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. Steager
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    So
    A) Tierney and Son to Justin and Salah -4

    or

    B) Son to Mane for free.

    Any other ideas to get Salah in, rest of team:

    Mendy/Areola
    Stones/Coufal/AWB/Lowton/Tierney
    Son/Bruno/KDB/Gundo/Smith-Rowe
    Wilson/Bamford/Kane

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

    Mitchell 8!!!!

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

      Let’s go!!!!

  3. Deeney-is-a-god
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    play kane or wilson next GW? all the other players have a double as well...

    1. Deeney-is-a-god
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      suppose I could bench boost, but would be with kane/wilson, mitchell and ESR and a non playing keeper...

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

    Why did Holding not hold on?

  5. DaisyDaisyDaisyDaisy
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    The one good thing Laca did tonight was make him easy to sell now...

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

    6 matches, 8 goals.

    A week to forget.

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

    Why am I never lucky enough to get bench points. Spent ages deliberating over Brewster or Mitchell first on bench, of course Brewster hits the post and Mitchell gets 8 points! Brewster coming in for Tierney FFS

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

      Pro tip: Brewster should always be 3rd on your bench

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

        He's been third on my bench all season, fancied him against Newcastle and I was right, he should have scored at least one. Mitchell clean sheet was not expected away at Arsenal

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

      Brewster shouldnt be in your team let alone first on the bench

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

        Well I went with one up top as didn't want Laca or Wilson which was the right call so had to have him on the bench and he nearly scored several times

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

    FH with +26 points from original team.

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

      +16 for me
      And lost transfer
      So not great really

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

      +5 so terrible

  9. Dichio24
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A: Kane + Soucek
    or
    B: Son + Antonio

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

    My only good decision on freehit was getting Bryan(SHU) instead of Bernardo(Brighton) hahaha

  11. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Holding's last pass took him below 90% pass success rate

    Dropped 2 bps and 2 baps lol

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep, I was shouting at the tv for him to pass it short 😀

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

      Noticed his baps disappeared. Thats a heartbreaker

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

    F**k this game!Wtf is happening this season.Tierney injured and Laca blank.And all the ridiculous lucky 7 points for Mitchell.15 DGW players in my wc and now i have 11 without ManCity or Villa,Taylor injured and Balbuena lost his place.I'm at my limits.

    1. Stockport Hatter
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      We all know the risks picking Arsenal players.

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

        What are you talking about?i have 3 Man City,3 Spurs,2 ManUtd.Arsenal had the best fixture.I was unlucky that Tierney was injured and Arsenal without him is another team.

        1. Stockport Hatter
          • 7 Years
          3 years, 2 months ago

          Calm down dude. You mentioned Tierney and Laca being injured and blanking. I replied that we all know the risks. Nothing to see just chill and enjoy life 😀

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

            Still can't understand how it was a risk to get Arsenal players.

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

      Mitchell got 8 points

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

        Lol not helping him mate xD

  13. Feanor
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My cup opponent has 16 points for Regulion, but they captained Bruno?

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

      Captain hindsight you mean?

    2. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Link?

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

      Just the app being crap. It’s down to 8 on the website, so I win.

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

    Soooo...

    FH or WC this week? Should I just take loads of hits then decide what chips to use towards the deadline?

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

    Looks like I have outscored most FHers.

    That’ll do nicely. 🙂

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

      A real pleasure 🙂

  16. Tsparkes10
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Time for pages to fly. Anyone beat +52 on a FH?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      64 here mate

      1. Gashead9
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        57

    2. WenzelK
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      55 including a lame sterling/kdb combo. Mitchell saving the FH.. unreal 🙂

    3. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Normal team had 10, now with FH 55. So +45 I will take that!

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

    sum up your Free Hit...

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

      Satisfactory

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

      Intact

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

      Epic fail. 5 points more than my normal team of 6 players even if I made no transfers this week.

    4. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      much needed

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

      Glad its over!

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

      intact

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

      Average.

    8. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      barely passing. They say 16 points gained on BB is minimum, so I'll pretend that's the same for FH. :p

    9. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      +45 on orignal team. Very happy.

      But gameweek of what if for Cancelo, KDB C and Tierney owner

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

      In the bag

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

    45 all-out with no chip use. Suck it.

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

      Hahaha sorry I don't know what came over me

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

      Decent score

  19. djman102
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    How in the world can I leave 11 points on the bench in a FH blank gameweek?!?

    Watch that outscore my Bench Boost next week.

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

      Thats rough

  20. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I guess 39 - 8 is ok for going chipless. Roll on GW 19!

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

      Pretty neutral I’d say which is a success!

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

    Is LMS safety score still 33 regardless of Baps? I'm on 33 exactly thanks to stupid -8 to get Laca in

    1. TorresMagic™
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks like 34 at least.

      https://www.livefpl.net/LMS

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

      Looks like its the end of the road for both of us

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

    Fabianski** Martinez**
    Robbo** Dias** Stones** Coufal** Strujik
    Salah** KDB** Bruno** Grealish** Coufal**
    Adams Bamford Rodrygo

    thoughts on this BB team ?

  23. FPL_Crisis
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    52 on FH
    80k OR to 63k but feels like meh
    Bring on the gw19 carnage

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

      48 on FH

      26 more than original team

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

        Decent
        I only had Dias Bruno Son playing which is why I played FH

  24. SB007
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Check this out.

    I need 4 baps to beat my opponent by least goals scored by 1!!

    1. SB007
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Bell and Mitch? Please. Cup game.

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

    50(-4) with 10 and no chip. Disappointing.

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

      With no chip played that's a really good score?

      1. TorresMagic™
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Think he knows.

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

      Zzzzzz

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

      Very poor score this game week

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

    Everyone bragging about their scores...

    It’s not the absolute score this week that matters but how it compares to what you would have scored if you had / hadn’t free hit.

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

      Exactly. Im happy with a 28 point + from my team had i not FH

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

      How could I know how well I'd have done if I FHed? Comparing my team's score to FH teams seems like a reasonable way of gauging success this week.

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

        By considering what your FH team would have been obviously

  27. Jars458
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Free hit got me 50 thanks to Mitchell. Would have scored 5 otherwise. Rank down to 959 from 957. Happy with that.

  28. Dannyb
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Didn't wanna fh this week so took a - 8, 57 with potential Bellerin baps to add, I'll gladly take that and run.

  29. Isco Disco
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I knew it that GW18 was not a good week to play the most important FH chip.
    45 (-4) All chips left to play. Woohoo
    Bring it on DGW 19!

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

    Ended up 13 points behind my would be FH team. That's gotta be a success right?

    1. Twisted Saltergater
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Yep

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

      Yep - I reckon 25+ is needed for free hit to be called a success