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. King Kun Ta
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Martinez (Martin)
    Chilwell Robbo Coufal Justin (Ayling)
    Bruno Son* Salah Barnes Soucek
    Vardy (Bamford Adams)

    1FT & 0.8 ITB

    Son Barnes & Robbo -> KDB Foden Cancelo (-8)

    Y or N? Ta!

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

    Brought in Ings yesterday, ffs.

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

    Now that thre FH demons have left us its time to indulge in

    “To BB, or not to BB, that is the question”

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

    No chips 18 + FH 19 clearly have won.

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

      Surely we won’t know until after gw19?

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

      Might need to include GW16 & 17.

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

        Also true.

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

      I might not even FH in 19. Team looks OK aside from missing Salah and Soucek.

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

      Absolutely not

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

      No chips 18 and 19 IMO!

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

      My FH in 18 gained me 42 points and my normal team in 19 would pretty much be my FH19 team anyway. So no.

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

    Son dropping quite quick.
    I have him. Thinking of taking him out and replace him with someone else (up to 9.9m) for the DGW?
    Yes he has SHU (A)
    But would any of these outscore him you think?
    A. Rashford
    B. Pulisic
    C. Grealish
    D. Maddison / Barnes
    E. Mount

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

    envious of those who will use the FH in GW19

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

      You are? I'm not. I feel like my team can compete with most of them and I have Bamford and Son still.

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

        The ones that saved FH should save it for 29.

        It will be so tough if GW29 has like 4 fixtures and only MUN out of the big 6 have a game. That's when I'll really be jealous.

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

      Perfect team already without FH

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

    I have Mitchell on my bench and I'm the only one in my ML not getting him

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

      Good.

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

    Is it suicidal to go without Salah in the double gameweek?
    Between Ziyech and Pulisic, who is the better pick?

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

    20k with all chips still intact. Satisfying GW

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

    Everyone callin' out us Free Hitters, but most of us used it as we have set ourselves up for next week.

    I would have had 12 points without FH I got 54; I'd call that a pretty big success, especially with all the DGW players I have for next week.

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

      Indeed. Same story here. Only had 3 playing players.
      10 points to 55p.

      And 11 dgw plus full bench boost next week feels good.

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

      Well, some of us HAD set up for next week...until United and City got blanks AND doubles and Leeds-Southampton got postponed and Adams, Fabianski, and Taylor got injured and...

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

      Free hit was a great success for many.

      Many will have gained 25-30 points on their non free hit team and probably gained 20-3 points on non free hitters over last 2 gameweeks who have had to plan for it

      It’s not as simple as looking at absolute scores of 1 week

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

      Yeah same. I would've been on 22 if I didn't FH. Ended with 59.

      Gaining 37 points on FH is a big win. And now I like my team so much for GW19 I'm gonna save FT haha.

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

      I'm really happy I did the FH. (Even with Saka, Laca & Tierney!)
      Got 55, would have been 23.
      A few non-FH'ers in my ML got over 40 as they fielded 7-9 players, but they're looking very average for the double and I'm happy with my uplift and a lot better setup for 19 than most of them now

  11. Jay Jay Okocha
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Pick one for the DGW bonanza:

    A) Kane, ESR, James -> Brewster, KDB, Stones (-4)
    B) Kane, Rashford, James -> Antonio, KDB, Dias (-4)

    Plan B leaves enough ITB to fund Grealish in 2 weeks. Any thoughts?

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

      Has to be B then

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

    57(-4) points from 10 players and a 65k rank increase to 215k. Couldn't have asked for a better week really. Mitchell 8 pointer the highlight.

  13. fedolefan
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Can we get someone to add those Holding bps please?

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

      Still 25.

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

        Leno getting a bonus?

  14. HashAttack
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    55(-16) - transfers cost me 4 points but KDB over Bruno captain gave me 4 points back
    Big plus is that I have added KDB, AWB and Soucek to my team

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

    Now if Mitchell would get 10 points next gw, that would even be better thank you.

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

    Soooo I think it's clear I should bench my Arsenal mids next game. What do you think?

    Martinez
    TAA Cancelo Stones Tierney*
    KDB(c) Bruno Son*
    Antonio(v) Martial Bamford*

    McCarthy* | Saka*, Smith Rowe*, Mitchell*

    0FTs. 1.6 ITB.
    * = SGW

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

    I know pages are flying but any help here would be appreciated - absolutely lost as to what to do. Had originally planned to BB but think that's out the window now.

    McCarthy Areola

    Robertson Coufal Balbuena Lowton Dallas

    Rafinha Rashford Bruno Soucek Salah

    Adams Bamford Kane

    Got 0ITB...

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

      Get Man City players basically.

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

        Robertson and Balbuena to Cancelo and Dias for -4? Getting KDB in is going to cause an absolute mess so might have to do without

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

      Get a Man City Def and maybe DGW Foden instead of SGW Raphinha?

  18. Fer Fuch's Ake
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Which option will yield highest score?
    A- Stones DGW (cp, avl)(-4)
    B- Bamford (Brighton)

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

    51(-4). All 4 chips intact. i was shiting my self for not having Kane(>100 EO), Tierney, Saka, Lacazette. feel ecstatic !

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

      It was a shame Kane scored, especially as he outscored all the other main players - 55(-16) for me

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

    livepool utd score prediction?

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

      3-1 united

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

        nice

    2. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      3-1 Liverpool

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

        dislike this

    3. El Lobito 10
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      0-1 Utd. 94th minute Bruno penalty! Would be hilarious

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

        ha ha ha ... klopps head will explode

  21. Warby84
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    A. Tierney/Wilson —-> Chilwell/Antonio
    B. Tierney/Lacazette—-> Robertson/Antonio

    Both -8

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

      B. Wilson has a DGW.

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

        This

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

    I’m pretty happy with 38-8

    Transfers more than paid fir themselves and set me up for dgw. The FH team I drafted got 55 so wouldn’t have been worth it.

    KDB penalty is still hurting

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

      I would say 25 points would definitely have been worth it... But I guess if you bought a bunch of City players that improves your GW19 it could well be good.

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

        Fernandes, Cancelo and De Gea in.

        I’d say a good FH is 30+ , but i managed 50+ difference in last 2 seasons.

        With the number of delayed fixtures. I can just wanted to save

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

          Don't believe you can make 50+ in a blank GW. Maybe score 50+ but not more than if you had prepared decently for a blank.

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

    will Strujik start

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

      No. Llorente and Cooper are back fit.

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

        who pays CDM though with phillips suspended?

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

          Shackleton.

          Last time Struijk did it he got taken off before half time because they feared a red card.

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

            yes actually thats right... damn was hoping hed get a game ...

            cheers

  24. CorAndo__x
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Thinking of getting rid of Son for a DGW'er any recommendations?

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

    thoughts on Grealish for the dgw...

    firstly has been spotted in training etc...

    think id gamble on the 4 yellow cards...

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

    Cancelo or Dias ?

    1. Klopp's Kids
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Dias safer. Cancelo more explosive.

      I like Cancelo. Might as well go for it and better long-term.

  27. Klopp's Kids
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    You guys keeping both Kane/Son for the DGW?

    1. zman575
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      nope getting rid of both for salah and antonio. looking at martial to either vardy or sterling too