        He’s a very naughty boy.

        1. Party time
            3 years, 2 months ago

            😆

            He is a real fraud

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

        0:0 is coming

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

        Laca subbed
        Tierney no show
        Saka left back

        This wasnt what i signed up for

        1. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          And the highest scoring player from this match for me is Mitchell. Gotta laugh.

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

        Luke Shaw an option for the double?

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

          He’ll start Liverpool but Fulham doubtful Telles needs a start

          So glad to have two quality LB

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

            Looking for a defender who is 4.8m or under who has a double.
            Already have Coufal.

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

              Dawson? Them 2 fixtures look great

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

                You could take the chance on Shaw tbf

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

                  Might go Shaw looking at Uniteds fixtures. He wouldn’t have to start every week either.

                  I’ll be taking a -12.
                  Dallas,TAA,Raphinia,Kane >> Stones,Shaw,KDB,Cavani

                  Giving me 14 DGWers plus Bamford.

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

        People used their Free Hit to get players like Lacatalent in.

        Not far off Duffy TC territory...

      6. JONALDINHO
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Looks like only 57 pts on the FH. Could’ve been so much more with KDB(C), Cancelo, Tierney, etc but we move

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

          Nowhere to hide, we move.

        2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          52 for me barring an Arsenal goal.

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

          Still a cracking score

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

          54, Tierney missing out on Lloris conceeding were the killer's

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

        Martinez( Fodder)
        Cancelo Stones Holding (KWP, Kilman)
        Son Bruno KDB Rashford ( Anguisa)
        Kane Watkins McGoldrick

        Would you wildcard or use a FH in gameweek 19 with this team? I'm open to the idea of -4. Any advise?

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

        My FH defensive decisions have been a disaster

        Lloris managed to concede vs Fulham
        Bailly was ditched for Saiss (7pts to 1pt)
        Tiernay injured, but that's ok, I got some playing bench on FH too but I have put Yedlin (2pts) ahead of Mitchell (6pts at the mo)

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

        My rival has more points with Holding, that myself with Saka and Lacazette. How not to hate this game.

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

          I sold holding on my FH for Tierney

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

            I have Tierney either. Yedlin 1 sub for the 2 pointer.

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

        Tierney missing out is disgusting but never trust Arsenal

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

        Not very streetwise from Zaha.

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

        42 on FH. ML rivals 45 & 46 no FH lol.

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

        It was always the right idea to build for BGW 18 and FH in DGW 19 with all the info at hand.

        Building for weeks for a DGW with covid around is surely a recipe for disaster.

        DGWs are very valuable to us and I guess we must pick our team for that as close to the DGW as possible. Forget covid, players may lose form or get injured and your DGW gets ruined.

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

          Why was it the right idea? I take it that’s what you’ve done?

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

        Hold Holding

      15. Reeker
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Now rooting for Palace with Mitchell coming off my bench for Tierney and Lacazette subbed

      16. Danstoke82
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Son + Robbo > KDB + 5.3 defender (not Coufal or Stones) total -8?

        Yay or Nay?

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

        Holding has such a monolithic torso straight out of 2001 Space Odyssey, yet such a tiny head in comparison.

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

        Anyone else only in the 40s on a wasted free hit?

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

          Early 30s. Birthday coming up this month

        2. Drop Dead Tsimikas
          • 12 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          If Arsenal score through anyone but Saka, me.

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

          I'll be over 40 without a free hit with 9 players lol

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

          I’m in the 40’s.
          It’s not wasted mate.
          Would’ve only got about 15 points if I’d played my original team.

        5. dark91
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          I would guess everyone's (freehitters) score is around the mid/end 40s mark

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

          I'm a few minutes from getting 40s with 7 players (includes Brewster)

        7. Reeker
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          It's not about the points we get on a free hit but the friends we make on the way

      19. Steinburg FC
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Only one player playing tonight, Mitchell. No way I’m checking Livefpl until after the game has finished.!

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

        Arteta the enemy of football

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

        Arsenal are a shower of shite, why the fck have I got Laca, Tierney and Shite-Rowe

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

        C'mon Holding grab an og my son

      23. evilfish
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Is my stream lagging or is this game really this slow?

        1. dark91
          • 8 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          It is not slow but useless