Dugout Discussion

Arsenal without three key players as Pogba returns to wide role for Man United

Arsenal are short of key personnel as they host Manchester United in Gameweek 21.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.3m) misses a second Premier League match in a row as he deals with an ongoing personal issue but the premium midfielder is not the only absentee.

Kieran Tierney (£5.4m) was to be assessed for the calf injury that kept him sidelined for the Southampton game ahead of Gameweek 21 and he misses out third time in Arsenal’s last four league matches.

That means a third successive start at left-back for Cédric Soares (£4.6m) while Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£4.6m) remains a substitute amid rumours of a departure during the January transfer window.

Bukayo Saka (£5.4m) might have been viewed as an alternative on the left-hand side of defence but he is the third big name missing from Arsenal’s latest team-sheet, left out with a sore hip.

With Saka and Aubameyang missing, Mikel Arteta turns to Nicolas Pépé (£7.6m) and Gabriel Martinelli (£4.9m) to staff the flanks of attacking midfield either side of Emile Smith Rowe (£4.5m), whose recovery from a muscle injury is even more welcome than usual in light of Arsenal’s latest injury news.

Thomas Partey (£4.9m) has also shrugged off his yellow flag for a knock and features in defensive midfield alongside Granit Xhaka (£5.2m).

Following the shock defeat to Sheffield United, Paul Pogba (£7.7m) returns to a wider role for Manchester United.

The Frenchman features on the left-hand side of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s front-three with Bruno Fernandes (£11.4m) in the middle and Marcus Rashford (£9.6m) on the right.

They sit behind Edinson Cavani (£7.9m) who earns a deserved recall up-front at the expense of Anthony Martial (£8.8m)

With Pogba higher up the pitch, Scott McTominay (£4.9m) and Fred (£5.3m) anchor the midfield while Luke Shaw (£4.8m) returns at left-back.

Arsenal v Manchester United line-ups

Arsenal XI: Leno; Cédric, Holding, D Luiz, Bellerín; Xhaka, Partey; Martinelli, Smith Rowe, Pépé; Lacazette.

Manchester United XI: De Gea; Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka; McTominay, Fred; Pogba, B Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani.

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970 Comments Post a Comment
  1. svasei - Up (?) the Rovers
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno tackled then hit someone? Bruno red?

    1. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      no chance. If that's a red xhaka wouldn't be on the pitch

      1. Bushwhacker
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Love the glasses work so well

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

        I'm not watching the game, so I'm asking what happened.

    2. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Nah

  2. Bubz
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Rashford is an incredibly annoying player to own

    1. FPL price manipulators are …
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      He's too busy being Prime Minister. Needs to get his priorities right

      1. Lets jump straight into it.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        If the prime minister was being prime minister, he wouldn't have to.

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      The last week in my team he is ...

      1. Bubz
        • 10 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yeah quite possibly same

    3. CABAYE4
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Seems to love being miles offside lately.

  3. Wicked Weapon
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    No shows : Cancelo, Stones, Saka

    Bench : Coufal, Justin, Bamford

    Gundo(C) Bruno(VC)

    I'll be happy with anything near about 40 points.

    1. Forgetmeknot
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Excellent bench stepping in though

    2. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same

      Gundo (c) fail also.

    3. F_Ivanovic
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'd be happy with 30 points.

    4. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      With stones Cancelo and Sterling C, Digne and DCL vc, and One sub Mitchell, my target is 25-30.

  4. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Annoying when strikers take 'sighters', speculative shots from miles out at the beginning of the get. Should have practiced during the week, mate, this is the real thing. Choose the best option and pop it to Martinelli in space, you twonk wonker.

    1. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Or tease the keeper by pretending until they are completely rattled

  5. Alex_thekid
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Is it time to give up on double city def with rottation more likely now for any of them appart from Dias??

    1. Bubz
      • 10 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dias will have his time too

      1. CABAYE4
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        18/18 starts so far.

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

      I literally just got double city def

    3. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Dias Ederson are the only 2 nailed

      1. Tambling5
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Could easily be Stones and Laporte next week.

        1. g40steve
          • 6 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          Laporte looked rubbish no forward runs unlike Stones, he also missed 2 headers

    4. Baines on Toast...
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I’ve had Dias and Cancelo For awhile and I think this is the way to go.

      1. toerag
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Dias is only one nailed tho

      2. Alex_thekid
        • 6 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        I have had them both for 5 gws now but i dont know if i should lose 1 for Taa now hes back in form & Liv
        Or should you still keep them both if you have 2 back up def on the bench?

      3. toerag
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        i caped cancelo!! 😆

  6. WVA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    How have people got that lucky with Sterling captain?

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If they had Wilson as VC?

    2. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Most have Salah vice I think?

    3. Big boy Bowen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      One good thing about Sterling is when he’s benched he very rarely comes on

      1. Lord.
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        You saw what happened in GW18.

  7. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    FREDDDDD skims the post

    1. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      saved*

  8. BeaversWithAttitude
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Nice one, Leno!

  9. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno has not been performing for a while, sloppy

  10. tiger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Partey picks out Pepe perfectly, poor pass by Pepe ( repeat quickly)

    1. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Good alliteration.

    2. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Do you need a pee?

      1. tiger
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Yes, I will have a P please Bob

  11. Bushwhacker
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    One rule for United ; everyone else ..

    1. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Zzzzzzzz

  12. Rainer
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Tommy got the runs.

  13. Shultan
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Constantly making wrong decisions week in/week out?
    Wilson>DCL with FT
    Gundo (C) Son VC
    Benched bamford, played Rash
    Obviously don't know 3 will pan out

    but on paper all decision above seemed logical but itss just not working for this year & stuck at 1mil
    Know its only a game but would be nice to something right@

  14. Alex_thekid
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I got lucky with Cancelo(c) &
    Son (vc) Targett sou first on the bench Soucek & Coufal 2nd & 3rd.

    Would you do Bamford & Soucek to
    Mane & 4.5 fodder have Gundo 5th mid. Antonio & Watkins up front so i dont have to bench him or a striker every gw??
    Son Salah Bruno Gundo other mids
    I dont want a benching headache every gw

    1. toerag
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      soucek has ful and shu next 2

    2. toerag
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      mane bha and city

  15. Plagued by indecision
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Well I rose by 900,000 places in the past two game weeks.

    Cancelo, Stones, Saka benched. Gundogan captain fail. DCL transfer fail.

    Back down to Earth.

    1. IN SANE IN DE BRUYNE
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Welcome to the club mate

    2. Magic Zico
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Kind of same here

    3. Steve The Spud
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This

    4. toerag
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      9 pts up to now. magic 😆

  16. Gudjohnsen
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Saka, DCL, Digne, Mitchell, Sterling (C), Cancelo and Stones owner.

    Swallows own vomit.

    1. JONALDINHO
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I thought Cancelo, Stones and Mitchell was bad. That’s tufff

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

      Better than swallowing someone else's.

    3. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Similar here

      Saka, DCL, Richarlison, Mitchell, Gundo (C), Cancelo and Stones

      1. Deulofail
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Also Tierney 🙁

    4. Homer21
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      D'oh!

    5. Tambling5
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I'm the same except, DCL (vc), but not got Saka. Hoping that 25 points may be scrambled somehow.

  17. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Gary Neville wants some Immodium

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      If he pops it in his bottom, will he stop talking?

      1. Rainer
        • 7 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        😀

    2. badgerboy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Needs some vocal Immodium.

  18. toerag
    • 13 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    F@(%ING PEP

    SMH 🙄 😆

  19. The Senate
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Pepe buys a free kick

    1. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      LOL ; just stop

  20. Esalman
    • 14 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Only positive so far this GW is the Brewster 2 pointer.

    1. Deulofail
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      How I long for Brewster 2-pters. Biggest regret, selling him

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

      That´s a haul this gw.

    3. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      This is one of those GWs where every penny counts.

  21. Pedram
    • 10 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno getting any chances so far?

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yeah. Chances of him being told to bugger off by Lindelof.

    2. Bushwhacker
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Chance of being sent off

    3. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Slow game

    4. The Senate
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      possibly the closest chance of the game just now.

  22. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    League leader captained Grealish.

    He knew something wrong was gonna happen at City. What even?

    1. Shultan
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Same last week mine captained gundo whilst almost everyone else bruno! Some people are getting all the decisions rights

  23. Uncle Gamst
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    You know when you have been Pepped!

    Cancelo, Stones & Gundo (C) = 6 points

    Mitchell (0) & Coufal (LIV) waiting on the bench

    Kane & Bissouma > DCL & Salah -4

    My cup match hangs by a thread, but at least I played Wilson

    1. TKC07
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Raz (C), Cancelo (VC), stones, Mitchell, Saka.

      Kane to DCL (-4)

      1. Uncle Gamst
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        Ouch

    2. toerag
      • 13 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      😆 😆 😆 ahh well... this fekcing game

  24. Magic Zico
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    ESR is good

    1. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      So is MRI

      1. toerag
        • 13 Years
        3 years, 1 month ago

        REM not bad

        1. Pipermaru
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 9 Years
          3 years, 1 month ago

          BDSM anyone?

  25. Deulofail
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    I wonder if Pepe's going to come onto his l-

    Goalkick

  26. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Wanmiss

  27. KAALI_DAAL
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Did Raphinha to Sterling this GW.

    Feeling like I betrayed Raphinha after his haul. Won't feel bad if he hauls again this GW. I deserve that. How ungrateful am I.

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Yes you do

  28. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Thoughts on Ruben Dias perma Captain??

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      I feel this should be a hot topic also

    2. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      12-18 recently would soon add up

    3. KAALI_DAAL
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      Count me in

  29. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno close

    1. Zladan
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 1 month ago

      David Luiz turned inside out there lol

  30. dark91
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 1 month ago

    Bruno wastes Pogba assist